Football: Bracewell/Schneider connection lifts Marathon to win over Loyal/Greenwood

A season ago the Marathon combination of quarterback True Thurs to receiver Garrett Bracewell helped the Red Raiders to a postseason playoff berth. With the graduation of Thurs, Marathon needed to find a new combination to start 2026. Based on the first week of the new season, Marathon may have another lethal combination. New starting quarterback Brayson Schneider found Bracewell 12 times on Friday to help Marathon to a 24-16 win over Loyal/Greenwood.

Bracewell, an all-CWC first team selection last year, gained 193 yards on those 12 receptions with 2 touchdowns. Making his first start at quarterback, the sophomore Schneider also had a big night with 16 completions in 22 attempts for 236 yards and 3 touchdowns.

After Loyal/Greenwood received the kickoff they drove nearly 60 yards in more than five minutes but then fumbled inside the Marathon 10 with the Raiders recovering on their own 5. Marathon took advantage of the opportunity with a 90 yard drive that featured two long gains from Schneider to Bracewell. The 2nd saw Bracewell get behind the coverage and go 65 yards for the initial score of the game and season.

Turnovers were a big issue for L/G in the first half. They would turn it over again on their 2nd and 3rd possessions of the half. Marathon was stopped in Greyhound territory on the 2nd possession but took advantage of great field position at the L/G 42 to score on the 3rd possession. Schneider would hit Owen Chrouser on a 20 yard pass to extend the Marathon lead to 14-0.

Loyal/Greenwood would nearly turn it over again on their fourth possession but have a fumble that was recovered by Marathon overturned. L/G took advantage of the second chance with a 20 yard touchdown run by Adam Kautzer to get on the board and cut the Marathon lead to 14-8 after a two-point conversion midway through the 2nd quarter. Marathon would push the lead to 17-8 on a 28 yard field goal by Schneider on the final play of the 2nd quarter.

Late in the 3rd quarter, Loyal/Greenwood took advantage of great field position to pull within a point. Starting at the Marathon 48, the Greyhounds drove to the 23 and faced a 4th and 9 when Jake Lindner fired a pass to Rhett Lamovec in the end zone for the touchdown. L/G again converted a two-point conversion to pull within 17-16 with 1:47 left in the 3rd quarter.

However, Marathon would respond yet again to regain the momentum. The Red Raiders started the next drive on their own 40. After gaining one first down, Marathon faced a 3rd and 17 from their own 45 when Schneider would hit Bracewell over the middle for 34 yards to the L/G 21 with a personal foul on the Greyhounds adding another 10 yards to the play. That was only the first of two massive conversions from Schneider to Bracewell on the drive. On the 10th play of the possession, on 4th and goal from the 5, Schneider fired to Bracewell in the left flat for the touchdown that put Marathon up 24-16 with 6:19 left in the game.

Loyal/Greenwood wasn't done however, as they would drive it deep into Marathon territory. The Greyhounds would get as deep as the Marathon 25 but would be stopped on downs at the 30. Marathon would then run out the clock to finish the hard-fought 24-16 win. Fred Tylinski would gain 46 yards on 10 carries for Marathon while Landon Hilgart and Koltyn Stevens each recorded 11 tackles on defense.

Marathon returns to action next Friday with a road game against Auburndale.