If you Google the word perseverance you might find a picture of Muskogee High running back Israel Martin.

“My mother had me when she was young, but she had problems with drug and alcohol addiction, so I was raised by my grandma early on,” said “Izzy”. “My mom started getting better, so I went back to her until she suddenly passed away at the age of 28 and then I went back with my grandma. Football has given me an outlet to show my athleticism and a platform to be a better person to other people.”

During this tumultuous time, Martin has found help when he needed it from friends like the Henry football family as well as Rougher head coach Travis Hill.

“I’ve always had a special relationship with Izzy because I knew about his background,” said Hill. “Given what he’s been through a lot of people would have just thrown up their hands in frustration, but Izzy just perseveres.”

Even football has been a trial for the soft-spoke Martin. After a knee injury hampered his sophomore and junior seasons, he finally got the chance to shine this season much to the pleasure of his head coach.

“He’s an under-rated running back who gets positive yards every time he touches the ball. He’s been a huge asset, and he just makes our team better,” said Hill.

Through it all Martin says there were times when he thought about throwing in the towel but he just, you guessed it, persevered.

“It was close at times to where I thought about giving up football but a part of me kept pushing me knowing that someday there would be a better way. I play for my mom because I think about how hard she worked to get better for me.”

Martin had to persevere some more at the end of this season as a wrist injury kept him out of action for a couple of games.

“Izzy is a quiet young man who never puts himself ahead of the team and I think his better days are ahead of him, not just on the football field, but in life,” said coach Hill.