Will no one stop these madcap Clippers?
The Martin eight-man varsity football team continued its remarkable assault on the scoreboard and bruising defense in the post-season playoffs with a convincing 54-8 triumph Friday night over Marcellus.
It was the third straight time the Clippers have scored at least 50 points in the playoffs and they have held high scoring opponents to a combined 21 points in three games.
As is their custom of late, the Clippers wasted no time is asserting dominance. Quarterback Gabe Meyers scored on an 85-yard TD gallop and on a one-yard plunge to stake them to a 14-0 lead. Then, to add insult to injury, they pulled off an onside kick that caught Marcellus completely by surprise and took possession of the pigskin at midfield.
Meyers then rambled his way down to the 11 on a 38-yard advance, Brayden Eckman took the ball down to the four-yard line and Meyers scored his third TD of the quarter from there. Eckman provided the two-point conversion and just like that, it was 22-0.
The Wildcats finally started to move the ball and converted one fourth down on the second attempt they were foiled by a pass interception by Charley Martin. Two plays later Meyers hooked up with Eckman on a 34-yard scoring strike and Eckman tallied the conversion. Martin was up 30-0 before the second quarter began.
Meanwhile a defense that posted a shutout the week before against a New Buffalo team that averaged 37 points a game was up to this week’s challenge with big defensive stops turned in by J.R. Hildebrand, Carsen Young, Chris Tuinstra and Tanner Bird.
Though Marcellus back Travis Marsh was able to get the ball down to the Martin 20, the ‘Cats stalled on downs. Meyers tossed a 19-yard pass to Martin and then collaborated again with Eckman on a TD pass, this one from 47 yards. Meyers added the PAT.
Just for grins, the Clippers took a stab at a 43-yard field goal attempt, but failed on the last play of the half.
Eckman scored on a 39-yard and added the PAT to make it 46-0 and early in the fourth quarter sophomore Karter Ribble raced 62 yards down the sidelines for the home team’s last touchdown of the night.
End Ethan Bolger put an end to the streak of eight quarters not yielding a point by scoring on a 77-yard run and QB Gavin Etter tossed a pass to Brady Ferguson for the conversion.
With the victory, Martin claimed the regional championship and now it’s on to the state semifinals next weekend, the final four. The opponent will be either Lenawee Christian or Morrice. Both sport records of 8-0.
The Clippers now are 8-1, with their only loss coming to Lawrence by forfeit as a result of the Coronavirus. Ironically, Lawrence was edged by Marcellus a week ago to set up the regional championship game.
