Martins Ferry Passes First Test, Rolls Past Union Local By 45-20

MARTINS FERRY - Facing its first real test of the season, Martins Ferry aced that exam Friday night at Purple Rider Stadium inside the Dave Bruney Football Complex.

The Purple Riders (6-0) overcame an early 13-0 deficit by scoring 45 of the final 52 points in a 45-20 victory over previously undefeated Union Local before a large turnout on Homecoming 2026.

"We took two body shots early, but I was so proud of the way the kids responded," a jubilant Martins Ferry head coach Justin Kropka said. "That was really the first time we had faced adversity all season, and I thought we responded with flying colors. I'm really proud of them for that."

The Jets (5-1) had only yielded 494 rushing yards in the first five weeks, but junior Walkquem Cox rambled for 310 on 30 carries and scored four touchdowns on runs of 27, 7, 45 and 94.

"Oh wow," Cox said when informed of his rushing total. "My offensive line did the job tonight. I told my teammates that we were going to come out here tonight and play Martins Ferry football. We did just that."

Martins Ferry's defense forced four turnovers and recovered a pair of onside kicks that sparked the lop-sided victory, the 750th in program history.

"That was a goal of ours. I knew all of these kids because they were my son's age, so I told them this is why I came back here. To coach them in games like this," Coach Kropka noted.

A 36-yard punt return by Seth Schumacher set the Jets up with good field position at the Martins Ferry 9. Two plays later, Kolten Snyder bulled in from a yard out, but Jeff Bolon's PAT was blocked by Elijah Roby for a 6-0 lead.

Following another punt by the Purple Riders - their second on two possessions - Perzanowski took a pitch around right end for an 11-yard touchdown and Bolon's placement made it 13-0.

However, Martins Ferry scored on successive series as Colby Kropka connected with Roby on a 43-yard pitch-and-catch down the home sidelines. Kropka lofted the ball up and Union Local's Eli Rogers was in good defensive position, but the athletic Roby went up and got the ball, broke a tackle and sprinted to the end zone. Jacob Theaker, who was all over the field, booted the first of his six PATs, for a 13-7 Jets lead.

Theaker recovered his own perfectly executed onside kick to set the hosts up once again. Following an illegal grounding penalty, the Purple Riders went 59 yards on four plays, with the hard-running Cox busting up the middle of the field and going untouched to the promised land. Theaker put the Purple Riders ahead, 14-13.

Union Local re-took the lead when Evan Poziviak found Kam Gordon in the middle of the end zone from 19 yards out that capped an 8-play, 69-yard scoring march. Bolon's PAT made it 20-14 but the Jets wouldn't score again.

Martins Ferry scored 10 points in the final 3:44 of the first half as Cox scooted around his left end from seven yards and Theaker was true for a 21-20 advantage.

Jakori Cox got the ball back when he picked off Poziviak on Union Local's ensuing snap. The junior returned the pick to the Jets' 29. Theaker split the uprights from 25 yards out as the hosts lead, 24-20, at the break.

The Jets fumbled the ball away on their second play of the third quarter and Martins Ferry responded by driving 58 yards on just three plays as Walkquem Cox faced 45 yards to paydirt. Theaker made it 31-20 and then recovered another onside kick that had deflected off a Union Local player.

The Purple Riders weren't able to score, but got the ball right back when Theaker fell on a fumble caused by Clayton Snyder at the Jets' 14. Theaker was also selected as Homecoming King during the afternoon in a ceremony at the school.

"We normally work on those once a week and it paid off tonight," Theaker said of the two onside kick recoveries. "It was a big day for me."

Kropka sneaked in from the 1 and Theaker's placement made it 38-20.

"We saw something on film that we thought we could take advantage of in the kicking game, and the kids came out and executed," Coach Kropka said.

Union Local was driving once again as it reached the Martins Ferry 2 before a fumbled snap stalled the drive. A fourth-down pass in the end zone was picked off by Roby who returned it to the Purple Riders' 1.

After a 5-yard offsides call on the Jets moved the ball to the 6, Cox took a handoff and burst off the left side of the line and into the secondary before outrunning everyone to the end zone.

Martins Ferry's offensive line of Elijah Zinn, R.J. Welshans, Alex Carpino, Snyder and Malachi Giles, along with Theaker at tight end and Jacob Ball and Aidric Mitchell completely dominated the trenches.

"Our line took it to them. They did extremely well," Coach Kropka praised. "It was a phenomenal job by everybody involved. I'm happy for the kids, the coaches and the town."

Martins Ferry finished with 414 total yards, with 316 coming on the ground. Kropka was 5-of-10 for 98 yards and a touchdown. Union Local managed 276 total yards, with Perzanowski picking up 127 on 21 totes. Poziviak was 10-of-18 for 117 and TD, but was picked twice.

"We just didn't play well tonight, but give Martins Ferry credit," Union Local head coach Bernie Thompson said. "I think we shot ourselves in the foot a couple of times. We're going to go back and watch the film and learn from this. This was two good teams playing and they definitely got the best of us tonight."

Union Local hosts Cambridge next Friday at Jets Stadium, while Martins Ferry makes the short trip to Yorkville to meet Buckeye Local at World War II Memorial Stadium.

Martins Ferry 45, Union Local 20

U. Local 6 14 0 0 - 20

M. Ferry 0 24 14 7 - 45

UL-Snyder 1 run (kick blocked)

UL-Perzanowski 11 run (Bolon kick)

MF-Roby 57 pass from Kropka (Theaker kick)

MF-W. Cox 27 run (Theaker kick)

UL-Gordon 19 pass from Poziviak (Bolon kick)

MF-W. Cox 7 run (Theaker kick)

MF-Theaker 25 FG

MF-W. Cox 45 run (Theaker kick)

MF-Kropka 1 run (Theaker kick)

MF-W. Cox 94 run (Theaker kick)

RUSHING: Union Local 30-159-2 tds (Perzanowski 21-127-td, Meyer 1-31, Snyder 3-9-td, Poziviak 1-0, team 1-(-3), Price 3-(-5)). Martins Ferry 40-316-5tds (W. Cox 30-310-4tds, Johnson 1-2, Disher 2-2, Kropka 5-1-td, J. Cox 2-1).

PASSING: Union Local 10-18-117-td-2ints (all by Poziviak). Martins Ferry 5-10-98-td (all by Kropka)

RECEIVING: Union Local 10-117-td (Rogers 5-34, Gordon 2-48-td, Schumacher 2-21, Kerns 1-14). Martins Ferry 5-98-td (Roby 2-63-td, Ball 1-17, Theaker 1-14, J. Cox 1-4)

FIRST DOWNS: Union Local 11. Martins Ferry 13

FUMBLES-LOST: Union Local 4-2. Martins Ferry 1-0

PENALTIES-YARDS: Union Local 5-35. Martins Ferry 7-61