Althoff overcomes key injury, rallies for conference win against Marion on Homecoming

Editor’s note: This story has been updated Oct. 1 to include the correct first name of the Althoff player who scored the winning touchdown.

Althoff football coach Austin Frazier called Friday night’s South Seven Conference home victory against Marion “a program win.”

And for good reason. The Crusaders overcame a 12-point deficit in the fourth quarter and the loss of their starting quarterback while ending a two-game losing streak and rallying past a solid Marion club 31-30 on Homecoming.

“This was a great program win,” Frazier said. “In the past couple years, we’ve been a really young team and we’ve talked about how winners overcome adversity and are still able to win late in games and figure out ways to be successful. That was maybe something we couldn’t do well the past two years and this was the kind of game we hope was a turning point for the program.

“We were down 12 in the fourth quarter and being able to overcome that is the mark of good kids and a good program.”

Althoff improved to 3-3 overall and 1-2 in league play, while the Wildcats dropped to 3-3, 1-2. Overall, the Crusaders’ defensive showing pleased Frazier.

“When people want to grind us on the ground, we’ve struggled a little bit. Marion tried to do that,” Frazier said. “We had some guys find out who they were and really overcame some size differences and really executed at a high level. The first thing I’m most proud of is defensively ... to overcome something that is a bit of a shortcoming for us.”

Specifically, Frazier noted the performances from junior Taylor Powell, senior Lucious Dones and senior Luke Gundlach.

“Between the turnovers and the tackles they made at key moments ... I couldn’t be happier with the defensive effort,” Frazier said.

On offense, junior quarterback Braylon Grayson got hurt the second play of the game yet competed on a sprained ankle the first three quarters. Following a sack in the fourth quarter, Frazier noted Grayson — who completed 10-of-13 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns — could barely stand, so he turned to senior Grant Hoffman, a tight end/middle linebacker who hadn’t lined up behind center in a game since his sophomore year.

Frazier lauded Hoffman’s play while also commending Grayson. Frazier said after the game Grayson’s availability next week was not yet known.

“Braylon did great,” Frazier said. “He couldn’t move ... what a gutsy performance from him until he couldn’t go any more.”

Frazier also highlighted his team’s strong special teams play.

“We had a kick return for a touchdown. That’s something we haven’t been great in,” he said. “I’ve talked about putting all three sides of the game together and this game required all three sides being successful. And that’s how you can beat a great program like Marion.

“This was a pretty special win for these guys and a great program win on Homecoming.”

Grayson fired a 71-yard touchdown pass to Dones and a 76-yard scoring strike to Jordan Lewis, staking Althoff to a 12-8 first half lead. Marion, however, responded with 16 unanswered points to assume a 24-12 bulge in the fourth quarter.

Special teams, defense come up big for Althoff

That’s where the Crusaders’ special teams and defense flipped the script. Dones returned the ensuing kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown, cutting the deficit to 24-18.

“That really got us back in the game and gave us a chance to win,” Frazier said.

Then, on the Wildcats’ next possession, Dones returned a fumble 89 yards for a touchdown, vaulting Althoff back ahead 25-24 with 7:33 left in the game.

After Marion scored for a 30-24 lead, Althoff responded as Hoffman rumbled 25 yards for the game-tying score with 2:14 left. Tyler Schmieder then booted the extra point for a 31-30 lead and Althoff’s defense then made that stand up.

Next up: Carbondale

The Crusaders now will gear up for Carbondale in another league contest. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Friday Oct. 7. The Terriers are 1-5 overall, 0-3 in league action but gave Mount Vernon a stern test Friday night before losing 42-35.

“They way the South Seven has worked out this year, I’m not sure if records really matter,” Frazier said. “It looks like they had a tight game against Mount Vernon. We’re going to have to play well to come out on top. It’s nice to be at home, but we’re not going to take them lightly.

“I think we’ve seen tonight and in other games in our conference, on any given night, any team can win. That’s the mark of a good conference. We’re certainly going to be ready for Carbondale when they get here.”

Marion, meanwhile, visits Centralia at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7

This story was originally published October 1, 2022 at 7:30 AM.