Marion's sophomore football team used a stout defense and a balanced offensive attack to roll over Belleville Althoff, 58-8, Saturday afternoon.

The Wildcats totaled 520 offensive yards with 285 of that coming on the ground and 235 through the air of 12 of 15 passing.

Marion racked up 22 first-quarter points and followed that up with 30 in the second quarter to hold a 52-0 halftime advantage.

Quarterback Herbert McMillen tossed the first of his three touchdown passes in the opening quarter on a 45-yard strike to Braden Hill. Marcus Green ran in the two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead.

Orlando Jarrett added a 32-yard scoring jaunt followed by a conversion pass from Holden Reel to Colin Soldner for a 16-0 edge. Then Toren Stanley ripped off an 83-yard TD sprint for a 22-point cushion.

In the second quarter, McMillen found Jarrett for a 65-yard touchdown connection before McMillen hit Aaron Adeoye for the 2-point conversion. Jarrett scored his third touchdown on a 6-yard run as Stephen Sullivan ran in the conversion for a 38-0 advantage.

McMillen and Hill hooked up again from 10 yards out while Green ran in another conversion for a 46-0 lead. Then Reel threw up a 1-yard TD pass to T.J. Barthelman to cap Marion's scoring in the opening half.

After Althoff broke its goose egg on the scoreboard, Shekeil Ivy put the finishing touches on the Crusaders with a 28-yard TD jaunt to provide the final margin.

Marion hosts Centralia at noon Saturday.