Midway Beats Sunbright 41-8
Harriman Loss to Oneida Leaves the Green Wave Atop Region 2A
If you watched the University of Tennessee’s game against California, you might have noticed that the Golden Bears had 4 players that the coaches consistently kept in the position to make plays (i.e. they got the ball in their hands). Cal’s 4 playmakers were so impressive that Coach Fulmer invented a new word: he said that Cal “out athleted” his team.
Midway has playmakers also, and I suspect that opposing coaches have invented a few words to describe the experience of preparing and playing against the Green Wave. The formula is similar – the coaching staff is spreading the ball around to their playmakers, and they are responding. The result: the Green Wave is going to Harriman next as the top team in Region 2A.
However, it’s more than just the playmakers. Without the offensive line, the playmakers are not making headlines. Receivers blocking downfield are the difference in 20 yard plays and touchdowns. And the defense: the defense is swarming to the ball. They are making plays by creating turnovers and scoring touchdowns. Special teams made a big play for the second week in a row – the opening kickoff was returned for a touchdown.
So the big green story is simply this: Midway has become more than a small group of playmakers – they’ve become a team, and teams win championships. If you haven’t been to a game this year, Midway High School will travel to Harriman next Friday night and will be playing to keep the top position in Region 2A. Put on something green and go – you won’t regret it. If you make every game, save your voice on Friday – save it for the game! This is a very exciting time to be a Midway player or fan!
The stats for the game: Midway rushed for 195 yards, and passed for 108 for a total of 303 yards. Midway had no turnovers, but took 2 interceptions from Sunbright who had 247 yards of total offense. Eric Stansbury had 3 touchdowns on a kickoff return, an interception return, and ran for another. Harley Davidson had 2 touchdown runs of 4 and 5 yards. J.T. Robinson rounded out the scoring with a 1 yard score in the 3rd quarter. Mark Childers converted 3 extra points, and Ray Robinson had a 2 point conversion.
Here are your SORSN keys to the game:
1. Claiming the house
As it was last week, Midway took control early. When the dust settled from the opening kickoff, Midway was ahead 6-0. By then end of the first quarter, the score was 21-0. The Green Wave owned the momentum.
2. Bachman Turner Overdrive (Taking Care of Business)
Sunbright was not supposed to beat Midway, and the team went about the business of nailing down another “W”. The only “knock” against the team might be that they were “too business like.” They allowed Sunbright to make a big run on their opening drive, and gave up the ball on downs once in the red zone. Too picky? Maybe so … at this point in the season, with the games this team is facing down the stretch, success and failure is all about one thing: intensity. That means that every play should be played with maximum effort.
3. The Playmaker
ESPN has their highlights … but if ESPN covered Midway High School football what would they do with Eric Stansbury? Relative the Sunbright game, would they show the kickoff return that covered 80 yards? The 70 yard interception return for a touchdown? The 21 yard scamper for a touchdown? The passing to set up other touchdowns? And what about the tackles? ESPN would not know what to do with Eric Stansbury … SORSN does. Playing at this level sets the tone for the rest of the team – on a night when Midway was deemed to be “a little too flat,” Eric Stansbury was relentlessly making plays.