BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

FORT MITCHELL — Martin County traveled to northern Kentucky on Friday for the third round of the Class 2A KHSAA state playoffs. The Cards put up a fight enduring frigid temperatures. They came back home as the 7th Region runner-up after a 44-7 loss to Beechwood.

The Cardinals played in their first back-to-back region championship games since the 2008 and 2009 seasons.

Head coach Josh Muncy had a successful season with 18 seniors on his squad.

Martin County took down Pike Central this year 40-18 in the Pike County Bowl. That win set off a four-game win streak.

That included a comeback win over Paintsville 34-32 in the Harvest Fest Bowl and a win over Shelby Valley 40-28 in the Kentucky Farm Bureau Bowl.

The Cards finished the season 9-3 and won nine games for the first time in a season since transitioning from Sheldon Clark to Martin County High School.

Senior Julian Stafford rushed for 55 yards in his final game as a Cardinal. Parker Watts ran for 43 yards on seven attempts. Aiden Horn ran for 41 yards.

Quarterback Devan Maynard rushed for 8 yards, including Martin County’s lone touchdown for the game. Caleb Horn punched the point-after attempt through the uprights.

Defensive stats were not available at the press deadline.