MARATHON -- The first 30 minutes of action between the Marathon High and Miami Country Day football teams Friday night began as an impressive offensive showing as both quarterbacks were displaying their skills in front of the Dolphins' fans. However, the mischievous Halloween spirit seemed to take over in the final 18 minutes as tempers flared and flags hit the field at a rapid pace, but in the end it would be Marathon that came out victorious, 42-24, setting up a battle for the playoffs next week against Westminster Christian.

"They had nothing to lose, bottom line," Dolphins coach Lance Martin said of the Spartans. "We were getting literally punched and I really don't know what to say. It just got out of control."

On parents' night, Marathon opened the game flat but quickly turned up the intensity and the Dolphins defense shut down the Spartans for the remainder of the first half and the offense seemed to have no problem marching up and down the field as it broke open the score early.

"Our routine was messed up to start, but I expected that," said Martin. "But then I was happy the way we played after that. We could run what we wanted pretty much, but it's kind of too bad we've had three games like that. I'd like to see us under duress and press because it's not going to come so easy next week."

In a battle of talented quarterbacks, the Dolphins' Nyran Ross completed six passes for 101 yards and one touchdown to go along with 115 rushing yards and three touchdowns, while the Spartans' John Thompson completed 16 passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns.

"We want the ball in Nyran's hand more," said Martin. "The last few weeks we've only run them a few times just to keep him healthy and he was just able to take off. That quarterback has a great arm, can buy time and can throw with two or three kids draped on his back. An average quarterback would be down, but that kid has a Division I arm."

John Martin excelled for the Dolphins on the defensive side collecting 12 tackles, 2.5 sacks and two pass deflections.

"Tweet Martin seemed like he was in the backfield on every play in the first half and it was the best defensive game he's had since being here," his coach said.

Country Day (4-5, 1-4) opened the game with a nine-minute drive that ate just over eight minutes off the clock and the Spartans capitalized by putting the first points of the game on the score board with a 27-yard field goal.

Marathon (4-4, 3-2) responded on the next drive with one play. After the Spartans threatened to get the ball back on a three-and-out as the Dolphins were facing a third-and-20, Ross connected with Kenyatta Scott on a perfectly thrown pass that the receiver hauled in and took to the end zone for a 69-yard score. Marathon would take the 7-3 lead into the end of the first quarter and the Dolphins defense would take over from that point forward allowing the Spartans offense to cross midfield only once for the rest of the half.

On the Dolphins' first drive of the second quarter, Ross continued to scorch the Spartans' defense, this time scrambling for a 13-yard touchdown run on a play-action fake that left the middle of the field wide open.

The Dolphins defense got into the action on Country Day's ensuing drive when A.J. Freeman got into the backfield and blocked the Spartan's punt and Justin Kornetti scooped up the live ball and carried it 20 yards to paydirt.

Just before the end of the half, Ross once again found running room and carried the ball 28 yards to the end zone, giving the Dolphins a 28-3 lead at the break.

Both offenses came out on fire to start the second half, but quickly made way to a plethora of penalties.

Marathon opened the second with Freeman carrying the ball three times that went for 51 yards and a touchdown. His first carry nearly went the distance, but the Dolphins' tailback stepped out on the 16-yard line and two plays later he reached the end zone. However, the Spartans offense came back to life and Thompson showed off his arm connecting for a 72-yards touchdown to cut the Marathon lead to 34-10. But the Dolphins offense continued to pour on the points and the play-action worked once again as Ross found a hole, which allowed him to out-run the defense for a 57-yard touchdown.

Numerous unsportsmanlike penalties marred the remainder of the quarter and the Spartans closed out the third with a Thompson 3-yard touchdown pass to send the game into the final 12 minutes with a score of 42-17.

The flags continued to fly in the final quarter and the only score was by the Spartans with just seconds left in the game from 9 yards out.

Up next, the Dolphins travel back to Miami to battle for a playoff spot against Westminster Christian as the winner will secure a postseason berth.

jwcooke@keysnews.com