BY MIKE MUNCY
FOR THE CITIZEN
INEZ — It was senior night for the Martin County Cardinals when they took on the Prestonsburg Blackcats and pulled off a statement 44-0 win Friday in their first district test of the season.
Plenty of seniors had a strong showing, while everyone on Coach Josh Muncy’s squad had a good time against the Blackcats.
It did not take long for Martin County senior running back Brock Messer to get rolling. He was unstoppable, having his best game of the year on the ground.
Messer gave the Cardinals their first score of the game with 7:48 remaining in the first quarter on a 6-yard touchdown to make it 6-0. Junior Caleb Horn followed that up with a PAT to make it 7-0.
With 2:33 left in the same quarter, Martin County got back to work on the third offensive drive from their own 7-yard line. Messer kept the drive alive on a third and 1 with a big yardage play to move the sticks.
Senior running back Madden Miller capped off the drive a few plays later with a scamper into the end zone for six. After Horn’s PAT the score was 14-0 with 7:04 remaining in the first half.
Maintaining the momentum, Martin County’s defense again kept the Blackcats in check, forcing another punt.
With 5:43 remaining, the Cardinals took over first and 10 at their own 27-yard line. Although a penalty posed a challenge, Devan Maynard’s big run set up a fourth and 2.
Up by two touchdowns, the Martin County coaching staff elected to be bold and the team went for it: Miller carved his way up the middle of the field to move the chains and keep the drive going.
With 41 seconds left in the half Maynard took off on a jet sweep for a 41-yard touchdown run to make it 21-0 after the PAT.
Maynard dazzled again in the third quarter with 6:13 remaining. He took the snap in the wildcat formation and went 39 yards untouched to take the score to 28-0. The sophomore would later add his third touchdown, with Horn’s 2-point conversion imposing a running clock on Prestonsburg at 36-0.
The Martin County spectacle continued as Messer broke off a huge 83-yard run to paydirt with 3:30 remaining in the game. The Cardinals went with their heavy package as senior lineman Tate Crum punched in the 2-point conversion to set the final score.
The dominating win could not have come at a better time in the first district test of the season. The Cardinals were recuperating from two consecutive losses and had tasted victory in only one of their previous five games. Their win against the Blackcats improved their season record to 3-4.
The Cardinal defense was on full display, keeping Prestonsburg’s offense on the sideline. They held Blackcat quarterback Bryce Holbrook to just one completion for 24 yards. He also threw two interceptions, both to Martin County junior Julian Stafford. On the ground the Blackcats were in the negative with -15 yards.
The Cardinals amassed 39 tackles as a team. M. Miller led with nine tackles (one for a loss). Senior Bryston Wells had six total tackles, two for a loss. Senior Rafe Price had five total tackles and 1-1/2 sacks, with 2-1/2 tackles for a loss. Damien Cheek is credited with the other half sack, five tackles overall and one tackle for a loss. Chase Stacy and Jonathan Cline had two total tackles apiece. Senior Noah Mollette, Jared Haney, Devan Maynard, Aiden Horn, Jack Cline, Messer and Tyler Gantt all had one total tackle apiece.
Meanwhile, according to the official stats on the KHSAA website, the Cardinals amassed 462 yards on the ground. Messer led the way with 192 yards and two touchdowns. Maynard followed with 134 yards and three touchdowns, while Miller picked up 92 yards and a touchdown. Aiden Horn contributed 78 yards on the ground.
Martin County’s next game is Oct. 13 when they travel to Knott County Central. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.
Martin County seniors include Crum, Peyton Hamilton, Timothy Horn, Messer, Miller, Mollette, Price, Joey Robinson and Wells.
