BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — On a cold, rain-soaked senior night at The Rock, Martin County (9-2) took Betsy Layne’s (4-7) best shot in the first round of the Class 2A KHSAA state playoffs. Coach Josh Muncy’s crew rallied from an early deficit to defeat the Bobcats 42-26 Nov. 7, extending the careers of seniors Braxton Maynard, Devan Maynard, Jason Newsome and Gavin Stepp.
Betsy Layne struck first and went up 6-0 after its opening touchdown. The two-point conversion failed, but the Bobcats set the early tone in the downpour.
Martin County answered when quarterback Devan Maynard dropped back and found junior receiver Rex Ward streaking downfield. Ward hauled in a 55-yard scoring strike for the Cardinals’ first touchdown, tying the game 6-6.
The Bobcats responded with another score and converted the 2-point try to make it 14-6.
Martin County junior running back Crayson “Bones” Lafferty cut into the deficit with a roughly 20-yard touchdown run, pulling Martin County within 2 on the board.
Defensive back Braxton Maynard came up with a big interception with just over nine minutes left in the half. Then Betsy Layne returned the favor on the next drive and capitalized with a TD and a 20-12 lead. The 2-point attempt was no good.
D. Maynard pulled the Cardinals even before the break. He ripped off a 17-yard touchdown run and kept the ball on the 2-point conversion to tie it 20-20 with 4:51 left in the half.
Early in the third quarter, D. Maynard flipped the game on its head. Cousin B. Maynard leaped and knocked a Bobcat pass into the air near the goal line. D. Maynard came down with it and tore down the center of the field. He raced 94 yards for a pick six that gave Martin County its first lead of the night 26-20 with 8:42 left in the quarter.
Lineman Jason “Big Country” Newsome delivered a huge sack on third-and-9 for a loss of nearly 10 yards on the next Betsy Layne series. The Bobcats lined up to punt, but a roughing-the-kicker penalty extended the drive and kept the Cardinals defense on the field.
“It was a huge loss of yards for them,” Newsome said. “It was Monday at practice and Coach Muncy looked at me and asked how many sacks I was going to get on Friday. I told him one or two, so I was glad to deliver.”
Martin County’s front came up with another game-changing play later in the third. Sophomore lineman Braxton Carter broke through for a sack and knocked the ball loose. Sophomore Brayden Fannin pounced on the fumble, giving the Cardinals the ball at the Betsy Layne 47 with just under five minutes left in the quarter.
Lafferty made the turnover count, breaking free on a 30-yard touchdown run with 3:38 remaining in the third.
D. Maynard connected with Ward on the 2-point conversion to push the lead to 34-20.
Early in the fourth, Lafferty punched in another score from 5 yards out. D. Maynard hit junior Jerrod Haney for the 2-point conversion to stretch the margin to 42-20 with 8:12 to play.
Betsy Layne added a late touchdown to set the final score.
D. Maynard, who continues to carry the load as an All-American and Class 2A District 7 Player of the Year, said the rain played a big role early in the game but the Cardinals settled in.
“We started off a little slow, but we got the win and that’s all that matters,” he said. “We weren’t able to pass like we wanted to until it stopped raining in the second half. That held us back coming out of the gate.”
Despite the rough start, D. Maynard said the outcome made it all worthwhile.
“Feels great to get a win on our senior night,” he said.
Maynard also gave credit to the opponent.
“They gave it their all and played an awesome game tonight,” he said.
Next up is Belfry this Friday night.
“People don’t believe we can win against Belfry,” D. Maynard said. “But anything is possible at this point.”
Newsome shared the excitement.
“It feels amazing getting a playoff win on my senior night,” Newsome said. “I won’t have to cry tonight. We got to put in the work this week and hopefully get the win against Belfry.”
Stepp echoed the pride of finishing strong at home.
“It’s a surreal feeling to be able to accomplish this on senior night,” Stepp said. “I feel some sadness this being my last game at The Rock, but to be able to leave it with a win makes it bittersweet.”
Looking ahead to the next round, Stepp said he knows the challenge that awaits.
“Belfry is good at defending the pass, but hopefully we can use our skills and advance,” he said.
B. Maynard said the Cardinals’ second-half surge came down to energy and effort.
“We came out sluggish in the first half but we picked it up,” he said. “Our effort was there in the second half and we got the dub.”
He added that the pick-six play that swung the game was a perfect moment.
“Feels pretty good to get this on our senior night,” B. Maynard said. “Devan and I were both there, and I went up and tipped it to him. It worked out perfectly.”
Martin County finished with 275 yards rushing and 54 yards passing.
D. Maynard turned in a dominant two-way performance, rushing for 124 yards and a touchdown, adding 54 yards and a score through the air, and intercepting two passes on defense—including the 94-yard pick six that changed the momentum of the game. He also added a 2-point conversion.
Lafferty led on the ground with 151 yards on 14 carries and three touchdowns.
Ward had one catch for 55 yards and a touchdown. He added a 2-point conversion reception.
Haney added a reception and a 2-point grab.
The Cardinals defense limited Betsy Layne to 108 rushing yards and 183 passing yards while forcing four turnovers.
B. Maynard added an interception on his senior night. Carter and Fannin teamed up on the key strip-sack and fumble recovery that set up a second-half score.
With the win, Martin County advances to the second round of the Class 2A KHSAA state playoffs Nov. 14. They will travel to Pond Creek for a showdown with the Belfry Pirates (10-1). Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.
