BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — Martin County Middle School picked up their first win of the season on their eighth grade night at Cardinal Stadium on Thursday. The Cards held off a late push from Lenore for a 34-28 win.
Easton Slone ran in for an early touchdown in the first half. Bradley Hatfield and Braxten Pack put six apiece on the board for the Cards.
Martin County was ahead in the third quarter when Hatfield forced a fumble and Pack recovered at the 19-yard line.
After breaking multiple tackles, Pack called his own number and crossed into the endzone to extend the lead.
Hatfield high-stepped into the endzone to tack on the two-point conversion for a 28-14 lead.
The Cardinals recovered an onside kick attempt from Lenore to regain possession.
Pack saw a wide-open Landon Estep on the following play but it got lost in the lights.
Estep redeemed himself on the ensuing play after a 46-yard touchdown pass saw him cross the goal line.
Lenore wouldn’t go away and crept back into the contest and scored with 4:41 remaining to make it 34-20.
The away team made the Cards sweat after scoring again with thirty seconds showing on the clock.
Up 34-28, Lenore tried for the onside kick but Martin County recovered to seal the deal on their 8th grade night.
Hatfield played both sides of the ball well in the victory. “I want to thank the line for blocking. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have been able to score my first touchdown over here,” he said.
“This win changes everything for us. We can finally get rolling and it’s been fun this year.”
The gentle giant, Caden Mann, plays right tackle for the Cardinals. “I’ve known these coaches my whole life. I love them and they’re like family to me. They’ve treated me with respect and they’ve helped me as much as they could. They’re another reason I am who I am today,” Mann said of his coaches.
“I want to thank them for everything we’ve accomplished and my team for working together. We were like a chain. No broken links today. Hard work, heart, not getting the big heads. That’s how we won tonight.”
Coach Jason Maynard is in his first year as the middle school coach, having previously coached at the youth level. “Well-needed win for us. These boys deserved it and worked hard for it. It’s an awesome moment for them,” Maynard said of the win.
“They’ve worked their tails off this season. Tonight was a great team effort. They pushed and pushed and found it. We played four quarters of football.”