by Jon M. Gambee

Fennville junior quarterback Julian Martinez-Grigg threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more to lead the Blackhawks past visiting Martin 32-0 in the season opener for both teams Thursday.

Martinez-Grigg threw touchdown passes of 53 and 32 yards and ran in from three and seven yards out to pace the Blackhawks to victory.

Fennville outgained Martin on the ground 190 to 165, and when you factor in Martinez-Grigg’s 187 passing yards, it gave the Blackhawks a 377 to 172 total yard advantage.

Fennville scored twice in the opening quarter on a pair of touchdown runs by Jordan Watkins, the first from 32 yards out and the second from 53. They converted on one of two extra point tries for a 14-0 advantage after 12 minutes.

The Blackhawks made it 26-0 at the half, but scored twice more before the break. Martinez-Grigg ran it in from three yards out with 3:51 to play in the half and he passed 32 yards to Matthew Polk with just 35.2 seconds left.

Fennville got its final score with 4:35 left to play in the third quarter when Martinez-Grigg ran it in from seven yards out.

One thing that can be said for Martin, however, is that the Clippers never let up. They continued to battle hard throughout the contest and actually scored with just four seconds left to play but a penalty nullified quarterback Garrett Dill’s five-yard TD pass to Jared Klassen.

“I’m proud of the way we fought right to the end,” said Martin first year coach Randy Hunt. “We had some injuries early in the game and when you are shorthanded to begin with injuries can be devastating.”

Martin had only 14 players suit up for the game and Andrew Boss was injured in the first quarter and did not return.

Watkins led all rushers with 190 yards. Andrew Keyzer led Martin with 65 yards on 13 carried. Luke VanPutten added 49 yards and Collin Warner finished with 27. Dill had 23 yards rushing and seven passing.

Martin’s next game is at Bangor, Friday, Sept. 4, at 7 p.m.