The Martin varsity football team punched its ticket for the MHSAA Division 1 eight-man football state championship game at the Superior Dome in Marquette next Saturday.
The Clippers got the job done Saturday afternoon on their home turf by turning back Brown City for the second time this season, 42-8. They beat the same team during the regular season 49-7.
Martin jumped out to a 14-0 advantage in the first quarter and led 21-0 at the half. It was up 34-0 late in the third period.
It’s been a strange journey this fall. The Clippers until this year had not lost a regular season game on the gridiron but came up short 34-19 against NorthPointe Christian and 35-34 vs. Bridgman. Neither of the unbeaten conquerors winners over Martin were in the playoffs at all.
The Clippers will take on Merrill, which edged Munising 22-20 in the other semifinal. The championship game against the 13-0 Vandals will be next Saturday in Marquette. A community fund-raising effort, spearheaded by Clippers Cafe’s spaghetti dinner has collected money to help defray costs of traveling by bus for players, coaches, band members and cheerleaders.
