By John Bassetti

bassetti@vindy.com

Martins Ferry

En route, Campbell Memorial fans traveled on Lou Holtz Highway, Dean Martin Blvd., Bill Mazeroski Highway and Lou Groza Highway.

Those favorite sons of East Liverpool, Steubenville, Tiltonsville and Martins Ferry, respectively, represent some elite celebrities in sports and entertainment.

Campbell fans may want to add Ja’les Hughes to that list since the junior running back scored the game’s only touchdown in the third quarter in a 7-0 win over Martins Ferry on Friday in a Division IV, Region 13 quarterfinal.

The 21-yard run capped a five-play drive that began on Campbell Memorial’s own 47-yard line following a punt from the Purple Riders (8-3).

“It was the combination of our defense stopping the run, while our secondary did what it was supposed to do,” Campbell Memorial (10-1) coach Mickey Sikora said of secondary players Dewayland Letlow, Richard Bledsoe and Claxton LeBron and linebackers John Sikora and David Benedis.

Coach Sikora singled out defensive coordinator Ron DeJulio for the preparation and in-game adjustments.

The Red Devils will play Perry next Friday at a site to be determined in a regional semifinal.

Campbell Memorial used Ja’les Hughes as its main offensive weapon on the ground, while Bledsoe was the Red Devils’ top receiver with five catches for 44 yards.

Ja’les Hughes had 28 carries for 126 yards as the Red Devils outgained the Purple Riders, 271-172.

His longest gain was 33 yards midway through the fourth quarter on 3rd-and 9.

“That was a draw play,” Mickey Sikora said. “We hit it right. They thought we were going to throw. We felt the draw was there this week and it worked.”

Campbell Memorial altered its attack somewhat when it threw to Claxton LeBron on the third play of the third quarter, when the Red Devils picked up 16 yards and a first down.

“We kind of look at what the defense is giving us,” Coach Sikora said of not getting LeBron a pass until the second half. “That’s what makes us difficult to defend, although Martins Ferry did a heck of a job defending us.”

In its touchdown drive, Mickey Sikora said it was all heart.

“It was the will to win,” the coach said. “The kids really wanted this because last year we suffered a setback in the playoffs. To win a playoff game was one of our goals. We beat a great team on their turf, so that says something about our kids.”

“We felt that this was a win-able game for us and it was, but Campbell just made a few more plays than we did,” said Martins Ferry coach Dave Bruney.

“That team [Campbell] probably has a heck of a lot more raw talent than we have. We played well, defensively, but weren’t able to sustain much on offense.”

Bruney admitted that his quarterback, Dorsey Moore, who completed just 7 of 30 passes for 91 yards, threw some passes too high, while some were on target, but not caught.

“There was pressure [on Moore] but he’s played well for us all year. I’ll take that kid anytime. He’s a great student.”

The teams played to a 0-0 halftime, with neither getting very close to the end zone. Martins Ferry had a possible chance to put up six points after Casey Bain intercepted Lester Hughes with 0:55 remaining in the second quarter. Three pass attempts by Purple Riders quarterback Dorsey Moore, however, were off target.

In the first quarter, Campbell had the ball for 3;32 minutes near the end of the period but couldn’t move against Martins Ferry after reaching the Purple Riders’ 25.

Alex Sudacov made the extra-point following the game’s only TD and missed a 40-yard field goal.