Marceline Embraced Expectations en Route to Saturday’s State Championship Appearance

Marceline football battles East Buchanan in the Class 1 state championship at Mizzou’s Faurot Field Saturday. Mark Ross’ 12-1 Marceline Tigers have survived three straight one-possession games, two of which were decided on the final play.

Marceline’s latest pursuit of a second state championship is three years in the making. The Tigers returned all 22 starters, including several seniors who played critical roles as sophomores on the 2019 state semifinal squad.

Marceline outlasted Hayti 31-30 in the semifinals on a game-winning field goal at the buzzer. Ross scouts championship opponent East Buchanan.

13-1 East Buchanan enters its second state championship in search of its first title. The Bulldogs earned a convincing victory over Thayer in the state semifinal, 34-7. East Buchanan head coach Daniel Ritter says his team executed well in all aspects of the game.

East Buchanan’s lone loss of the season came against a Mid-Buchanan team the Bulldogs later defeated in the postseason. Ritter says this year’s Bulldogs team is out for redemption.

East Buchanan has just six seniors on the roster, but Ritter notes several underclassmen have stepped up this season. Ritter emphasized limiting the speed of Marceline on both sides of the football.

State championship pregame coverage of Marceline and East Buchanan begins at 2:40pm on 99.9 The Captain and centralmoinfo.com. Eric Duick and Brandon Monty have the call from Columbia.