HUNTINGTON – Huntington Hammer head coach Michael Owens is a needy person. No, he doesn’t need attention. He just needs big plays.

He got what he needed as the Huntington Hammer moved a step closer to the playoffs as they swept the series against the Canton Cougars in a 56-35 win Saturday night in the Ultimate Indoor Football League.

“We were kind of feeling our way through it,” said Hammer head coach Michael “Kool-Aid” Owens. “I told them before the game to not think this game was a walk over even if (Canton) was down. They’ll press us to the end.”

Owens’ pregame remarks proved true as the Cougars would hold a 14-7 advantage with 4:47 in the first quarter when Cougar quarterback Cody Pullen found Pat O’Malley for a 3-yard touchdown toss.

It was then that the Hammer got their first string of big plays on the night.

Faced with a third-down and eight from the Canton 23, quaterback Martevious Young would find Hiram Moore for the touchdown strike to pull the Hammer within one-point.

On the extra point try, Canton blocked the kick straight up into the air only to have the ball land into the arms of offensive lineman Chris Foster who would bulldoze his way into the end zone for a two-point conversion and a Hammer 15-14 lead.

“What gave us the spark was the blocked extra point. It got the crowd into it and got us going again,” said Young.

The ensuing kickoff would provide another big play as Jeff Phillips’ squib kick would take a bad hop and be tipped into the air by Canton’s return man and bounce its way back to the end zone only to have Hammer defenseman Victor Smith tackle the returner in the end zone for the safety and extend the lead to 17-14.

The Hammer would get another set of big plays when Canton, facing a fourth-down and long, decided to attempt a 45-yard field goal.

The kick came up short and Jerett Sanderson fielded the ball from his own 5-yard line and weaved his way down the field for a 45-yard kick return to put the Hammer lead at 37-28 with 9:58 remaining in the game.

A Canton TD pass from Pullen to Nate Ford cut Huntington’s lead to just 44-35 with 5:21 left.

This would be the closest the Cougars could get the rest of the game.

Victor Smith fielded the ensuing kickoff and raced his way down the dasher boards for a 44 yard return and a Hammer touchdown that made it 44-35.

Smith was named Special Teams Player of the Week for his two scores.

The win kept Huntington in the running for the final playoff spot, as Johnston defeated Saginaw to stay a game behind. A Huntington win against Saginaw or a Johnstown loss to Canton will give the Hammer a playoff berth.

Canton 14 7 7 7 = 35

Huntington 17 6 8 25 = 56

First Quarter

Ca – Cody Pullen to Nate Ford 12 pass (Jared Thomas kick) 12:11

Hu – Martevious Young to Thomas Riley 16 pass (Jeff Phillips kick) 7:47

Ca – Cody Pullen to Pat O’Malley 3 pass (Jared Thomas kick) 4:46

Hu – Martevious Young to Hiram Moore 23 gain (Foster run) 2:37

Hu – Victor Smith safety 2:29

Second Quarter

Hu- Darwin Pittman 1 run (pass failed) 12:47

Ca – Cody Pullen to Tim Smith 10 pass (Jared Thomas kick) 6:41

Third Quarter

Hu – Martevious Young to Hiram Moore 19 gain (Young run) 12:54

Ca – Cody Pullen to Nate Ford 33 gain (Jared Thomas kick) 2:23

Fourth Quarter

Hu – Jerett Sanderson 45 field return (run failed) 9:56

Ca – Cody Pullen to Nate Ford 25 pass (Jared Thomas kick) 5:21

Hu – Victor Smith 44 kickoff return (Jeff Phillips kick) 4:57

Hu – Dray Mason 18 run (kick failed) 1:00

Hu – Martevious Young to Hiram Moore 10 pass (kick failed) 0:04

HuCa

First Downs 11 11

Passing yards 150 171

Rushes-Yards 12-61 6-15

Total yards 211 186

Comp-Att-Int 12-28-0 17-36-3

Sacks-Yards 5-18 0-0

Penalties-Yards 8-46 6-41

Fumbles-lost 0-0 0-0

Individual Leaders

Passing – Huntington: Martevious Young 12-28-0 150. Canton: Cody Pullen 17-36-3 171.

Rushing – Huntington: Martevious Young 1-2, Dray Mason 9-57, Darwin Pittman 2-2. Canton: Cody Pullen 5-15, Daniel Suitca 1-0.

Receiving – Huntington: Jeff Phillips 4-62, Hiram Moore 4-53, Thomas Riley 3-30, Dray Mason 1-5. Canton: Pat O’Malley 8-66, Nate Ford 6-69, Tim Smith 2-27, Daniel Suitca 1-9.