by Jon M. Gambee 
Martin Bureau Chief
Garrett Dill threw for two touchdowns and ran for another as Martin beat Bloomingdale 27-6. Friday night.
The Clippers beat Eau Claire 30-15 a week ago and now have won two straight for the first time since the 2007 season.
Dill also ran in a two-point conversion and kicked an extra point to account for 21 of Martin’s 27 points.
Not that he didn’t have some help, especially on defense, as the Clippers held the Cardinals to 92 total yards, 79 of them coming in the third quarter.
“I was not happy with the third quarter,” said Martin Coach Randy Hunt, “but overall, I thought we played very well. I wish we could have passed the ball a little more, but the wind was very strong and that worked against us.”
Dill finished with four completions in 11 attempts for 72 yards, one touchdown and an interception. He threw touchdown pass of 14 yards to Tanner Curry in the first quarter and 38 yards to Jared Klassen in the third.
Collin Warner led all rushers with 86 yards on 20 carried. Luke VanPutten finished with 67 yards on 11 carries and Dill rushed 12 times for 60 yards. The Clippers racked up 241 yards on the ground.
Warner was also outstanding on defense, coming up with one interception and a strip of the ball which resulted in a Martin fumble recovery. He also spent much of the night in the Cardinals’ backfield helping keep the Bloomingdale running game in check. He finished with four unassisted tackles and an assist.
Cameron Conley and David Morris led the team with five unassisted tackles and an assist each.
Bloomingdale had only two total yards in the first quarter and one in the second, a mere three total yards for the first half. Take away the third quarter and it was a completely dominating performance for the Clippers. In the fourth quarter, Bloomingdale had only 10 total yards.
Bloomingdale took the opening kickoff but went four and out, with a fake punt resulting in a two-yard loss and giving Martin the football on the Bloomingdale 45. It took the Clippers 14 plays to score and Dill’s kick made it 7-0 at the end of the first quarter. Martin made it 13-0 at the half when Dill ran a quarterback keeper from seven yards out with 4:40 to play in the quarter.
Martin made it 19-0 with 8:01 left in the third quarter when Dill hooked up with Klassen from 38 yards out but Bloomingdale finally got on the board with a six-play, 58-yard drive, culminated by a one-yard touchdown run by quarterback William Mills.
But that would be the only glimpse of success the Cardinals would enjoy, as Martin controlled the football and the clock the rest of the way.
The game was beset with penalties as both teams combined for 22 miscues.
“It wasn’t a pretty game,” Hunt admitted, “but we made the plays when we had to and we stayed with the game plan.”
Martin is now 2-4 on the season, while Bloomingdale falls to 1-5. The Clippers will be host to Decatur for Parents Night next week. The following week, Martin will he host for its Homecoming game against Galesburg-Augusta.
