Marshall Steps Up for Victory

Marshall High’s Orlando Beltran has not forgotten being tackled from behind during a loss to Franklin last season.

With that thought in mind, there was no stopping Beltran and his teammates Thursday night.

The visiting Barristers defeated six-time defending Northern League champion Franklin, 14-7, to win the league title.

Marshall (9-1) finished the regular season with eight consecutive victories and gained an automatic berth in the City Section Championship Division playoffs. The playoff seeding meeting is today.

Beltran returned a kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown to tie the score, 7-7, in the first quarter. He also intercepted a pass to end Franklin’s only threat in the second half.

“Last year they caught me from behind, but this year that wasn’t going to happen--not this year,” Beltran said. “[Franklin] came out thinking they were going to beat us again but finally the league and the City is going to give Marshall respect.”

With the score tied, 7-7, Marshall went ahead on Marvin Quinonez’s 38-yard touchdown pass to David Lossi with 39 seconds left in the first half.

“That was his first touchdown reception, and I had told him before the game that I was going to get him one,” said Quinonez, who completed seven of 15 passes for 113 yards and rushed for 36 yards. “We have been working for this all year and now we can celebrate.”

Franklin, playing without leading receiver Miguel Urbina, also lost tailback Stanley Robinson because of an ankle injury in the first quarter.

Franklin (7-3, 4-1) was penalized for 160 yards.