By RYAN WALKER

For The Tribune

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — For the Huntington Hammer, the playoffs have already started.

Facing a must-win scenario, the Hammer clinched the final playoff berth with a 49-25 win over the Saginaw Sting in the regular season finale Sunday afternoon in the Ultimate Indoor Football League.

The Hammer was seemingly in a playoff scenario of win or go home as a result of a Johnstown win at Canton on Friday. Johnstown held the tie-breaker since the teams had identical records by winning two of three games in the regular season.

“I told the guys all week, the ball is in our court,” said Hammer head coach Michael “Kool-Aid” Owens. “We came together the second half and played as a team.”

Saginaw (9-5) came into the game as the top seed in the playoffs as a result of front office infractions by Northern Kentucky earlier in the week. As a result, the Sting held starting quarterback Tommy Jones out of action not wanting to risk injury.

Wide receiver and back-up quarterback Andrew Beaver took the snaps for Saginaw.

Huntington started the scoring, as Martevious Young would punch in from three yards out. Wes Sherrill’s extra point gave the Hammer the 7-0 lead early in the opening period.

Young turned in his most impressive performance of the season by completing 18 of 24 passes for 180 yards and tossing two touchdown passes. He also ran for three scores.

The defense got into the act as Andre Portis sacked Andrew Beaver in the end zone for a safety to extend the lead to 9-0 for the Hammer.

Saginaw struck back and make the game interesting late in the second quarter, as Beaver would find Zac Nichols for a 20-yard touchdown strike to cut the Hammer lead to 22-16 at halftime.

The turning point of the game came during the first play of the second half as the Hammer defense made another defensive stop.

Beaver hit LaVaughn Macon on a sit down pass and turn up field for a gain of 12-yards. While being tackled, the ball popped loose and Hammer defensive back Jerett Sanderson fell on the ball to for the first turnover of the game.

The Hammer capitalized on the on the turnover as Young found the end zone again by sneaking in from one-yard out to give Huntington a 29-16 lead.

Huntington put the game away late in the third period when Young found Thomas Riley for a 30-yard touchdown strike to push the lead to 36-23.

Riley finished the game with six receptions for 86-yards to lead all receivers.

“I just try to do my job. If the ball comes my way I try to make a play,” said Riley.

The first semifinal game will be on Friday night as the Northern Kentucky River Monsters travel to Saginaw.

Huntington will travel to Pikeville, Ky. on Saturday to square off with the Eastern Kentucky Drillers in the other semifinal contest. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

Saginaw 0 16 7 2 = 25

Huntington 16 6 14 13 = 49

First Quarter

Hu – Martevious Young 3 run (Wes Sherrill kick) 11:09

Hu – Andre Portis sacked Andrew Beaver in end zone 8:35

Hu – Dray Mason 12 run (Wes Sherrill kick) 5:20

Second Quarter

Sa – Andrew Beaver to Kevin Brown 12 pass (Chris Kollias kick) 10:58

Hu – Martevious Young to Jeff Phillips 5 pass (kick blocked) 8:47

Sa – Phillip Smith blocked kick return 8:47

Sa – Andrew Beaver to Zac Nichols (Chris Kollias kick) 0:53

Third Quarter

Hu – Martevious Young 2 run 7:58

Sa – Andrew Beaver to LaVaughn Macon 10 pass (Chris Kollias kick) 3:53

Hu – Martevious Young to Thomas Riley 30 pass (Wes Sherrill kick) 2:48

Fourth Quarter

Hu – Josh Kaltsas 3 run (kick failed) 9:37

Hu – Martevious Young 1 run (Wes Sherrill kick) 3:37

Sa – Dray Mason tackled in end zone 1:02

Hu Sa

First Downs 16 10

Passing Yards 180 134

Rushes-Yards 11-36 5-9

Total Yards 216 143

Comp-Att-Int 18-24-0 11-32-1

Sacks-Yards 2-13 1-8

Penalties-Yards 8-61 12-54

Fumbles-Lost 1-0 1-1

Individual Leaders

Passing – Huntington: Martevious Young 18-24-0 180. Saginaw: Andrew Beaver 11-32-1 143.

Receiving – Huntington: Jeff Phillips 5-42, Thomas Riley 6-86, Hiram Moore 6-49, Dray Mason 1-3. Saginaw: LaVaughn Macon 5-59, Kevin Brown 3-28, Yvens Louis 1-4, Zac Nichols 2-32, Robert Haynes 1-11.

Rushing – Huntington: Dray Mason 8-30, Martevious Young 2-3, Josh Kaltsas 1-3. Saginaw: Andrew Beaver 2-4, Robert Haynes 2-2, Yvens Louis 1-3.