ST. VINCENT FALTERS IN SECTIONAL

PERRYVILLE -- Marionville High's Comets made sure their long journey Wednesday was well worth it.

The Comets knocked off host St. Vincent 21-0 Wednesday night in a Class 1A Sectional football playoff game. That certainly assured the squad of a pleasant five-hour bus ride back to Marionville.

"It's nearly 300 miles," said Marionville' coach Harv Welch, whose town is near Springfield. "We left early today and we'll get back around 3 a.m. in the morning.

"It makes for a long day. But winning makes all the difference in the world. We'll travel anywhere to win a game."

Marionville (9-2) advances to Monday's quarterfinals after beating St. Vincent (8-3) in the sectional round for the second year in a row. Last season the Comets nipped the Indians 21-20 in Marionville.

Wednesday's game was not nearly as close -- although for a while it looked like it might be.

The teams were scoreless until the final play of the first half, when Marionville's Jason Buntin plunged over from 1 yard out, giving the Comets a 6-0 halftime lead.

Marionville then controlled the second half and coasted to victory.

"It was a hard-hitting, physical game," said Welch, who had plenty of praise for the Indians. "St. Vincent is a fine team and coach (Paul) Sauer had them well prepared."

Said Sauer, "We moved the ball early, but we couldn't punch it in. They really ran the ball well and then they also had success with the pass."

The Comets had 331 yards of offense, 257 on the ground. Buntin gained 165 yards on 27 carries.

St. Vincent finished with 171 yards, all but seven of those on the ground. Chad Winkler had 96 yards on 17 carries, but he had only eight yards in the second half.

The youthful Indians came into the game without one of their few seniors as Corey Robinson missed the game with a knee injury.

Then on the first play of the second quarter, Dustin Moll -- another senior -- was injured as his 23-yard field-goal attempt was blocked. Moll, who played quarterback in addition to punting and kicking for the Indians, missed the rest of the game with a bad ankle.

Leading 6-0 at halftime, the Comets controlled the second half, outgaining St. Vincent 188 to 48.

Justin Medlin scored on a four-yard run in the second quarter and Buntin ran in from 26 yards out in the final period to ice the victory.

Despite the loss, Sauer felt plenty of pride for his young team, which returned only two starters from last year's outstanding squad.

"I'm proud of 'em," Sauer said. "After our first game (a loss to Scott City), I don't think I'd have bet we'd be here. But this group kept working and got better every week. If they continue to work, then next year we'll have a heck of a team."