ARIMO — With members of the undefeated 1965 Marsh Valley football team watching in the stands on Friday night, the Eagles (1-0) won their first football game in over three years, defeating the Malad Dragons (0-1) 36-18.

Before Friday, the last time Marsh Valley won a football game was on Aug. 24, 2012. After that close 22-20 win over Malad, the Eagles went on a 23-game losing streak.

But the Marsh Valley players on display Friday in Arimo were much different than the ones in recent years. Now they are bigger and healthier, and they are not afraid to run the ball down their opponents’ throats.

“We found out late last season what our kids are good at,” second-year Marsh Valley head coach Thomas Elliot said about the team’s new focus on running the ball. “So we got them in the weight room during the offseason so they could play this type of game and it’s become our new identity.”

In fact, the Eagles only threw the ball five times during the course of Friday’s game against the Dragons. The ball was kept on the ground the rest of the time.

During Marsh Valley’s rushing assault, the standout player was Styrling Morris. The senior running back/defensive back ran roughshod over the Dragons, scoring three rushing touchdowns and throwing for another. Though he ran for almost 250 yards, most of this yardage was earned during the first half.

“The offensive line did a phenomenal job of opening those gaps,” Elliot said.

But the Eagles’ defense was also crucial to the win. Marsh Valley defenders picked off senior Malad quarterback Cal Willie three times in the first half. All three of the interceptions — with senior Stetson Iverson and sophomores Caden May and Isaac Bowman each getting a pick — occurred within the Eagles’ 20-yard line as the Dragons were attempting to charge into the end zone.

The Dragons tried to stage a comeback in the second half. But costly penalties, as well as Marsh Valley’s stiff defense and relentless running offense, kept the Dragons under the Eagles’ talons.

Elliot said his strategy to continue the Eagles’ winning ways next week as they travel to Filer (1-0) to face the Wildcats is simple.

“More of the same,” he said. “We want our players to be physical, but we also want them to stay healthy.”

Next week, Malad will host the Ririe Bulldogs. Both the games featuring Marsh Valley and Malad next week will begin at 7 p.m.

MARSH VALLEY 36, MALAD 18

Malad 0 6 6 6 — 18

Marsh Valley 0 30 0 6— 36

Scoring Summary

Second Quarter

MV — Styrling Morris 2-yard run (2-pt. conversion good) 10:46

MV — Austin Wilding 58-yard pass from Styrling Morris (2-pt. conversion good) 6:06

MV — Styrling Morris 52-yard run (2-pt. conversion failed) 4:09

MV — Styrling Morris 89-yard run (2-pt. conversion good) 2:31

MD — Hayden Green 59-yard pass from Cal Willie (Green kick failed) 2:17

Third Quarter

MD — Chase Davis 4-yard run (2-pt. conversion failed) 7:29

Fourth Quarter

MV — Dylan Kelley 18-yard run (2-pt. conversion failed) 10:18

MD — Bracken Degn 20-yard pass from Cal Willie (2-pt. conversion failed) 0.25

Individual stats

Passing — Marsh Valley: Dylan Kelley, 2-4-37-0-0; Styrling Morris, 1-1-58-1-0: Malad: Cal Willie: 7-23-162-2-3

Rushing — Marsh Valley: Styrling Morris, 16-240; Dylan Kelley, 7-48; Caden May, 8-42; Bennett Frayer, 8-33; Kooper Sorensen, 7-58; Stetson Iverson, 5-30; Marshall Gunnell, 1-2. Malad: Cal Willie, 5-34; Josh Morley, 4-12; Bracken Degn, 4-34; Hayden Green, 1-29; Chase Davis, 1-4

Receiving — Marsh Valley: Austin Wilding, 1-58; Parker Stucki, 1-25; Preston Armstrong, 1-12; Malad: Hayden Green, 5-115; Gage Cherry, 1-27; Bracken Degn, 1-20