BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
BELFRY — Martin County found its footing Friday night as contributions came from all over the field in a 55-32 win over Pike County Central in the Community Trust Bank/WYMT Pike County Bowl at Belfry.
The win evened Martin County’s record at 1-1 after a season-opening 37-7 loss at Lawrence County.
The Pike County Bowl is an annual regular-season high school football showcase and fundraiser that brings visiting teams to Eastern Kentucky for games at Pike County schools. This year marked the event’s 41st edition.
Proceeds benefit participating Pike County teams, while invited teams also receive compensation. Over its history, the event has raised and returned more than $1 million to Eastern Kentucky high schools.
The Cardinals and Hawks opened this year’s bowl under clear skies and the lights at Haywood Stadium on Pond Creek. Martin County racked up 374 yards of offense, with 212 through the air and 162 on the ground.
Martin County head coach Josh Muncy saw the kind of response he wanted after the season-opening loss.
“I’m very pleased with the boys’ performance Friday night,” Muncy said. “I thought we looked great offensively and defensively.”
The biggest takeaway for Muncy was how many Cardinals contributed.
“Some things I saw that make me look forward to this season are basically the fact that we had so many guys involved offensively and defensively,” Muncy said. “We have multiple guys on the field that have the capability to make big plays, so no one person is carrying too big of a load.”
Quarterback Jerrod Haney led the air attack. The senior went 10-of-18 for 175 yards and three touchdowns. Haney also carried seven times for 32 yards and a touchdown.
Freshman Braxten Pack saw action behind center, completing three of five passes for 37 yards. Pack added 31 yards and a touchdown on four carries.
Jeremy Begley led Martin County on the ground with 64 yards on 12 attempts, averaging 5.3 yards per carry.
Dillion Daniel carried seven times for 35 yards and a touchdown. Rex Ward added a 2-point conversion.
Martin County also spread the ball around through the air.
Parker Maynard hauled in four passes for a game-high 72 yards and a touchdown. His longest catch went for 47 yards.
Brayden Fannin caught two passes for 48 yards and a touchdown, including a 36-yard reception.
Noah Bowens pulled down three passes for 30 yards with a long of 15.
Ward had one catch for 25 yards. Liam Fields caught two passes for 23 yards and a touchdown. Begley added one reception for 14 yards.
Maynard also returned a punt for a touchdown. Bowens converted five of seven extra-point attempts.
Defensively, Fannin led the way, piling up a team-high 21 tackles with 11 solo stops and 10 assists. He also recorded two sacks and one tackle for loss, broke up a pass and forced two fumbles.
Braxton Carter racked up 12 tackles with four solo stops and eight assists. He recorded three tackles for loss.
Easton Slone finished with 11 tackles, including three solo stops and eight assists. Slone recorded one sack and one tackle for loss. He also intercepted a Pike Central pass and returned it 17 yards.
Begley made eight tackles with four solo stops and four assists and broke up one pass. Ward recorded seven solo tackles. Bowens finished with five tackles, including two solo stops and three assists.
Fields made five tackles with two solo stops and three assists and broke up two passes. He forced a fumble, recovered another and returned it 52 yards for a touchdown.
Liam May recorded five tackles with two solo stops and three assists and added a tackle for loss. Haney totaled four tackles with two solo stops and two assists and knocked down three passes in the secondary.
Daniel finished with four tackles, including one solo stop and three assists, and recorded one tackle for loss. Pack made two solo tackles.
Maynard had two assisted tackles and broke up two passes in addition to his punt-return touchdown. Landon Estep made one solo tackle and broke up two passes.
Bradley Hatfield recorded seven solo tackles, one pass deflection and a fumble recovery. Aaron Williamson had three assisted tackles. Haden Preece recorded one solo stop. Shawn Nelson and Mason Newsome each added one solo tackle.
In other bowl action, Belfry defeated Louisville Central 28-14 Friday. On Saturday, Shelby Valley defeated Phelps 49-12 and Pikeville shut out Prestonsburg 30-0.
Martin County High School’s Caroline Mills represented the Cardinals in the Miss Pike County Bowl competition, where Shelby Valley’s Kylie Meade was crowned the winner.
The Cardinals will host Betsy Layne for their home opener Sept. 4. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at Cardinal Stadium in Inez.