When a football team lines up to kick the ball, the linemen and defenders have – like most teams – a desire to protect their kicker. But for Luella, the Lions aren’t just protecting their kicker.
They’re guarding their friend, their companion and, well, their sister.
“The guys on the team, that’s their sister,” said special teams coordinator James Roberts, who has been coaching varsity soccer and football special teams at Luella for 17 years in some form or fashion.
“You protect the sister, and I will tell the guys on the team — this is your sister, if anyone hurts her, you get to deal with me,” he laughed. “And they’ll say back that no one will get through the line. They go the extra mile to protect her.”
Martinez, a junior, was named second-team all-region in Region 5-3A while helping lead the Lions to a 6-6 finish last season and a second-round exit with a 21-14 loss to Cherokee Bluff.
“She is automatic from the point-after try and she is fifth all-time for extra points and field goals here at Luella,” he said.
It is easy and accurate to say that Martinez has been an integral part of Luella’s points-scoring on the football field, helping the Lions to back-to-back second-round appearances for a school that’s never been deeper into the playoffs.
“She is a beast and is the absolute competitor,” Roberts said. “She’s locked in every time she steps onto the field and is the nicest girl off the field. Big smile, infectious smile and she’s just a character and a great kid with wonderful parents.”
On the soccer field, she excels as a goalie with prowess for scoring as well.
“She’s humble,” he said. “But got the ‘Golden Boot’ award for most goals in the region. Half the games, I would start her in the net as the goalie and then I’d put her out on the field in the second half of the game.”
Despite only being on the offensive attack barely half the time, Martinez made the opposition pay.
“There was one game, she scored six goals in under 20 minutes,” he said. “She’s just remarkable. And with the football team, she kicked the game-winning field goal in a playoff game last season.”
Luella’s girls soccer team is 12-5 overall and leading Region 5 at 7-0 heading into Thursday’s matchup against Class 2A No. 5 Callaway (12-5). Martinez leads the team with 23 goals and four assists.
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