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By MATT BURDETTE
For The Intelligencer
WHEELING -- Martinsburg continued its dominance in West Virginia Class AAA high school football Saturday afternoon, earning its 10th state grid championship by handily defeating No. 5 Princeton, 57-13, at Wheeling Island Stadium.
Marking the return of head coach David Walker after a three-year hiatus at Concord, Martinsburg left no doubt about its powerhouse status, capping an undefeated 13-0 season with a smothering offensive and defensive performance.
Despite a sluggish Bulldog start that saw Princeton's Dominick Collins score on a 44-yard pass from quarterback Chance Barker midway through the first quarter, Martinsburg managed to shake off the dust and gain control of the game from the second quarter on.
"We just needed to settle down," Walker said. It's a big stage. I knew once we settled in, we'd be fine."
Quarterback Murphy Clement got Martinsburg on the scoreboard at the 8:24 mark of the second frame with a three-play drive capped off by his 31-yard touchdown run, bringing the score to 7-6 Princeton after a failed PAT.
"They showed up, and they were here to play," Clement said of the Tigers.
"I think what started it off was the long ball by me or the pass to Cash in the corner," Clement added. "That got our sidelines hyped and really got us going."
On the Bulldog's next drive,Clement connected with Kashez Gedeon on a 21-yard pass play at 4:43 in the second quarter, while Koi Fagan ran in the point after, making the score, 14-7.
Just over 30 seconds later, thanks to a Martinsburg interception, Clement reached the endzone again on a 48-yard run. Cody Paige kicked the extra point.
Martinsburg's final score of the half came on a 29-yard run by Fagan, and another PAT by Paige.
With seven seconds remaining in the half, Princeton scored it's final TD of the game on a 51-yard pass from Barker to Collins. Sameer Aboulhosn's point-after kick was blocked by Rashad Reid, giving Martinsburg a 28-13 advantage at the half.
The Bulldogs offense went into high gear in the second half, scoring a minute-and-a-half in on a 45-yard run by Clement, with the point after by Paige.
One drive later, Fagan scored a rushing TD of his own on a 12-yard jaunt into the endzone. Paige kicked the PAT, making the score 42-13.
Clement reached the endzone again with 4:21 left in the game, scoring on a 15-yard run. Paige's PAT was good, ending third-quarter scoring.
The Bulldogs final notch on the scoreboard came at 9:46 in the fourth on a 34-yard pass from Clement to Gedeon, making the score 57-13 after Paige's successful extra point.
On the day, Martinsburg racked up 409 rushing yards, with just 82 in the air. Princeton posted just six net yards on the ground and 262 under center.
Individually, Clement racked up 210 yard on the ground in 14 attempts for the Bulldogs and 82 passing. Adding to the ground attacked, Martinsburg's Nicholas Buskey added 106 on six runs, while Fagan chipped in with 77 yards on six rushes. The Tiger's Barker tallied 262 yards in the air, while Marquel Lowes got 13 rushing yards. Princeton's leading receiver was Collins, with seven catches for 169 yards.
"Murphy, Murphy is Murphey," Walker said. "He does what he does. And, Nick Buskey had quite a bit of a game for us. It's a team effort. We gave up a couple home runs there, but it really was because of the defense."
Martinsburg has earned their 10 state football crowns in just 13 years, winning in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 - and now 2023. This was Walker's ninth state championship, extending his overall record with the Bulldogs to 317-81 and his state-record win streak to 70 games.
"I'm blessed, no question," Walker said. I'm just so happy to be associated (with Martinsburg), and to be back home doing the things I really enjoy doing."
"It was great being able to be a part of this and being part of this legendary coaching staff."
"I think what started it off was the long ball by me or the pass to Cash in the corner," Clement added. "That got our sidelines hyped and really got us going."