Stump Martin honored in Senior Gridiron Showcase

Players from both the Metro Chattanooga area and northwestern Georgia came together at Raymond James Stadium at East Ridge High School this past Friday night to take part in the Stump Martin Memorial Senior Gridiron Showcase.

The exhibition game, featuring 2018 graduates, was held in memory of Marvin “Stump” Martin, who passed away on May 10.

Martin was the founder of the Tennessee-Georgia AllStar Football Classic, which began in 2004. Proceeds from Friday’s showcase went to the Martin family.

Players were divided into two teams, Team Stump and Team Martin, which were coached by area high school head and assistant coaches.

The only score of the first half came with 3.4 seconds left in the second quarter on a 2-yard run by quarterback Ethan Barker (Sequatchie County). The touchdown was set up by punishing runs from Jaylin Rogers (Ooltewah) and Trace Condra (Whitwell). C.J. Bond (East Ridge) added the extra point to give Team Martin the 7-0 halftime lead.

With 3:01 left in the third quarter, Team Martin recovered a fumble at their opponents’ 38-yard line and it just took one play to get in the endzone. Barker did the honors again, this time finding Jalen Pinkerton (Brainerd) on a leaping catch over a defender in the corner of the endzone. Bond would add the PAT.

Team Stump looked to get on the scoreboard in the closing moments of the game. They drove inside the five late in fourth, but DeAngelo Reynolds (Hixson) would come up with a third-down sack to push the ball back to the 11yard line.

Facing fourthand-11, Team Stump would break through as quarterback Jaylin Bowers (Tyner) hit Nick Capps (Marion County) across the middle for the TD pass. Bond, who kicked for both teams, would add the point after with 2:24 left in the game.

However that would be the last time that Team Stump would get the ball as Team Martin was able to run out the clock.

Barker was named the Game’s Most Valuable Offensive Player, while defensive tackle Tracy Justice (Tyner) was named the Most Valuable Defensive Player by the coaches. Condra was named as the overall MVP of the game.

Lookout Valley is scheduled to host the annual TennesseeGeorgia All-Star Baseball Classic this Friday night at 6 p.m., while the annual Tennessee-Georgia AllStar Softball Classic is scheduled for Frost Stadium in Chattanooga on June 19, with the doubleheader begins at 6.