ROCKINGHAM — Getting the scoring started last Friday, senior football player Jacoby Martin has been named the Official Richmond County Male Student-Athlete of the Week presented by HWY 55.
Securing a safety in the opening minutes of the game, Martin and the Raider defense blanked Union Pines High School in a 26-0 victory.
Riding a wave of momentum created by the defense, Martin has earned his first career recognition.
Athletic Profile
Year: Senior
Fall Sport: Football
Position: Defensive End
Years on Varsity: 3.5 Years
“SHUTTING OUT THE VIKINGS” WITH JACOBY MARTIN
Martin has been a staple at defensive end the last several years for the Raiders, but the start of his senior season was plagued by an achilles rupture suffered during an offseason camp.
Opting not to have surgery, Martin made his season debut against Pinecrest High School, which was Richmond’s sixth game of the season. Since then, Martin has looked like his old self, bullying the line and creating plays in the backfield.
As part of Richmond’s win over Union Pines, Martin made it 2-0 midway through the first quarter. With the Vikings backed up at their own three-yard line, Martin pursued quarterback Austin Mooring for a safety.
Trailing Mooring, who was making a bootleg to his left, Martin was helped by junior linebacker Joe Parsons, who set the edge. Martin pounced on Mooring for the quick two points in the end zone.
Through three games this season since returning from injury, Martin has accumulated nine total tackles. Of those nine, seven of them have gone for a loss, which has him tied for third on the team despite missing the first five games.
Martin recorded four tackles against Pinecrest and two tackles-for-loss, and followed that with four more tackles against Hoke County last week. Two of his drag downs against the Bucks accounted for quarterback sacks, half of his TFL.
While the safety against Union Pines was his lone tackle of the game, Martin was credited with a sack on Mooring. He also ranks third on the team in sacks (3.0) this season.
Martin’s efforts have also helped the Raiders register 10 straight quarters without the defense allowing a point. That’s the longest stretch in the past seven seasons and Richmond recorded back-to-back shutouts for the first time in four years.
The Raiders (3-5, 3-1 SAC) will host Lee County High School (4-3, 1-2 SAC) for senior night on Friday. Kickoff will get underway at 7:30 p.m.
RAPID RESPONSE VIDEO WITH JACOBY MARTIN In his interview, Martin breaks down his play in the end zone, talks about his return from his injury and shares about his recruitment process. The Richmond Observer will publish two more Official Richmond County Student-Athletes of the Week next week.
