Martin completes redemption tour with 8-Player Division 1 football state title win over Montabella

The final stop on the Martin redemption tour was successful, making the hours at practice and on the farm worthwhile. The Clippers, who were knocked out in the second round of the 2024 playoffs, earned their third state title in four years, running past Blanchard Montabella for a 52-8 win Saturday in the 2025 8-Player Division 1 championship game at Northern Michigan University. “From Day One, we wanted to redeem ourselves,” Martin coach Brad Blauvelt said. “It was heartbreaking last year. We thought we could win four in a row. We wanted to get back this year and finish it right. “This senior class was special. They’re friends. They hung out with each other. I was super tight with them. They helped me move. They worked on my farm. I will miss these seniors.” The Clippers won the 2022 state title, beating Merrill, 74-24, before tacking on the 2023 championship with a 30-26 win over Indian River Inland Lakes. But Martin lost to Mendon, 26-22, in a 2024 regional final. In Saturday’s state final, Montabella scored first, with Brady Kieff running for a 3-yard touchdown and a 2-point conversion. “They came out swinging for sure,” Blauvelt said. “There were a couple mistakes on that first drive. We didn’t panic. These boys have been in so many tough situations a couple years ago where we won. Once we settled in, we were OK.” Senior quarterback Haylen Buell, who played in Martin’s previous two state finals, was more than OK. Buell capped his career with three touchdown runs and a TD pass against the 11-2 Mustangs. Buell finished with 179 yards rushing on nine carries and completed 7 of 7 passes for 134 yards, with one interception. “He was a monster today, and he has been all season,” Blauvelt said. “He wanted the third title. He was the driving force. I talk a lot about the senior class and how special they were. They wanted it. Haylen likes football. He likes to be physical, and that mindset rubbed off on everyone.” After Montabella’s opening touchdown, Martin answered with a 3-yard run and 2-point conversion by Buell for an 8-8 tie after one quarter. The Clippers took over the game in the second quarter, scoring 30 points for a 38-8 halftime lead. Bryer Watson began the scoring with an 81-yard TD run, with Buell tacking on a 44-yard TD run. After Seth Toris ran for a 1-yard score, Buell found Anderson Keeler for a 25-yard touchdown pass. Toris also ran for a pair of 2-point conversions. Elkins, who ran for a 2-pointer in the second quarter, scored on a 52-yard run in the third quarter, with Buell hitting Watson for the conversion. Buell finished the scoring with a 62-yard TD run in the fourth quarter. Martin totaled 498 yards of offense, including 364 on the ground. Montabella was held to 101 yards rushing and 87 passing. Watson added six carries for 111 yards for the Clippers, with Ethan Greene catching four passes for 23 yards. Watson added two catches for 68 yards. Isaac Suk paced the Martin defense with six tackles, while Buell added five unassisted tackles and two assists. Noah Carlson had five tackles for Montabella, which made its first state final appearance. Gabriel Kauffman led Montabella with eight carries for 54 yards, completing 9 of 22 passes for 87 yards. “This class, this team was special,” Blauvelt said. “Before the season, we asked them to play with great effort, be selfless and be a teammate. “And they did.”.
https://www.mlive.com/highschoolsports/2025/11/martin-completes-redemption-tour-with-8-player-division-1-football-state-title-win-over-montabella.html