BETHANY — Both Jack Davis and Dom Wallace remember it well.

It was the night of Oct. 28.

The Martins Ferry Purple Riders walked off the field at Purple Rider Stadium for the last time. Adding to their disappointment was watching Bellaire celebrate on the turf with SPARKY after a 20-6 victory.

The aforementioned Ferry seniors and their classmates, who were celebrated prior to kickoff that night, believed there was no other chance to make ammends.

“It was definitely tough (losing) on senior night, knowing that’s your last game,” Davis said.

Then came the unfortunate structural damage to Wheeling Island Stadium, which has led to that facility being closed for several months while repairs are made. That, in turn, forced the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference to look for a site for the Rudy Mumley OVAC All-Star Football Game.

After considering bids from several venues, the OVAC awarded the game to Martins Ferry, giving Davis and Wallace that opportunity to close out their home-field, prep careers on their home field.

“It’s a good feeling knowing that the game will be played in our stadium,” Davis, who is headed to West Liberty to play football in the fall, said. “Being able to finish your high school career in the same stadium where you started playing in junior high doesn’t happen for a lot of guys, so it’s definitely exciting.”

This isn’t the first time that Martins Ferry has hosted the all-star game. It welcomed the OVAC in 1972, which was a 24-6 Buckeye State victory.

Continuing Ohio’s undefeated string in Belmont County as well as finishing their careers on a high note are definitely motivational factors for the Purple alums.

“I want to win one last time on that field,” Wallace, who is headed to Kent State Tuscarawas to wrestle, said.

The actual surface on which the game will be played is different than the one the Purple Riders played on against Bellaire. The artificial turf was tore up and replaced earlier this spring. A new scoreboard, featuring a video board, will also greet the players and fans. It is located in the same spot as the previous board.

“Being the first guys to play on that new turf is exciting,” Wallace said. “It’ll definitely be a nice feeling running out on the field with the home-town atmosphere there.”

While Wallace admitted that he was going to play in the game regardless where it was held, the fact that it was awarded to Martins Ferry added to the desire.

“The game being played in our stadium was definitely one of the biggest reasons I wanted to play,” Wallace said.

Davis, who enjoyed an all-Ohio campaign at defensive end, admitted that beating West Virginia and winning the annual game, which has gone to the Mountaineers the last two years, are definitely motivating factors. But, being an all-star game, there’s also motivation to “put on a good show” individually, too.

“(Tonight) is going to be an awesome experience, but playing the game at home makes it even more exciting,” Davis said. “When I was chosen, I never had a doubt about playing, but I will have to admit that this makes it even sweeter.”

One difference for the Purple Rider duo will be dressing in different locker rooms. Neither team will dress in Ferry’s state-of-the-art fieldhouse. It will be used a hospitality area for OVAC officials and sponsors.