By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

And

RYAN WALKER

Tribune Contributor

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Uh-oh UIFL. The Huntington Hammer has found an offense.

The Ultimate Indoor Football League’s best defensive team added a few wrinkles to ignite the offense and the result was a 39-28 Hammer win over the Eastern Kentucky Drillers Friday that kept them in first place at 3-1.

Working from the shotgun, Hammer quarterback Martevious Young ran for 134 yards and two touchdowns while also throwing for 113 yards and three more scores in front of more than 1,300 fans.

It’s been a maturation process for Young who was yanked in the team’s first game for his ineffectiveness and was intercepted four times a few weeks ago in a 37-26 loss at Eastern Kentucky.

But he has begun to blossom the past two weeks and is the league’s leading rusher.

“I’ve come a long way since the first week. Just managing the game is the difference,” said Young. “Every time I run, I keep my head downfield because our receivers are so shifty.”

Hammer coach Josh Resignalo was impressed by the overall performance of the team, especially Young.

“We’re jelling together,” said Resignalo. “Making the switch to the shotgun to get more offense was huge. It puts (Young) more in his element. He can make plays with his arm and feet. We mixed it up. We just keep building.”

Wide receiver Jeff Phillips came of age with eight catches for 91 yards and two touchdowns including a 30-yard Hail Mary catch for a score on the last play of the half.

“I just threw it up to see what would happen,” said Young.

“We want to be the last team to score in the first half and the first to score in the second half,” said Resignalo. “Our goal is to get 52 points. We’re almost there.”

The defense continued to excel led by 6-foot-4, 255-pound defensive end Michael Robinson who had a hand in four sacks, deflected a field goal and blocked another to set up a touchdown.

Eastern Kentucky came into the game with the league’s best offense and Allan “The Big Biscuit” Holland was the UIFL’s top quarterback.

Holland threw for four touchdowns, but he was harassed all night and forced to hurry his throws and the Drillers were limited to 132 yards of offense and a season-low for points.

“We wanted to put pressure on the quarterback and jump the routs. You’ve got big Chris Foster in the middle and me and Andre Portis at the ends and great (defensive backs) and linebackers. It’s kind of a full circle defense,” said Robinson.

Young ran 12 yards for a first quarter touchdown but Holland threw 4 yards to Aric Evans to tie the game.

The Hammer then went up 14-7 on the desperation pass to end the half.

Robinson blocked a field goal attempt at the Hammer 16 to start the second half and Huntington recovered the ball at the Drillers’ 3-yard line. Josh Kaltsas ran 1-yard for the score and a 21-7 lead.

“I got my hand on the first one and tipped it. I decided the next time I was going for it and I just jumped it and came through clean,” said Robinson.

The Drillers got within 21-14 on a 7-yard Holland to Evans pass, but Young hit Phillips with a 16-yard catch-and-run play to make it 27-14.

Young scrambled 33 yards for a touchdown and a 33-14 lead with 13:11 left.

But the Drillers cut the deficit to 33-28 as Holland threw touchdown passes of 14 and 9 yards to Matthew Barbour.

Huntington sealed the win with one minute left as Young tucked the ball and ran 11 yards for a score.

The Hammer is home on Friday at 7:30 p.m. against Johnstown on Armed Forces Night with many special activities planned.

E. Kentucky 0 7 7 14 = 28

Huntington 7 7 13 12 = 39

First Quarter

Hu — Martevious Young 12 run (Jeff Phillips kick) 12:08

Second Quarter

EK — Aric Evans 4 pass from Allan Holland (Brandon Miller kick) 6:09

Hu —Phillips 30 pass from Young (Phillips kick) 0:00

Third Quarter

Hu — Josh Kaltsas 1 run (Phillips kick) 5:24

EK — Evans 7 pass from Holland (Miller kick) 4:28

Hu — Phillips 16 pass from Young (kick failed) 0:55

Fourth Quarter

Hu — Young 33 run (kick failed) 13:11

EK — Matthew Barbour 14 pass from Holland (Miller kick) 10:58

EK — Barbour 9 pass from Holland (Miller kick) 6:15

Hu — Young 11 run (pass failed) 1:00

———

EK Hun

First Downs 10 13

Rushes-yards 5-26 23-126

Passing yards 106 113

Total yards 132 239

Cmp-Att-Int 17-33-1 11-29-1

Fumbles-lost 2-0 0-0

Penalties-yards 3-17 7-45

Sacks-yards 0-00 4-29

——

Individual Leaders

RUSHING—EK: Allan Holland 3-25, E.J. Adams 2-1. Huntington: Martevious Young 17-134, Josh Kaltsas 1-1, Dray Mason 5-minus 9.

PASSING—EK: Alland Holland 17-33-1 106. Huntington: Martavious Young 11-29-1 113.

RECEIVING—EK: Matthew Barbour 6-47, Aric Evans 6-27, Justin Lamb 3-23, E.J. Adams 2-9. Huntington: Jeff Phillips 8-91, LaRoi Johnson 1-7, T.R. Dews 1-2, Victor Smith 1-13.