by Jon M. Gambee, Martin Bureau Chief
Martin scored as many touchdowns as 
visiting Galesburg-Augusta Friday, but extra points and a field goal proved to be the difference in the Southwest Athletic Conference contest.
The Rams spoiled homecoming for the Clippers with the victory, only the second of the season for G.A. Martin fell to 2-6.
The Clippers scored first, taking the opening kickoff and marching 70 yards in only eight plays with Andrew Keyzer going the final 48 on a sweep around the right end. But Martin failed to convert the point after and had to settle for a 6-0 lead.
Galesburg initiated a drive of its own on the following set of play,s but Martin’s defense held and stopped the rams on their own eight yard line. The Rams then converted on a 28-yard field goal by Josh Saggio to make it 6-3 at the end of the first 12 minutes of play. Galesburg scored its first touchdown with only 1:57 left in the first half when quarterback Bryan Beard hit Sinque Ezbenko on a 10-yard pass and Saggio’s extra point made it 10-6 Galesburg at the half.
Galesburg took the kickoff to start the third quarter and took only seven plays to go 53 yards. A six-yard pass from Beard to Ezbenko made it 17-6 with 9:38 left in the third.
Martin then went 80 yards in 14 plays, capped off with a five-yard touchdown run by quarterback Garrett Dill. The two-point conversion made it 17-14 and that’s the way it was going into the final 12 minutes of play.
Galesburg scored with 7:31 left to play when Tristan Terry broke free around the left end and raced 47 yards to pay dirt. Saggio’s extra point ended the Rams’ scoring for the night and left it up to Martin to close the gap.
Andrew Boss took the kickoff at his own 14 yard line and gave Martin good field position at the 32. It took Dill only seven plays to lead his team to the end zone, highlighted by a 23-yard option pass from Boss to tight end Tanner Curry. Dill went the final seven yards himself and Boss ran in the two-point conversion to end the scoring for the night.
The Clippers did not run out of options, they just ran out of time and the Rams were able to hold on for the victory.
Andrew Keyzer led both teams in rushing with 135 yards. Terry led Galesburg-Augusta with 122.
Dill was four for nine passing for 49 yards. He scored two of Martin’s touchdown, both on the ground. Curry caught four passes for 64 yards. Beard finished with two touchdown passes, and Terry with one rushing touchdown.
Dill also led the team with 13 tackles. Curry had 11 and Austin Pillars seven.
Martin finished with 199 yards rushing and 77 passing. Galesburg-Augusta finished with 172 yards rushing and 18 passing. Martin had a total of 276 yards of offense, while the Rams had 190.
Next week Martin will close out the 2015 season at home 
against Kalamazoo United, the combination team of Kalamazoo Hackett and Kalamazoo Christian.
PHOTO: The Martin homecoming queen is Karlee Curry and king Caleb Hunderman. (Photo courtesy of Jon M. Gambee)
The Martin football team was squired around town during the afternoon the homecoming game. (Photo courtesy Memorie Moser Konecny)
