Photo by Joe Lovell Martins Ferry quarterback Colby Kropka rushes up the sideline during the Purple Riders’ game Friday against Edison inside the Dave Bruney Football Complex.

MARTINS FERRY — Edison and Martins Ferry were a pair of 2-1 teams squaring off at the Dave Bruney Football Complex Friday night looking to build momentum as the season’s midpoint approaches.

On the strength of an impressive second half, combined with six Purple Rider turnovers, the Wildcats recorded their second straight win via a well-earned and pivotal 48-20 performance. Edison’s lone blemish was a tough 16-14 setback against Carrollton.

Edison held a slim 28-20 halftime advantage but owned the second half en route to its triumph.

“This is a great total team win,” beamed Edison first-year coach Anthony Pierro. “Everyone stepped up. Our offense was really clicking and was well balanced while defensively we were very opportunistic.

“I couldn’t be happier with how we performed in the second half. We executed flawlessly,” he added. “We have a lot of respect for Martins Ferry. It is a big win for our program.”

Edison jumped out to a 14-0 lead just six minutes into the contest.

Savvy senior quarterback JD Henderson tossed a 15-yard TD pass to Evan Kimmerle before the Wildcats’ Chase Freeman, on the ensuing possession, pilfered a Purple pass and returned it 20 yards to paydirt.

Ferry was able to stem the tide and the balance of the half, getting touchdowns from Walkquem Cox (22-yard run), Luca Shane (43 pass reception) and Elijah Roby (15 pass reception) to narrow the gap to one-score game at intermission.

That was as good as it would get for Ferry, however, as the Wildcats exploded in the final two quarters.

Henderson teamed with Skyler Willoughby on a seven-yard aerial score to make it 34-20 with 6:42 left in the third quarter.

Henderson located Matt Evans for a 45-yard touchdown with 2:06 left in the third period as the Wildcats’ lead grew to 41-20. The TD came after a Ferry fumble.

The Jefferson Countians tacked on a final TD with 4:30 left in the contest on a four-yard Evans’ burst. That score was set up by an interception.

Henderson enjoyed a brilliant night. He completed 13-of-21 passes for 202 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed for 71 yards and a fifth TD.

Junior running back Brett Heilyer turned in a stellar effort, gaining 153 yards on 20 carries. All told, Edison amassed 439 yards of offense.

Ferry, meanwhile, gained 159 yards on the ground while adding 151 stripes through the air. Cox led the Purple ground attack with 78 yards on 17 carries.

“I haven’t been this disappointed in 20 years,” Ferry head coach Justin Kropka said. “That is because most of what went wrong for us was self-inflicted. You cannot win when you turn the ball over six times.

“We are also very beat up. Last week’s game took a physical toll on us,” he added. “Then we lost some more kids tonight. We had some kids playing out of position while others were getting their first taste of varsity action.”

Edison will look to move its record to 4-1 next week when it travels to Caldwell. Ferry, meanwhile, looks to return to winning ways when it visits Lucas.