BY BOO NEWSOME
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
HINDMAN — Martin County dominated Knott County Central 42-6 Friday in a Class 2A District 7 matchup at Gene T. Watts Field in Hindman.
Knott County won the toss and Shane Gibson ran 85 yards for a touchdown to put the Patriots on the board in the opening play.
The Cardinals wasted no time responding. Less than a minute into the game Aiden Horn sprinted to the end zone from the 47-yard line to tie the game 6-6. Caleb Horn added the extra point to make it 7-6. From this point Martin County took over the game offensively and defensively.
With 8:02 left in the second quarter, Brock Messer intercepted a pass to give the Cardinals a fresh start at the 49-yard line, setting up a Cardinal first and 10.
At 6:14 in the second quarter, Devan Maynard ran the ball in from the 11-yard line to stretch the lead to 13-6. Horn converted the extra point to put the Cards up 14-6.
As the clock wound down in the second quarter, quarterback Jackson Miller made a precise pass from the 20-yard line, connecting with Devan Maynard in the end zone for another Cardinal touchdown. Caleb Horn continued his perfect streak with another extra point. Martin County carried a 21-6 lead into the halftime break.
The Cardinals received the ball at the start of the third quarter. In less than a minute, Aiden Horn took the handoff at the 39-yard line for another touchdown to give Martin County a 27-6 lead. Following a Knott County Central penalty during the extra-point attempt, Messer took the handoff from quarterback Jackson Miller for an easy 2-point conversion. The Cards went up 29-6.
Messer intercepted a Patriot pass and returned it for a touchdown at 9:55 in the third quarter. However, the play was called back due to holding penalties and the Cards started their drive at the 40-yard line.
With 4:04 left in the third, Aiden Horn took the handoff on the 40-yard line for a touchdown. Caleb Horn got the extra point to make it 36-6.
The Cardinals were not finished as Madden Miller took the handoff on the 2-yard line and scored a touchdown to set the final score.
Coach Josh Muncy called it a “good team win.”
“Everyone did their job and executed the game plan we put in place this week,” Muncy said. “Anytime we can go on the road, get a dominating win and come home healthy is a good week.”
The Cardinals amassed 292 rushing yards on 27 carries and scored five touchdowns with one two-point conversion. Aiden Horn led the offensive strike with 140 yards on six carries and scored three touchdowns. Madden Miller followed with 55 yards on nine carries and scored a touchdown. Messer tallied 30 yards on five carries and completed a two-point conversion. Maynard picked up 20 yards on three carries and scored a touchdown.
QB Jackson Miller had two pass completions on six attempts for 27 yards and one passing touchdown. He had three carries for 20 yards. Peyton Hamilton had one carry for 26 yards. Maynard had two receptions for 27 receiving yards.
Madden Miller commanded the defense with 17 tackles. The senior is ranked fourth in the state in tackles, averaging 14 per game. Bryston Wells followed with 10 tackles, Cory Parsley and Damien Cheek each had seven tackles, Noah Mollette, Braxton Moore, Rafe Price and Messer each had five tackles, and Aiden Horn and Julian Stafford each had four tackles.
On special teams Caleb Horn went 4 of 5 on extra point attempts.
Martin County, 2-0 in district play, takes on Floyd County Central for the Class 2A District championship Friday at the Rock.
