By Rick Kozlowski
For Lootpress
MARTINSBURG — Martinsburg has been on such a roll since winning its first of 10 state football championships in 2010 that some in the public and media react surprised when the Bulldogs haven’t wrapped up a victory only seconds after the opening kickoff.
Sometimes, it takes the top-seeded, Class AAAA Bulldogs until after halftime to assume total control of a contest much to the dismay of some.
“We get better as it goes on,” Martinsburg coach David Walker said.
Still, he’s not immune from seeing the stories and listening to what can be construed as criticism of a program that hasn’t lost a game to a local opponent since 2007 and just seems to hum along.
“I hear it from the stands sometimes,” Walker said. “It’s the nature of the beast.”
He certainly built a beast, one that took care of things quickly Saturday afternoon at Walker Stadium.
Yes, Martinsburg demonstrated it can claim victories in the opening minutes of a game.
The Bulldogs dispensed with Parkersburg in the first round of the postseason midway through the first quarter when they led 21-0 on the way to a 77-7 victory.
The Bulldogs playes their first home contest in six weeks.
“Our guys were excited to play,” Walker said. “They haven’t played here in a long time
“They were excited.”
Hungry, as well.
Koi Fagan, one of the favorites to win the Kennedy Award as the state’s top player, ran 5 yards for a touchdown on the opening series and then tossed a 49-scoring pass to a wide-open Kyree Bunny two minutes later for the receiver’s 16th receiving touchdown of the year.
The lead grew to 21-0 as Tashawn Cofield blocked a punt, and Michel Dillard scooped up the ball just in front of the goal line and then crossed it for his first career touchdown.
“We were talking about it all week,” Dillard said of the blocked punt. “We knew we were going to get one.
“I got lucky. I was like, I saw the ball, “get the ball and get in.”
The Bulldogs scored twice more in the first quarter for a 35-0 lead.
Kevin Myers caught a 61-yard touchdown pass from Fagan, and Brayden Miller hauled in a swing pass for a 10-yard score.
Fagan completed 6 of 8 passes for 187 yard, ran five times for 60 yards and two touchdowns in the first half,and watched the rest of the game from the bench.
Dillard returned an interception 52 yards for a touchdown to start Martinsburg’s second-half scoring.
He was playing linebacker in place of Nicholas Busky, who suffered a minor hip injury and was kept out of action as a precaution.
“I play a good amount,” Dillard said. “Usually when they need a spell.”
He admitted if Busky wasn’t injured, Dillard wouldn’t have been playing then.
“Probably later on,” he said.
Later on, pretty much everybody on Martinsburg’s varsity and JV squads saw action.
Boston Todd, who adroitly wrestled the ball from a pair of defenders on a 41-yard pass play, then ran 13 yards for Martinsburg’s seventh touchdown.
Martinsburg wrapped up the first-half scoring on Fagan’s 25-yard touchdown scamper.
Brian Dick, Martinsburg’s backup quarterback, scooted 43 yards for a touchdown on the Bulldogs’ first possession of the second half.
Miller returned a punt 45 yards for a touchdown, giving the Bulldogs 70 points.
Martinsburg’s 11th TD came on a 35-yard run by Myers.
The freshman started to the right on a sweep, where there was a lot of defensive traffic. He cut back to the left, and met no resistance as he ran 35 yards to the end zone.
That final touchdown by Martinsburg came after Parkersburg finally scored on quarterback Cooper Cancade’s 1-yard run to cap an 80-yard drive.
The quarterback set up the score on an 18-yard bootleg pass play to tight end Braxton Kupfner.
The Big Reds ended their season at 4-7, while Martinsburg won its 10th game against a forfeit loss and will host Parkersburg South next week.
