Martin polished off a storybook record-setting season Saturday afternoon at the Superior Dome in Marquette by conquering previously unbeaten Merrill 74-24.
It was record setting in that the Clippers’ scoring machine came through with an amazing 705 points for the season, an average of of more than 54 per game. Perhaps it was the highest number of points ever scored in a championship game.
The campaign this fall had its ups and downs. Martin suffered defeat twice on the gridiron after three seasons of going undefeated until the playoffs, But the Clipper outfits in the three previous seasons bowed out the eventual state champions, Colon in 2019 and Adrian Lenawee Christian in January 2021 and November 2021.
This time, it was like 1987 all over again. They defeated an old nemesis after losing to it earlier two weeks ago when they pasted Lenawee Christian 42-8. And just like 1987, they won the coveted Class D state crown in a dome, the Silverdome in ’87 and the Superior Dome this year.
Another connection to the state championship squad 35 years ago is quarterback J.R. Hildebrand, son of the all-state nose guard Tracey Hildebrand in 1987.
Martin wasted no time in dispatching Merrill. Hildebrand scored the first TD of the ballgame early in the first quarter and the Clippers were up 20-8 at the end of the opening period. Both teams appeared to have scored 20 and 8 points in the second quarter as well until just before the half Martin got a nifty field goal to mount a 43-16 advantage.
The Vandals came back early in the third period with another TD and a third two-point conversion, but that was as close as they would get the rest of the way.
Martin lost two games this season, 34-19 to NorthPointe Christian and 35-34 to Bridgman. Both opponents were determined by Michigan High School Athletic Association rules to have student populations above e what id appropriate for eight-man football, so they were disqualified.
So Martin finished a championship season with an 11-2 record and Merrill completed its campaign at 12-1.
