Martin concluded a hugely successful first season in eight-man football by edging a quality Climax-Scotts outfit 26-24 Friday evening.
The victory lifted the Clippers’ overall season record to 9-0 and coach Brad Blauvelt and his legions anxiously await announcement of pairings for the post-season playoffs. They concluded their campaign as undisputed champions of their eight-man football conference and it was the team’s first 9-0 regular season ever.
On Climax’s open possession Brayden Eckman picked up a fumble and ran 48 yards to the end zone and successful two-point conversion put the game at 8-0 early in the first quarter. Eckman also got in on the action rushing four times for 69 yards, including a pivotal 42 yard score in the first half.
“One of biggest plays of the game came when Travis Thorne completed a pass to Mitchell Jager on 4th and 10 late in the fourth quarter while the score was 26-24,” Blauvelt said. “Later in the same drive, Thorne completed another pass to Cayden Curry on a third and long, for another first down which proved to be the deciding factor.”
Cayden Curry rushed 18 times for 91 yards, scoring two touchdowns. Curry lead the defense with 8 tackles and a fumble recovery, Thorne added 7 tackles. Martin rushed for 250 yards on 43 attempts and threw for 110 yards.
Friday wasn’t as kind to Hopkins and Wayland, meanwhile, as both concluded their campaigns with losses.
Hopkins traveled all the way to Petoskey and lost 48-38 to Menominee in a non-league contest that proved to be the only blemish on the Vikings’ overall season record. With an 8-1 record, they also await news about whom they will face next weekend in the first round of the Division 5 post-season playoffs.
Wayland concluded an 0-9 campaign with a 61-8 defeat at the hands of O-K Gold Conference opponent Grand Rapids Christian. The Wildcats scored only 62 points in nine games and yielded a whopping 365.
