MOUNT PLEASANT — Marshall knew it was going to be a good night after the opening 14 seconds Friday.

At first glance, Jamal Anderson's carry to open the game looked like a typical 3-yard gain up the middle. That is until, football in hand, Bryce French broke free from the massive pile bodies in the middle of the field and sprinted down the right sideline for 66 yards and a touchdown.

COURTNEY CASE/News Messenger (ENLARGE)

Marshall's Bryce French breaks into Sulphur Springs' secondary on the way to a 47-13 victory Friday at Sam Parker Stadium in Mount Pleasant. The Mavericks won 48-13.

The fumble return left both teams scratching their heads a bit, but it also left the Mavericks with a lead they would not relinquish.

Marshall went on to score on its next five possessions, building a big lead en route to a going-away, playoff clinching 48-13 win over Sulphur Springs at Sam Parker Field.

"I just saw the ball on the ground, so I just picked it up and ran with it," said French, who added an interception on defense and a season high 125 rushing yards on 11 carries. "I was the only one who saw (the ball) until I ran out of the pile. Then everybody saw me running away."

In a twist of fate, the Mavs (6-3, 4-1) sealed their third straight postseason bid on the same field it did last season because of the Wildcats' (6-3, 2-3) decision earlier in the week to move the game to Mount Pleasant due to poor field conditions at their home field.

Marshall punched its playoff ticket on the road against Mount Pleasant during the regular season finale a year ago.

"It all started with the offensive line," said Marshall head coach Thedrick Harris, whose team had 361 rushing yards on its way to locking up second place in District 13-4A, along with the district's top seed in the UIL Class 4A, Division II playoff bracket.

"They got the push all night long and it really gave them some problems," Harris continued.

Following the opening play, the Mavericks played nearly flawless in the first half, using the same offensive formula they did a week ago against Texas High to roll out score after score.

Anderson (128 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries), French and J.C. Haigwood (80 yards and three touchdowns on 14 carries) paced a three-tiered rushing attack and Brandon Fitzgerald (3-for-5 for 75 yards) was effective when throwing, helping Marshall to touchdowns on five of six first-half possessions and a 34-13 halftime lead.

The difference for Marshall this week was that it got the big lead, and then closed it out.

The Mavs kept the Wildcats scoreless in the second half while forcing three turnovers on downs.

Marshall also forced four Sulphur Springs turnovers (two interceptions and two fumble recoveries) to post a plus-three turnover margin.

"We stayed consistent and did what we had to do," French said. "We limited our mistakes. We're getting better and better at that."

Sulphur Springs tried to reclaim the momentum on the first possession of the second half, driving to Marshall's 13-yard line, but the Mavericks halted the progression when Sam Oney pounced on a Colton Lee fumble.

The Mavs then forced a turnover on downs on the Wildcats' ensuing possession, using that momentum to ice the game with a six-play, 76-yard drive that French capped with a 35-yard score on a keeper up the middle, providing a 41-13 lead with 2:38 left in the third.

Sulphur Springs' next two drives ended with a turnover on downs and a Teven Trammell fumble recovery, respectively, after which Anderson applied the final blow with a 58-yard scoring burst with 5:28 remaining in the fourth.

Marshall had scoring drives of 65 yards, 72 yards, 50 yards and 46 yards to cruise to a 34-7 lead with 7:04 left in the second. Haigwood finished each of those first three drives with touchdowns, giving him a district-leading 14 on the season, while Demeon Timmons punctuated the final scoring drive with a 17-yard run up the middle.

Lee finished 19-for-37 for 280 yards and an interception while Bryant Jackson led all players with 104 yards on four catches.

Daveon Williams led the Mavs with three grabs for 75 yards.

Marshall will close the regular season with a home game against Mount Pleasant next week while Sulphur Springs travels to Hallsville for a winner-take-all game for the district's final playoff spot.