By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — For the Huntington Hammer, there was some good news and some better news.

The good news was about the Hammer offense that continued to improve by scoring a season-high 52 points.

The better news for the Hammer — but not the rest of the UIFL — was the defense turned in its most dominating performance of the season.

With their play improving on both sides of the ball, the Hammer crushed the Johnstown Generals 52-16 Friday in front of more than 700 fans at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena.

Huntington is now 4-1 and leads the UIFL by one-half game over Northern Kentucky and a full game over Saginaw. The Hammer plays at Northern Kentucky next Friday.

The league’s best defense held the Generals to 25 net yards. Johnstown did not score in the second half.

Former Marshall standout Andre Portis led the defense with five of the team’s seven quarterback sacks as Generals’ quarterbacks David Dinkins and Jeff Slatcoff combined for just 7 of 17 passing and a mere 42 yards.

“We were out to make a statement,” said Portis. “This is supposed to be an offensive league where teams can score 70 points. We want to make a statement and show it can be a defensive league, too.”

Huntington’s offense showed it can be an offensive league as Martevious Young hit 17 of 25 passes for 186 yards and five touchdowns. Kenny Davis had 10 receptions for 154 yards and three scores.

Young also had 52 of the Hammer’s 88 yards rushing for 264 yards of total offense.

Davis — who missed one game due to injury and another because of his day job — gave the offense a major boost with his return.

“It felt good to be back and contribute,” said Davis.

“As a receiving corps we’ve worked hard in practice and work better together. We as receivers, coaches and quarterbacks are on the same page.”

Hammer coach Josh Resignalo was pleased with the win, but disappointed with the team’s mental discipline. The Hammer had a season-high 12 penalties for 80 yards against the Generals (1-4).

“I was anxious all week to see where we were at playing a lesser opponent,” said Resignalo. “We should dominate the game and we did physically but not mentally. The only success (Johnstown) had was on defense.”

The Hammer scored on its first possession when Young hit T.R. Dues with a 4-yard toss and a 6-0 lead.

Matt Demunkus boomed a 39-yard field to put the Generals on the board, but a 17-yard scramble on third down by Young kept the Hammer’s next drive alive and Davis scored on a 5-yard reception.

Young’s conversion run pushed the lead to 13-3.

Davis and Young hooked up on a 31-yard scoring pass just before the end of the quarter and it was 20-3.

A blocked field goal stopped the Generals on their next possession and set up a 1-yard scoring plunge by Young.

A 28-yard kickoff return by Antoine Bagwell and a penalty on the Hammer led to a 4-yard scoring run by Dinkins and it was 26-10.

Young hit Davis in stride for a 39-yard scoring play with 40 seconds left in the half, but a botched kickoff set up a 7-yard touchdown pass to Bagwell just before the half.

Huntington dominated the second half as they pitched a shutout on defense.

Jeff Phillips caught a 7-yard scoring pass and LaRoi Johnson had an 8-yard touchdown catch for the Hammer. Backup quarterback Freddie Ray ran 1-yard for the final score.

Johnstown 3 13 0 0 = 16

Huntington 20 12 6 14 = 52

First Quarter

Hu — T.R. Dues 4 pass from Martevious Young (kick failed) 12:44

Jo — Matt Demunkus 39 field goal 9:31

Hu — Kenny Davis 5 pass from Young (Young run) 5:50

Hu — Davis 31 pass from Young (pass failed) 0:48

Second Quarter

Hu — Young 1 run (pass failed) 7:20

Jo — David Dinkins 4 run (Demunkus kick) 5:45

Hu — Davis 39 pass from Young (pass failed) 0:40

Jo — Antoine Bagwell 7 pass from Dinkins (kick failed) 0:15

Third Quarter

Hu — Jeff Phillips 7 pass from Young (run failed) 7:18

Fourth Quarter

Hu — LaRoi Johnson 8 pass from Young (Young run) 13:58

Hu — Freddie Ray 1 run (pass failed) 0:17

——

Joh Hun

First downs 4 13

Rushes-yards 11-21 15-88

Passing yards 50 194

Sacks-yards lost 7-46 3-18

Net passing yards -25 176

Total yards 25 264

Cmp-Att-Int 7-17-0 18-24-1

Individual Leaders

RUSHING—Johnstown: David Dinkins 5-14, Jeff Slatcoff 2-6, Terrell Simms 1-0, Antoine Bagwell 3-1. Huntington: Martevious Young 7-52, Freddie Ray 4-20, Dray Mason 4-16.

PASSING—Johnstown: David Dinkins 4-13-0 48, Jeff Slatcoff 3-4-0 2. Huntington: Martevious Young 17-25-186, Freddie Ray 1-4-1 8.

RECEIVING—Johnstown: Antoine Bagwell 3-24, David Dinkins 1-4, Lamont Stephens 2-4, Terrell Simms 1-13. Huntington: Kenny Davis 10-154, T.R. Dues 3-19, LaRoi Johnson 2-10, Dray Mason 1-1, Jeff Phillips 2-15.