The Martin varsity football team had a particularly satisfying season-opening victory Friday evening.
The Clippers prevailed 20-12 over Bellevue in a game that started Thursday night but was postponed for 24 hours because of lightning and thunderstorms. They were leading 20-6 when play was halted.
Bellevue came into the game with solid credentials, going 18-4 over the past two seasons and qualifying for the playoffs twice.
Cayden Curry rushed for 141 yards and two touchdowns. Rayne Torres picked up a fumble and ran 20 yards to score what would prove to be the game winning touchdown. Bellevue added a touchdown early in the fourth quarter making the score 20-6.
Then, lightning postponed the game until Friday evening. When play picked back up with 9:57 left Bellevue forced Martin into a three and out and then scored to make the score 20-12. Another Martin drive fizzled out, giving Bellevue an opportunity to possibly tie up the game. That’s when senior Travis Thorne took matters into his own hands by stripping the ball from Bellevue’s running back and then jumped on it to seal the game.
The offense racked up 205 yards rushing. Defensively, Don Moss racked up a team high six tackles, four of which were for a loss. Thorne, who played one of the best games of his career, added five tackles.
“Credit to Bellevue, they have some really big kids and some athletes. They will win some games this year,” coach Brad Blauvelt said.
The Clippers will play next at home Friday against Tri-Unity Christian