Martins Ferry uses fast start to ease past Fairfield Christian Academy 36-7

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David Burnworth | September 24, 2023

Martins Ferry came in the game with a 3-2 record while the Knights came in at 4-1. Both teams had high hopes in this one but a quick 21-0 outburst in the opening quarter allowed the Purple Riders to end any hope the Knights had of another win. The scoring started with a 56-yard run by Tev’n Williams to make this a 7-0 game with 8:35 left on the clock. Just eleven seconds later Travis Trout had a scoop and score fumble recovery to make the score 14-0. Then at the 3;42 mark of the quarter Ayden Ludolph plunged in from a yard out to make this a 21-0 game. The first quarter would see a handful of turnovers as neither team seemed to get into a groove.

The second quarter would see the turnover fest continue coupled with the fact that both defenses were playing well when the offense was not having turnover issues. The only scoring in the quarter came from a 6-yard run by Williams to give us a 28-0 game. Though they were trailing the Knights never quit and with just 19 players in pads, they could have packed it in especially since the Purple Riders looked to have around forty dressed.

The third period was excellent defense and lousy offensive effort from each team. Martins Ferry could have had a 50 or 60-point lead in this one had they just run the ball and stopped trying to throw it. Their passing game struggled in such a way the offense never had a chance to get into any rhythm.

Each team would get a score in the final frame. For the Purple Riders Jase Mahoney outran the Knights defense for a 40-yard touchdown and for the Knights TJ Blair caught a 1-yard touchdown pass to make the final score 36-7. After the Purple Riders scored they elected to go for two after a Knights penalty completing the try was Williams.

The one player for the Knights who stuck out was Rusty Hutchinson, a 5-5, 135-pound Sophomore who seldom comes off of the field. Ferry had some really good-looking players with Williams looking to be a legit weapon.

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