The Indians Michael Gray scoots around right end and Lando Bass (30) early in the third quarter of the EPC-Marked Tree game Friday night. Gray was knocked out of bounds at the Warrior four and the next play EPC took over on downs. Later in the quarter, Gray went in for the game-winning TD however. (Tribune photo/Dan Brawner)

There was one thing missing in the Indians-Warriors annual battle Friday night at Marked Tree -- points. Between the two teams only 13 points were put on the board in the 7-6 Indian victory.

People accustomed to scores in the neighborhood of 40-0 or 48-28 or even the 16-6 of last year's game were closer to what these wars have been in past seasons. At least one fan couldn't remember the combination of such a low score and a one-point win in decades.

But clearly, the score was indicative of the way both defenses kept their respective teams in the game.

"The defense kept us in the game and gave us a chance," said defensive coordinator Waylon Dunn. "Both defenses played well."

Both EPC head coach Bryan Harris and Indian head man Tim Branum agreed with Dunn.

"I thought our defense played real well for the second week in a row." said Harris. "We could never sustain anything offensively and I have to give Marked Tree a lot of credit for that. They played much better on defense than what we had seen on film, so they obviously got a lot better between week one and week two."

Indian Chris Williams hangs on for dear life as he tries to bring down the Warrior's Dustin Beatty in the second quarter of their game Friday night. Beatty put EPC up 6-0 earlier in the game. (Tribune Photo/Dan Brawner)

"Offensively, we didn't play real well at all the first half," Branum said. "We didn't do a whole lot of anything right. Our defense bailed us out, no doubt. They played awfully well to just give up one (touchdown).

The 150-plus yard games which were normally expected from EPCs Dustin Beatty and Marked Tree's Michael Gray were cut by at least a third. Beatty gained 97 yards on 19 carries while Gray got 85 on 22 totes, each scoring his team's lone TD.

Clearly, the game seemed to be a case of the Indians managing to stick around long enough to take the win once all the shouting was over.

To begin with, though, the Warriors looked as if they were going to smash Marked Tree in the mouth to start the fight and just keep them reeling from there.

"We'd get the ball and try to move it then when we couldn't we would punt it 10 yards and they would have it deep on our end," added Branum. "They had it inside our 25 probably five or six times."

EPC took the opening kickoff at their 36-yard line and took only four plays (biggest a 43-yard scamper down the right side line by Byron Ford) to get to the Indian six with a first and goal. Two more plunges by Ford put the Warriors at the Marked Tree three with a third and goal.

EPC head coach Bryan Harris discusses his team's next move against the Indians last Friday night. (Tribune photo/Dan Brawner)

On the next play, though, Marked Tree forced a fumble which was recovered by Earless Coleman at the Indian two, snuffing the Warrior threat.

It wasn't long before the Warriors were able to get the ball back, however, as Marked Tree was able to struggle out only to the four after two T.J. Lassiter incomplete passes and a two yard gain by Gray.

Little did they know at the time, but the Indians would go four-and-out for their first four series on the night, not making their initial first down until less than 9:00 was left in the half.

From the four, Gray punted and with the return, the Warriors were back in business at the Marked Tree 30.

This time, though, it was EPC which went four and out, turning the ball back over to Marked Tree at their own 28. Then on the fourth play following, Gray punted back to the Warriors, Beatty taking the ball near the 50 and returning it to the Indian 18.

For the second time in the young game, EPC was in the "red zone." And, likewise, for the second time on the night they were unable to capitalize on the opportunity as four plays netted them only seven yards.

The Indians once again took possession deep in their end of the field at the 11 and once again Gray punted.

On the first play from scrimmage from the Indian 25, almost as if to say "enough is enough" Beatty shot through the middle of Marked Tree territory virtually untouched for EPC's only score on the night with :27 left in the quarter.

Indians defensive coordinator Waylon Dunn makes a point with his team during the Marked Tree/EPC game Friday night. (Tribune photo/Dan Brawner)

Carson Tyler's extra point attempt sailed wide, but at the time, considering the first 11:33 of the game, it looked as if the 6-0 would be only the beginning for the Warriors.

This was especially true when Marked Tree fumbled the snap on the next series and J.P. Bishop recovered for the Warriors at the Indians' 20. A holding penalty pushed them back to the 36 with a first and 25.

Two runs by Beatty along with an incomplete pass put the ball back at the 21, giving EPC a fourth and one. Tyler tried to sneak the ball, but was thrown back two yards, giving the ball back to the Indians at the Marked Tree 22.

Gray got his longest run of the night up to that point when he hit for nine to the 31. Then, thanks to a Warrior personal foul penalty, the Indians notched their initial first down of the night to the EPC 46.

Lassiter then completed his only pass of nine on the night when he found Chris Williams for three yards to the visitors' 43. Unfortunately for the home team, an incomplete pass and a recovered fumble brought up a fourth and nine, forcing Gray to punt once more.

The half ended with EPC in possession of the ball twice more and the Indians once, the only eventful thing was the Indians making their first actual first down on a seven-yard run by Gray.

"We had plenty of chances in the first half," said Harris. "We had the ball in their end of the field almost all of the first half and could only score once. That was probably the difference in the game, our inability to take advantage of our opportunities in the first half."

"I felt like at halftime we had dodged a bullet and were fortunate to still be down by only six points," Branum said. "We felt like if we could get anything going at all (in the second half) we still had a chance."

Apparently, the halftime talk the Indian coaches had with their charges was fruitful as Marked Tree came out in the third period and went on a seven play drive from their 37 to the Warrior three aided by two EPC personal foul penalties. Looking at third and goal, the Warriors first slammed Gray for no gain, then on fourth down, hurried Lassiter for an incomplete pass.

Inspired by the effort, apparently, the Indians stopped the Warriors on the 12 where Tyler punted to the Marked Tree 45. An interference penalty gave the Indians a first down at the Warrior 40, whereupon Gray then ran four consecutive plays for one, 10, one and, finally, 25 for the lone Marked Tree TD with 3:00 remaining in the third.

Tight end Richie Tate then came on and kicked the Indians into the 7-6 lead, splitting the uprights.

"We had a linebacker out of position," said EPC defensive coordinator Brian Weathers of the scoring play. "They saw it and took advantage of it."

"The same thing happened with us," said Dunn about Beatty's TD.

Again Marked Tree held EPC to only four plays and took over the ball again at the Warrior 24 after Tyler punted 32 yards and Gray returned it 23. Williams scampered 16 yards to the eight, but EPC recovered a fumble on the next play, ending the quarter.

For the next 8:22 the Warriors marched the ball down the field in a 15 play drive which had all the earmarks of a game-winning effort. Then with 3:45 remaining and EPC looking at a fourth and two at the Indians' 27, Tyler was dropped for no gain and the Indians took the ball with 3:38 remaining.

Gray and Lassiter alternated running the ball for the final drive of the night, gaining two first downs and the win when the buzzer sounded ending the game.

Statistically for the Indians, Lassiter finished the game going 1 for 9 through the air for three yards to Williams while rushing seven times for 23 yards. Williams added 31 yards on the ground from five carries while Francisco Matos had one carry for three yards and Quincel Wilson a minus 15 yards on two carries.

For the Warriors Tyler completed three passes in 10 attempts for 24 yards while gaining 41 yards on nine carries. Ford finished with 62 yards on seven carries while Lando Bass was 2 for 4. Bubba Timbs led the receiving with one catch for 15 yards followed by Beatty with 12 yards on one catch and Ford with one grab for minus three yards.

Both teams will back on the field Friday with the Indians traveling to Cedar Ridge while the Warriors play host to Augusta. Both games are schedule to kick off at 7:30.