Tay Martin High Steps It in the East-West Shrine Game for Winning West

All-Star games can create strange pairings as the two rivals from the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl united in Las Vegas in the East-West Shrine Game. Oklahoma State wide receiver Tay Martin reportedly had a great week of practice according to the NFL Network broadcast game analyst Bucky Brooks, and in the early portion of the game Notre Dame quarterback Jack Coan had his eyes on Martin. Opponents in the bowl game, Coan hit Martin three times early on the first drive of the game for the West offense.

Coan’s first completion, the first completion in the game, was a 17-yard crossing route to Martin. Then later in the drive Martin caught a shorter cross, kind of a shallow cross for eight-yards. Toward the end of that drive Martin caught a curl route for 14-yards and a penalty put the ball inside the 10-yard-line, but unfortunately the drive died on a fourth-and-goal run play that was stopped short.

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Martin with the catch as Kansas State safety Russ Yeast makes the tackle.

Later in the game, Martin was targeted for a short pass for six-yards, so he finished with four catches for 47-yards. He did catch a pass in the second quarter at the pylon, a 34-yard play that didn’t count because Martin could only get one foot in. The pass was thrown from former Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy, but the fade route was thrown too tight for Martin to get both feet in, the rule in this game aligning with the NFL rule of two feet in.

One of Martin’s teammates in the game was former Oklahoma State Cowboy back Jelani Woods, who transferred to Virginia and played tight end this past season. Woods had three receptions for 37-yards including an eight-yard touchdown reception that Tay Martin celebrated with him in the end zone after the catch.

The West won the game 25-24 and it was Jelani Woods, that was little used in the passing game at Oklahoma State, who recovered an onside kick at the end of the game to preserve the victory.