Union Local hammers Martins Ferry, Jets offense explodes for 60-points
By: Charlie Ihlenfeld, Payton Brooker
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MARTINS FERRY, Ohio (WOUB) — You’d have to think that Bob Barker would be happy with the result of the clash between the visiting Union Local Jets and the Martins Ferry Purple Riders because the Price was Right tonight at the Dave Bruney Football complex for Jets’ senior running back Jakson Price.
That was on display early as the Jets took off with a first quarter drive that was punctuated by an 11 yard touchdown run from Jaksan Price. Initially, it looked as if the Purple Riders were up to the task of combatting the high-flying Jets offense.
Ayden Ludolph propelled Martins Ferry in their corresponding opportunity with a 41 yard strike to George Hulsey to place them in the red zone. This drive was capped off by a 4 yard touchdown run by Ludolph himself, but a failed extra point left the Purple Riders trailing 7-6.
This is when the dominance of Jaksan Price was placed on full display. After a collection of short drives, an excellent punt pinned Martins Ferry back within their own five.
On third and 11, Jaksan Price stuffed Ayden Ludolph for a loss and forced a fumble which he returned for a touchdown to make it 14-6 Jets. The next time the Jets got the ball back, Price refused to take his foot off of the pedal.
On the first play of the ensuing drive, Price ripped off a 73 yard rush which saw the Union Local standout combine downhill running with seldom seen elusiveness to escape a parade of Purple Riders in order to give the Jets a 20-6 lead after a failed extra point.
Price would add one more touchdown on the half to bring his total to four on the night, and ballooned the Union Local advantage to 28-6 after a successful two-point conversion.
Jaksan Price tore through the Purple Riders for 220 yards on 16 carries on three touchdowns on offense and one on defense. On the season, the Jets’ star running back has totaled 612 yards and 11 touchdowns in just three games for the Jets. While that alone is mind-boggling, the 13.6 yards per carry that he boasts for the season is bordering on extraterrestrial.
The first half ended with the Jets tacking on one more score on a Isaiah Tomolonis 15 yard touchdown run. The Jets entered the locker room with a sizable 35-6 advantage over the Purple Riders.
Ludolph and Martins Ferry made a short-lived comeback at the outset of the second half with a 68 yard missile to Baron Lucy to make it 35-14. It wouldn’t be enough for the Purple Riders as the Jets bombarded them for the rest of the second half, resulting in an utter rout of Martins Ferry, 60-14.
The Jets, improving to 3-0, have turned the tables on the Purple Riders in recent years, claiming the last two bouts after falling in the previous three matchups. That is music to the ears of Coach Bernie Thompson who remarked, “They hung forty to fifty points on us a few years ago, it feels good to get them back.”
Union Local looks ahead to Harrison Central at home next week who are also undefeated heading into this OVAC clash. The Purple Riders fall to 2-1, but look to continue the positive moment that new Coach Justin Kropeka has instilled in the program next week at St. Clairsville.