Versatile Martin gives Pioneers several options
By Steve Behr

sports@wataugademocrat

Throughout most of last year’s run to the state 4-A Western Regional final, Watauga usually didn’t score a touchdown unless Eric Breitenstein was carrying the football.

Breitenstein scored 30 of the Pioneers’ 42 touchdowns last year, 26 of them scored on the ground. So it wasn’t terribly surprising that when Breitenstein was knocked out of the Pioneers’ fourth-round loss to West Charlotte, Watauga fell 21-0.

Breitenstein has still scored his share of touchdowns in 2007, but Watauga doesn’t necessarily face a shutout if he doesn’t score. Weapons, such as quarterbacks Adam Chiarolanzio, Blake Beason, receivers Jack Wallace, Cam Steury and Dennis McMenamin, have all made contributions.

Baine Martin has also emerged as a go-to player for the Mountaineers.

Martin, who had three receptions for 114 yards, scored two touchdowns in the Pioneers’ 42-14 victory over Alexander Central in the first round of the state 4-A playoffs. Martin also caught a 33-yard scoring pass in Watauga’s 25-13 win over A.C. Reynolds two weeks ago, and scored on an 18-yard reverse in the Pioneers’ 27-7 win over South Caldwell.

Few touchdowns were as easy as his first against Alexander Central, a 49-yard strike from Chiarolanzio five plays into the game. Martin ran a post pattern from the back side of the formation and ended up with single coverage on the play.

“Having Baine on the back side of the trips, that corner back is on an island,” Pioneers coach Adrian Snow said. “He made a good catch.”

By the time the safety came over to help, Martin was two yards behind both defenders. Chairolanzio’s pass was dead-on target and Martin had no trouble catching the ball and reaching the end zone.

It gave the Pioneers an early 7-0 lead with 9:45 left in the first quarter.

“We had someone on the underneath route and the post route was wide open,” Martin said of the scoring play. “We knew we were going to end up throwing it because Adam had time. So we put in the deep route and had him throw it up there. It worked out perfectly.”

Martin’s second touchdown catch didn’t exactly work out like it was drawn up on the chalkboard, but the play still ended up as a Watauga touchdown. It was the same play as the first Martin score, but Chiarolanzio had more pressure on him when throwing the ball.

The pass was short and looked like it would be intercepted by one of two Alexander Central defenders.

However, Martin, who was behind both defenders by two steps, came back to the ball, worked his way between the two defenders, and made the catch.

From there, he ran to the right sideline and eventually reached the end zone. That play went for 58 yards and gave the Pioneers a 21-7 lead they took into halftime.

“I had to jump a little bit for it,” Martin said. “Adam made a good statement by trusting me to go up and make the catch.”

The Pioneers had taken a 14-0 lead, but struggled a bit in the second quarter. Martin’s touchdown not only took a little momentum away from the Cougars, but also gave the Pioneers a push into the second half.

“It’s just big that coach trusts us in the passing game, because we put a lot into it and it’s important for us to be dynamic in the playoffs.”

It’s also important to be balanced. Martin provides that with his receiving and by giving the Pioneers depth at running back.

In fact, Martin, who is a junior, is the likely replacement for Breitenstein next year.

“Baine is playing so well,” Breitenstein said. “That ball should have been picked off. He just jumped up and picked it away from the kid. He’s a heck of an athlete. I can’t wait to see him next year.

“He’s fast. He’s got some size to him. He can break a tackle or two. He’s just a great athlete. He can play every sport there is.”