By T. K. EDWARDS/Sports Correspondent

ST. MARTIN — St Martin came up with a big win to open the season Friday night.
The Yellow Jackets knocked off visiting Vancleave 24-14 to snap a 17 game losing streak. It marked the first win for St. Martin and third year head coach Ty Smith since mid-September of 2022, during Smith’s first year at the helm.
With the Jackets looking to end that long losing streak and the Bulldogs looking to build off a third place finish in Region 4-5A last season, St Martin won the toss and wanted the ball but would turn the ball over on downs followed by Vancleave doing exactly the same as that would be all the action in the opening quarter as St Martin would reach the Vancleave 22.

At the 10:20 Mark of the second quarter, St. Martin QB Kevin Marshall would scamper 20 yards for the first points of the game followed by a successful point after for a 7-0 lead.
Just minutes later, Marshall connected on a 28-yard Touchdown pass to Danarius Shelby. The Jackets would then run the swinging gate play for a conversion pass from Seth Crockett to Ryan Locke for a 15-0 lead.
Vancleave would finally answer with nineteen seconds before the half on a 3-yard Kyle Capers scoring run and a successful Jordan Raynor PAT to make it 15-7 at halftime.
Bad snaps would prove costly for the Bulldogs at the midway point of the third quarter, with St Martin’s Preston Biggs returning a fumble recovery 48 yards for the scoop and score at the 6:39 mark to extend the Yellow Jacket lead to 22-7.

On the ensuing possession, another bad snap would result in a St Martin safety to make it 24-7.
With 5:44 remaining in the third quarter, Vancleave trailed St Martin 24-7. The final score of the game came on an 8-yard TD pass for Vancleave from Wyatt Adams to Junior Harris. After another Raynor PAT, the final score would be set at 24-14 with 3:29 remaining in the game and the Yellow Jackets successfully hung on for the win.
Next week Vancleave will host Gulfport and St Martin will travel to Petal.