BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — Martin County Middle School fell 30-14 to Pike Central on Aug. 12 at The Rock.

The Hawks struck first with a touchdown late in the first half, then capitalized on a Martin County turnover just before halftime to take a 16-0 lead.

Martin County answered in the second quarter when Landon Estep took a handoff at midfield and broke through the line toward the right sideline. Estep raced for a touchdown at the 7:11 mark to make it 16-6.

Momentum briefly swung to the Cardinals when Braxten Pack ripped the ball away from a Pike Central runner with 1:50 left in the third.

But the Hawks responded by scoring on fourth-and-2 at the goal line and converting the two-point try to extend their lead.

Ryder Little made a key tackle for a 10-yard loss to end the third quarter and keep the Cardinals within reach.

Little believes the team can win games this season.

“We can work better by improving on both sides of the ball,” he said.

With the mentality built for toughness, Little says it takes three things to be something special. “Be a dog, truck somebody and get through.”

Estep later returned a kickoff 60 yards for another score with 3:53 remaining in the game cutting the deficit to 30-12.

After making some big plays for the Cards, Estep says he “locked in and kept going.”

He gave some insight into what coaches are telling him in the huddle: “Break down, make some good tackles and wrap up.”

Little powered in for the two-point conversion to make it 30-14.

Chucky Leonard came up with two defensive stops under the two-minute mark, but the Hawks held on to secure the win.