Coach Josh Muncy records 50th career win
BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
HINDMAN — Martin County handed Knott County Central its first loss of the season Friday night on the Patriots’ home field, rolling to a 41-6 win that marked head coach Josh Muncy’s 50th career victory.
Knott County Central coach Randall Mullins called the matchup with Martin County “maybe the biggest game in program history.” Fans swore they could hear someone on horseback riding through the shadows shouting, “The Redbirds are coming.” The warning was to no avail as the night belonged to the Cardinals.
Knott County Central opened the game by marching downfield and into the end zone only for a holding penalty to wipe the points away. The Patriots failed to convert on fourth down and Martin County immediately capitalized.
On the first play of the drive, senior quarterback Devan Maynard took the snap and bolted 47 yards for a touchdown.
Momentum swung further when Maynard’s squib kick bounced out of a Patriot’s grasp. Jeremy Begley recovered at the Knott 45.
A few plays later, Maynard connected with Liam Fields cutting across the middle for Martin County’s second score. Sebastian Genovese drilled the extra point for a 14-0 lead.
The Cardinals nearly added to it when Maynard hit Fields for a leaping catch between two defenders at midfield. Two potential touchdowns – one on a Maynard run, another on a pass to Rex Ward – were both erased by holding penalties.
Maynard found Jerrod Haney to push the drive along and a facemask call moved the Cards to the 21. From there, Crayson “Bones” Lafferty powered his way into the end zone. Genovese’s kick made it 21-0 at halftime.
The Cardinals kept rolling out of the break. Maynard hit Haney for 15 yards, then sprinted 32 yards into the end zone for his third rushing score of the night.
The defense followed with a highlight stop at the 1-yard line, where Lafferty, Kendal Mullins and Maynard stuffed the Patriots on fourth down.
What followed was a wild exchange of turnovers.
Martin fumbled at its own 7, Knott fumbled right back, and Mullins came out of the pile with the ball.
Just a play later, the Cardinals fumbled again and Knott recovered at the 3-yard line, finally cashing in with its lone touchdown.
Maynard answered with another long run from 36 yards out with 5:51 left. Genovese stayed perfect on the point-after.
Martin County sophomore Brayden Fannin capped the night with a 40-yard interception return for a touchdown.
A late interception return by senior Gavin Stepp was called back on a penalty.
Maynard finished with 200 yards rushing, three touchdowns on the ground, and a passing touchdown to Fields. The quarterback completed 9 of 15 passes for 126 yards in the air.
Lafferty added 51 yards and a touchdown in the dirt.
Fields hauled in four catches for 81 yards. Haney had two receptions for 31 yards. Junior Rex Ward caught one pass for 6 yards.
Fields said afterward that the Cardinals are only getting stronger.
“I think we can be really good offensively and defensively,” Fields said. “I love getting the ball and making plays for my team. I think we can beat anyone coming up on our schedule.”
On defense, Fannin had one interception returned 45 yards for a touchdown.
James Begley, Jeremy Begley and junior Kendal Mullins each recorded a fumble recovery.
Stepp had an interception.
On special teams, junior Sebastian Genovese made all five of his PAT attempts.
For Coach Muncy, the win was both a personal milestone and a team statement as district play heats up.
“We moved the ball well,” he noted. “It’s district time. Every team is fighting, scratching, crawling for every yard they can get. It’s high emotions, high intensity and high temperatures. That’s what district football does.”
The coach praised the effort and emphasized his team’s execution.
“Kudos to those guys. They played hard until the end,” Muncy added. “I feel like our guys showed up and did what we’re supposed to do. I hope our momentum snowballs us through to the end.”
With Leslie County up next, Muncy pointed out the Cardinals’ continuous improvement.
“We’re trying to put a better product on the field every week,” he said. “Our guys play hard at home and I think we’ll be pumped up and excited. We get a much-needed bye week after that.”
The Cardinals piled up 249 yards rushing, 126 yards passing, and held Knott County Central to just 102 yards of offense.
Martin County hopes to keep the win streak alive against Leslie County (2-4) this Friday in Inez. Kickoff is 7:30.
