“It isn’t very good, but it sure is interesting.” — Detroit Pistons scout Will Robinson, watching MIAA basketball
Echoes of Robinson’s immortal impressions abounded Friday night in Martin’s strange and festive homecoming football victory, 38-16, over Lawrence, pushing its season record to 4-0 overall.
It was strange because of the massive number of penalties. It wasn’t very good because of the massive number of penalties. Almost lost in perhaps one of the longest high school grid clashes ever was very dominating and satisfying Martin comeback from a 16-8 deficit at halftime.
Penalties were too much of a factor from the get-go. The Clippers, aka the Onion Kings in a nod to days of yore, were whistled for three false starts in the first three minutes and another helped ruined their first two offensive drives.
The third try was the charm with a 25-yard touchdown scamper by star senior back Cayden Curry and Brayden Echman added the two-point conversion.
Quarterback Travis Thorne then turned in a meaningful defensive play by stopping a certain kickoff return for a TD with a tackle at Martin’s 35-yard line. As it turned out, Lawrence threatened, but did not score.
But suddenly and almost inexplicably, the Tigers turned things around and took control of the entire second period. They scored on a one-yard sneak by QB Zach Payment and converted the PAT to tie it at 8-8.
They captured their second TD in weird fashion not long afterward. They faked a punt on fourth down with a pass from punter Bailey Page to a wide open No. 11 who was never identified all night long at the Onion Kings’ 20. A few plays later, Payment hooked up with the Phantom No. 11 in the end zone.
Lawrence, which came into the contest with an 0-3 record, shockingly and suddenly was sitting on a 16-8 advantage at intermission.
Then things went entirely the other way, particularly in the penalties department.
After taking the second half kickoff, the Tigers were called for intentional grounding and backed up to their own 7-yard line. Two consecutive illegal procedure calls put them just two yards away from a safety. Martin took possession at midfield.
Gabe Meyers, though rather quiet during the first half, came up with a clutch 17-yard gain on fourth down and one and shortly afterward he broke loose on a 16-yard TD run. Curry added the conversion to knot the count at 16-all.
Donovan Moss came up with a key third down sack to stop Lawrence on the next series, but Martin subsequently was stalled with a fourth down and four near midfield. That’s when Meyers lofted a 52-yard scoring strike to Thorne, who’s usually on the other end of such plays. Eckman added the PAT and the Onion Kings never looked back after that.
Thorne then overcame two consecutive illegal procedure calls on kickoffs that went out of bounds by kicking deep down the middle from the 30-yard line and the receiver was nailed at his own 35.
Lawrence, with the aid of more 15-yard personal foul penalties by the Clippers, threatened to tie the score, but Meyers picked off a Payment aerial and returned the ball 79 yards for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter. The home team even was whistled for a 15-yard penalty after that for too much celebrating.
They also were found guilty of roughing the passer and a personal foul to let the Tigers mount a drive.
But Trent Keech, elected homecoming king earlier in the night, pounced on a fumble and set the stage for Martin’s sixth six-point score.
Curry registered his second touchdown of the night, a 29-yard romp with just over seven and a half minutes left in the ballgame.
The game still dragged on past 11 o’clock because of the homecoming and the boatload or penalties.
Also adding key defensive stops behind the line of scrimmage for the Onion Kings defensive unit were freshman Chris Tuinstra, Jakob Conley, Quinn Gorton, Moss and Wayne Torres.