Martin’s time has come with LaCrosse-Washtucna

As the backup to Seattle Times’ B-8 player of the year Kevin Dainty, LaCrosse- Washtucna running back Tyler Martin didn’t expect to see many carries this season.

With this being his senior year, he decided to stay ready anyway.

Then, when Dainty went down with a torn ACL late in L-W’s first game against Wellpinit, Martin got the starting nod.

He responded better than anyone could have anticipated, rushing for 467 yards and five touchdowns in his first two starts, including a 257-yard performance and the game-winning touchdown in the top-ranked Tigercats’ 44-38 win over South Wasco County (Ore.). That was the closest game L-W has played since the beginning of its 38-game winning streak.

“That was a tough one,” Martin said. “It’s the toughest we’ll ever see. We just had to bite down and fight the whole way through it.”

With the pass taken away, the Tigercats’ game plan was pounding the ball between the tackles, even though Martin is only 5-foot-7 and 155 pounds.

“We’re a run-oriented team, so we have to have quality running backs,” L-W head coach Jeff Nelson said. “We just played a ball-control game and they were kind of able to key on him and it didn’t matter. To be able to put a kid in with that high of talent, it’s pretty much a blessing.”

Martin, whom Nelson said has been the fastest player on the team since his freshman year, carried the ball 41 times at 6.3 yards an attempt in the win while doubling as an outside linebacker.

“I could barely move (Saturday morning),” Martin said. “It was good, though.”

After the adjustment, he’s become comfortable as the featured back, and so far has picked up right where Dainty left off.

“It’s a big role that you have to fill,” Martin said. “I was a little nervous at first, but our line’s really good so just run through the holes.”

If he continues to get those holes and run through them, L-W could complete its fourth straight undefeated season, a 48-0 record for the seniors. That would tie the state’s all-time record winning streak, set by Toledo from 1965-70.

“(The winning streak) means a lot,” Martin said. “We’re playing for four years of seniors.”