BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — Martin County Youth Football will host a Grid-O-Rama this Saturday at Cardinal Stadium at 6:30 p.m.
It begins with Martin County’s A-team taking on Highlands. Highlands will then face Porter at 7:10 p.m., followed by Martin County’s B-team squaring off against Porter at 7:50 p.m. The evening will conclude with Martin County’s A team meeting Porter again at 8:30 p.m.
“It’s an exciting time for our program as we gear up for the upcoming season,” said program director Kenny Maynard. “Opening week of conditioning kicked off June 9, and we’re thrilled to see a handful of kids coming out to participate.”
While experience is limited on the younger teams, enthusiasm is high.
“Only three kids on our B team have previous tackle experience; the remaining 15 are in first, second and third grades,” Maynard said. “The journey of developing these young athletes has been a remarkable roller coaster, and we know it can lead to greatness.”
To support that development, the program has made significant investments in new equipment.
“We’ve made significant strides by securing or receiving donations for a total of 37 new helmets, 40 sets of shoulder pads, practice jerseys, pants, tackling and blocking bags, a two-man blocking sled, speed hurdles, agility ladders and brand-new footballs,” Maynard said. “The total investment of over $7,000 in equipment will truly elevate our teams to the next level.”
Maynard praised the leadership he has seen emerging among the players.
“I’ve witnessed a notable transformation in the kids who show up every day. Many have stepped up as leaders, assisting new teammates to catch up,” he said. “We’re also welcoming new players each week, which is fantastic news.”
This season marks a new chapter for Martin County Youth Football as the program joins the River Cities Football League.
“This will give our athletes the opportunity to play nine regular-season games, and for the first time in years, they’ll have the chance to compete in a playoff setting,” Maynard said.
He emphasized the importance of building the program’s depth and identity.
“Understanding our team’s identity remains a primary focus, as we know how crucial this is to overcoming challenges that have hindered us in the past,” Maynard said. “We’ve struggled with having enough players for offense versus defense scenarios, but we believe this can change. Our aim is to fill teams for Flag (Pre K-1), second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth grades.”
Currently, Martin County has 38 players committed to tackle football with plans to split into a 3rd-grade team and a 6th-grade team. An additional 13 players have signed up for Flag football.
“For the first time in years, our Flag team will have the incredible opportunity to compete against other counties,” Maynard said. “Let’s build this program together and make this season unforgettable.”