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MORRISTOWN -- A picture of the scoreboard from Martins Ferry's last visit to Union Local hangs on a bulletin board inside the Jets locker room.
It occurred on Sept. 13, 2019, and the end result was a 50-7 Purple Riders rout.
Based on Saturday afternoon's game at the sun-splashed Hangar, it's clear the Jets have long memories.
Union Local forced a turnover deep in its territory and then came up with one last defensive stand in the last minute to hang on for a cherished 30-28 victory against the Purple Riders.
"This is a special win," UL head coach Bernie Thompson said. "Look how far we've come. These kids have been working extremely, they believe in themselves and they came out and showed it (Saturday)."
Adding to the excitement was the fact that the Jets hadn't played since Aug. 20 because of a COVID-19 pause that cost them their week 2 game at Buckeye Local.
"It's never easy for the Jets," Thompson said. "We're the kings of adversity. Now we have to turn around and get another short week."
The Jets weren't able to shift any focus to Thursday's trip to Harrison Central before the clock turned to all zeroes because Martins Ferry simply wouldn't go away.
The Purple Riders led 16-8 after one and 22-16 after the Jets fumbled during a punt return that junior Matthew Fox scooped up and raced back 42 yards for a touchdown.
However, that's when the momentum began to shift.
The Jets capitalized on a 35-yard kickoff return by junior Hayden McCrate that resulted in starting a drive on the Riders' 40.
Quarterback Carter Blake found senior Dakota Hess, who scored the second Jets touchdown of the game on a 24-yard pitch and catch, for 22 yards. A personal foul penalty on the Riders gave Union Local a first-and-goal on the nine.
Three plays later, working with a running clock and without a time out, the Jets scored a buzzer-beater touchdown when Blake found Caleb McWhorter on a 2-yard pass. Blake was perfect on the PAT, giving the Jets a 23-22 lead at halftime.
"This was one we were ready for," Thompson said. "It was a 48-minute dog fight and that's what we trained for. We knew it was going to be like this, and that's why we put in the work we do in the winter to get ready for games like this."
Union Local picked up right where it left off in the first half to open the third quarter. It marched 62 yards in 5:12 before McCrate, who rushed for a game-high 139 yards on 26 carries, scored his second touchdown of the game. This one covered 27 yards and Blake was again perfect on the PAT.
Martins Ferry, meanwhile, wasn't fazed. It proceeded to march 84 yards in 13 plays in 4:17. Hard-running junior George Hulsey capped the march with an 8-yard burst. The run for two fell short.
The teams traded punts and then Thompson elected not to punt on the Riders' 45 on a fourth-and-seven play. However, Blake's pass fell incomplete and the Riders were business.
"I had punt in my ear, but my heart was saying 'don't give the ball back to them,'" Thompson said. "It didn't work out and thank goodness our kids picked me up on that decision."
Working with the short field, the Riders methodically marched to the red zone. As it appeared the Riders were headed into the end zone to take the lead, the ball was stripped by Blake and recovered by junior Brody Myers for a touchback.
"We had too many mistakes on offense and defense," Martins Ferry head coach Chas Yoder said. "We focus on protecting the ball and we continue to put the ball on the ground too much. We keep making the same mistakes, so we'll go back to the drawing board and continue working."
The Jets were unable to get a first down, but Blake boomed a punt 55 yards, putting the Riders on their own 25 with 98 seconds to play. Two pre-snap penalties made life even tougher on the Riders, who didn't gain a yard on their final possession.
All told, the Purple Riders finished with 244 yards, which was 10 more than the Jets gained. Hulsey finished with 131 yards on 25 carries.
The Riders did win the turnover battle for the first time all season, 2-1. Both resulted in touchdowns. On top of Fox's aforementioned score, Jaizen Miles -- a senior defensive back -- opened the game's scoring with a 29-yard pick six.
Martins Ferry, which dropped to 0-3 for the first time since 2005, will return home to take on St. Clairsville on Friday.