Nov. 28--DEKALB, Ill. -- Variety was the name of Ivory Kelly-Martin's game Saturday.
The Nazareth running back rushed for touchdowns of four different varieties while leading the Roadrunners to their second consecutive state championship. Nazareth defeated Lincoln-Way West 42-21 in the 5A championship at Huskie Stadium a year after the Roadrunners won the 6A title.
Kelly-Martin's first touchdown was a 2-yard run up the middle to put Nazareth (12-2) up 7-0 late in the first quarter. On the Roadrunners' next drive, he went 96 yards up the right sideline for the longest touchdown run in the history of the IHSA state finals. His third score of the first half was a zig-zagging scamper from 19 yards that put his team ahead 21-0. He added a 17-yarder on a toss to the right that gave Nazareth a 42-0 lead early in the third quarter.
"My line was opening up the holes," said Kelly-Martin, who gained 170 yards on 13 carries, "and I know what to do once I get to the second level."
Carson Bartels finished the first half with a flurry. The Roadrunners quarterback passed for two scores in the final two minutes, finding Christopher Simmons for 40 yards and Justin Weller for 27. Nazareth extended its lead from 14-0 to 35-0 in the half's final four minutes. Both teams ran 35 plays before halftime, with Nazareth outgaining the Warriors 424-118.
Bartels was 16-for-22 for 249 yards, with Weller catching eight passes for 139 yards.
"Me and Justin have been on the same page all year," Bartels said. "We were able to do some nice things."
Lincoln-Way West (11-3) running back Gabe Montalvo gained 220 of his team's 300 total yards, pushing his season rushing total to 2,494. He rushed for second-half touchdowns of 7, 9 and 31 yards, giving him 41 for the year.
"Our guys did the best they could," Warriors coach Dave Ernst said. "For a while it felt like we were in good shape, but they're really fast and really good."
wlarkin@tribpub.com
Player of the game: Ivory Kelly-Martin, Nazareth, 13 carries, 170 yards, 4 TDs.
Key performers: Nazareth -- Carson Bartels, 16-for-22, 249 yards, 2 TDs; Justin Weller, 8 receptions, 139 yards, TD; Joey Muscolino, 8 tackles, sack. Lincoln-Way West -- Gabe Montalvo, 28 carries, 220 yards, 3 TDs.
