NOTES: Return to running back suits Christian Marshall just fine

Christian Marshall spent the spring and summer preparing to play quarterback for Faith Lutheran’s football team during his senior season.

His stint at the position lasted less than one full game, and it might have been the best thing to happen to the Crusaders.

Marshall returned to running back after being injured in a season-opening loss and will carry a streak of five consecutive games with at least 100 rushing yards into Friday’s Class 4A Sunset Region semifinal against top-ranked Bishop Gorman.

“Everything happens for a reason, so I think that was a really beneficial thing to happen,” Marshall said this week. “It’s helping the future of this program, and senior year to end at running back where I’ve been the past couple years is pretty good.”

Marshall was a second-team all-state pick as a junior after accounting for more than 1,700 yards and 25 touchdowns.

He was off to a good start in the opener against St. Pius X (Texas), completing nine of his first 11 passes and averaging nearly 5 yards per carry, before suffering an ankle injury in the first half.

Sophomore Sagan Gronauer took over, and his play in a win over Kaimuki (Hawaii) the following week allowed the 5-foot-10-inch, 185-pound Marshall to move back to his natural position once he was healthy.

“We’re happy with the production we’ve gotten on offense,” Faith Lutheran coach Vernon Fox said. “There’s a lot of weapons that we have, and the guys have done a good job.”

Marshall has a team-best 1,010 yards rushing and nine touchdowns on 125 carries this season for Faith Lutheran (6-4). He posted 225 yards and four scores in last week’s 43-6 victory over Bonanza in the Sunset Region quarterfinals.

“What you get from him is a tremendous leader,” Fox said. “He’s a kid that’s consistent, and he’s a competitor. He’s never going to back down.”

Friday’s game against Gorman (12-0) likely will be Marshall’s final prep football game. He is committed to Air Force for lacrosse, but said he might try to walk on to the Falcons’ football team after his first year at the academy.

Fox said he firmly believes Marshall can play at the Division I level.

“This season has really showed me how much I love the game of football,” Marshall said, “and I don’t know if I’m ready to totally, 100 percent walk away from the game for the rest of my life.”

POLL POSITIONS

Bishop Gorman’s boys basketball team is ranked No. 21 in USA Today’s Super 25 preseason poll that was released this month. Findlay Prep checks in at No. 7, and Pilots senior forward P.J. Washington was named a preseason All-American by the publication.

ALL-STAR GAMES SET

The Southern Nevada Volleyball Coaches Association Senior All-Star Game is scheduled for Friday at Boulder City High.

The Class 4A match, which pits the Sunrise Region vs. the Sunset Region, is at 5 p.m. and preceded by the Class 3A match at 3.

RECENT COMMITMENTS

* Bishop Gorman senior Paige Poggione to Cal Lutheran for women’s volleyball.

* Coronado senior Cassandra Kohler to Southern Oregon for women’s soccer.

* Palo Verde sophomore Peyton Cole to Brigham Young for baseball.

* Rancho senior Katerina Anthony to Iowa Central for softball.

Contact reporter David Schoen at dschoen@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5203. Follow @DavidSchoenLVRJ on Twitter.