By Billy Woods

WM School District

The West Memphis Blue Devils may have found their identity after last Friday night's 22-10 victory at Marion.

While it appears the offense lacks big-play ability, instead relying on a grind-it-out mentality, the Blue Devils may rely more heavily on a defense that controls the opposing run game.

West Memphis' defense allowed only 19 second-half rushing yards, and only 52 for the game.

The game-turning sequence focused strongly on defensive coordinator Butch Gray's unit.

Marion (1-3 overall, 0-1 in the 6A-East Conference) had just taken a 10-6 lead over West Memphis with 9 minutes remaining in the third quarter. Then the Patriots put the Blue Devils (3-1, 1-0) into a further hole when they recovered an onside kick at the West Memphis 32.

Faced with a fourth and four, the Patriots rolled the dice instead of giving strong-legged kicker Bradford Doherty, who had already kicked a 45-yard field goal with plenty of distance to spare in the first half, an opportunity from approximately the same distance.

However, senior running back Tom Young was stopped inches short, giving the Blue Devils the ball, whereupon they used a patient, disciplined approach for the go-ahead touchdown.

"Coach Gray's defenses have an amazing ability to stop the other team on third and short or fourth and short," said West Memphis head coach Billy Elmore. "I can't give him enough credit."

A week earlier, the Blue Devils stuffed the run on a similar gamble by Little Rock Central head coach Ellis Register that nearly cost his team the game when he gambled on fourth and 1 from his own 37.

"It wasn't really anything we did as coaches," Gray said in deflecting the praise. "The kids just decided to stick it in and play. We worked real hard all week on stopping (Marion's) play-makers. Young and (Collin) Chambers are outstanding and other than one play I thought we did a good job."

For the most part, the Blue Devil defense has eliminated the run.

It allowed only 103 yards rushing in the opening game against Forrest City before giving up 196 on the ground against Blytheville, which is a deceiving total.

Blytheville's star back, Demekko Clark, was held to only 77 yards on the grouind.

A week later, the Blue Devil D gave up only 48 yards on the ground in the first half against Little Rock Central before the final total ballooned to 187.

But it would appear the defensive front has done its job better than any other one area of the team.

The Blue Devils rushed out to a 6-0 lead against Marion thanks to the defense forcing a turnover, which was an interception by linebacker Jerry Edwards.

It turned into a quick 16-yard touchdown by Devonte Dean with 9:12 left in the first quarter.

Marion took its only lead against West Memphis since 2006 when quarterback Peyton Walker connected with Young for a 26-yard touchdown pass.

Dean's second TD of the night put West Memphis ahead for good and then the visitors gained some cushion on the first play of the fourth quarter on a 1-yard TD from Martavious Thomas.

"I think by that point in the game our offensive line had worn (Marion) down," said Elmore. "And I think that defensive stop gave us a shot of energy."

The Blue Devils added the final two points when Walker was tackled in the end zone for a safety with 1:35 to play in the game.

"We just persevered," Elmore stated. "It wasn't pretty. We made some mistakes, but we'll take it and move on to next week."