MILLERSBURG — He’s invaluable on offense and indispensable on defense, but it’s Markale Martin’s fire that Lexington can’t live without.

Lex’s undisputed emotional leader, Martin rushed for two touchdowns as the Minutemen throttled West Holmes 41-7 in an Ohio Cardinal Conference showdown at Knights Stadium.

Lexington (6-1, 3-0) is tied atop the OCC standings with Ashland (7-0, 3-0). The Arrows beat Mansfield Senior 48-19 on Friday night at Arlin Field.

Martin missed the first four games of the season after fracturing his wrist playing summer baseball. The injury required surgery to repair the damage.

“I knew it was going to be a process recovering,” Martin said. “I always knew I was going to get back, though.

“There was never a doubt in my mind.”

Martin made 113.5 tackles last year and was Lexington’s second-leading rusher. His production on the field doesn’t paint a complete picture.

“He’s tremendous offensively and defensively, but it’s his leadership,” Lex coach Andrew Saris said. “He just brings something out there and it’s something that I would always want to play behind if I was a player.”

Out of the Gate

Lexington won the toss and opted to take the ball to start. The plan worked to perfection as quarterback Joe Caudill hooked up with Georgia-bound receiver Brayden Fogle on a 54-yard scoring strike for a quick 7-0 lead.

Martin scored the first of his two TDs on a 5-yard run midway through the opening quarter as Lex jumped out to a 14-0 advantage.

“It was important for us to come out and have some success early and make some big plays on offense,” Saris said. “We were able to run the football. We did a good job along the line of scrimmage but also let our playmakers make plays downfield.


“Overall we had great balance offensively.”

Full Throttle

Leading 14-0 after the first quarter, Lex blew it open in the second. Avery Crawford caught a 23-yard touchdown pass to make it 21-0 with 8:06 to play in the first half and Martin scored on a 12-yard run to forge a 27-0 bulge. Caudill and Crawford hooked up again on a 22-yarder to expand the gap to 34-0 at the half.

Seven Allen scored on the final play of the third quarter for a 41-0 advantage.

West Holmes avoided the shutout when quarterback Brayden Parsons hooked up with Rhett Chaney for a 56-yard score midway through the fourth.

“The coaches did a great job and the kids executed,” Saris said. “It was a complete effort.”

Nemesis

Lexington will host New Philadelphia next week. The Quakers have won all three meetings since joining the OCC in 2022.

“It’s a big game for us because we’re at home and we haven’t beaten them,” Martin said. “We want to protect our home field.”