Jack Martinec’s Four Touchdowns Lead Cochranton Past Seneca // @CochrantonPride @_senecafootballPride

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TC Jones | September 10, 2021

Though senior runningback Jack Martinec’s four touchdowns were the storyline, it was the Cochranton Cardinal’s dominant offensive and defensive line play that made the 41-8 victory over the Seneca Bobcats (0-3) look easy. 

Though the Cardinals (2-0) were undersized in almost every position, you never would have known it by the way Cochranton’s physicality imposed its will in all aspects of the game. 

“We drill it into our guys that it doesn’t matter what size you are as long as you show toughness,” head coach Mike Feleppa explained. “We controlled both sides of the ball. The guys up front dominated, and the backs carried out the mission and ran hard.”

It was all Martinec during the first drive of the game, getting all the carries for 52 yards and punching in a touchdown to quickly put the Cardinals up 6-0. 

“My mentality was to just get the job done and to find the holes and hit them hard,” Martinec said. 

But Martinec didn’t carry the team all by himself. Blake Foulk had a huge first quarter, helping set the tone for the rest of the game. After pulling down an interception on Seneca’s first possession, three plays later he scored on an 18-yard run, putting Cochranton up 14-0 just 5 minutes into the game. 

“Our main focus was to hit them hard and set the tone early,” Foulk said. “We knew we had to keep it going and not let up.”

Tallying 201 yards in the first half, Martinec would score three more times in the second quarter. But the Cardinals had more going than just its offense; the defense was making plays in the backfield the entire game — ensuring Cochranton wouldn’t lose focus even with a big 35-0 halftime lead. 

“Our guys know that they can’t let up, because as soon as you do, the opponent will get right back in it,” coach Feleppa said. “We always talk about the next play. The last play doesn’t matter. And we told the kids at halftime that the score is 0-0, and we can’t let up.”

Cochranton forces turnover on downs pic.twitter.com/iPVqq8yULY

— T.C. Jones (@tcjones2007) September 10, 2021

The running-clock mercy rule kept the game moving in the second half, but not before Stephan Martinec got in on the scoring action on a 12-yard run at the beginning of the 4th quarter.

Seneca got on the board late with a 15-yard quarterback keep touchdown by sophomore Nolan Seaberry — highlighting the youthful talent of the Bobcats. 

Final score: Cochranton 41 Seneca 8

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