The Marion Indians are battered and bruised, but they're still fighting as they head into the Class 3A playoffs Wednesday night.

Marion (4-5) will be heavy underdogs when it faces 10th-ranked West Delaware (8-1) in the opening round in Manchester, but Coach Tony Perkins is proud they've made it this far during a season riddled with injuries.

The Indians have started seven different offensive lines in nine games due to injuries. Nick Kramer, their new starting tailback, had never played the position before being pressed into action this past Friday night.

The disabled list is a nightmare.

"It's been a really weird year," Perkins said Tuesday before practice. "I think we've had eight concussions that kids have missed (games). They're wearing the best (equipment) money can buy, but all it takes is the right hit from the side and you're going to get dinged.

"Three MCLs, a broken leg, a dislocated ankle, four separated shoulders. And only one of them in practice," he said. "They've all been in game situations. We've just got the injury bug."

It sounds like a MASH unit.

"That's what we started saying about the third week of the season: It's just a MASH unit, and everybody has to be ready at any given time, because you never know when it's going to be your turn," said Perkins.

Colton Mowry, the starting tailback when the season began, suffered an MCL injury and missed three weeks. He returned for a few plays, then suffered a dislocated ankle and was lost for the rest of the year. Nonetheless, he leads Marion in rushing with 284 yards.

Kramer, the starting tight end when the year began, switched to tailback against DeWitt Central last Friday in a dire emergency.

"His first-ever tailback experience was during the game," said Perkins. "He never practiced. He'd never played there. We just threw him in. He knows the game and is really a tough-nosed kid, so that's who we have to go with Wednesday night."

Kramer has carried the ball 16 times for 67 yards this year and is playing with a knee injury. West Delaware counters with Coy Roussell, who has rushed for 1,530 yards and 17 touchdowns.

West Delaware quarterback Brent Lammers has passed for 1,322 yards and 14 touchdowns, and he's rushed for 622 yards and 13 TDs.

"They give you a lot of problems," said Perkins. "We're hoping for rain, to minimize at least one of those strengths."

Perkins knows the Indians will have to play an exceptional game on defense in order to have a chance, but that's exactly what happened this past Friday when they blanked DeWitt Central, 10-0, to qualify for the playoffs.

"They came out and they played with a lot of heart on Parents Night," said Perkins. "It was really fun to watch them play. They just swarmed the ball defensively. That was just a great team effort on defense."

Marion has won all four of its games with shutouts against Mount Pleasant (40-0), Anamosa (58-0), Benton Community (41-0) and DeWitt Central (10-0). On the other hand, the Indians have taken their lumps against Decorah (34-7), Washington, Iowa (42-14), Maquoketa (27-8), Solon (42-0) and Clear Creek-Amana (21-7).

It's been a roller-coaster, but the Indians responded against DeWitt Central when a loss would have ended their season.

"Offensively, it's kind of a piecemeal group right now," said Perkins. "It was tough to take in the middle part of the season, with all the injuries and the way we were playing. And then they came out and did that (against DeWitt). It was really a special night.

"They give us everything they've got every week," he said. "It's been rough from the aspect of seeing all of the kids hurt, but they're playing as hard as they possibly can."

Trevor Hardman has passed for 978 yards and eight touchdowns for Marion. Quinn Cannoy has 33 catches for 583 yards and seven touchdowns. Logan Fuller has 25 grabs for 311 yards and one TD.

Perkins knows his club is facing a stiff challenge at West Delaware, but he's looking forward to the trip.

"If we play the way we played Friday night, we'll be all right. We'll match up with them fine," he said. "We're not full-strength, but they're going to give me everything they've got. We're going into it thinking we're going to make sure we play every ounce of it.

"We need the ball to bounce our way a little bit, but with this group you never know. You just never know," he said. "They surprise me every day."