Midway unexpectedly in middle school semis
By BROWNIE ROSE – Roane Newspapers 10/22/08
roanecounty.com
After losing their first six games of the season, virtually no one expected the Midway Middle School Green Waves to be in the TSMAA semifinals.
Midway, however, visited Huntsville in the first round of the TMSAA playoffs Thursday and came away with a surprising 18-8 win over the top seed from the northwest division.
While most of the Midway coaches wanted the win badly, they weren’t as sure going into the game that they would get it.
“I knew from the film we watched that we had a good chance against them,” said coach Gabe Patterson. “We knew we matched up with them well size wise and we thought we had a little more speed. I just didn’t know how well the offense would play.”
Midway’s defense kept the Bears out of the end zone twice in the first half, but did allow a TD late in the second quarter that was matched quickly by a Midway kickoff return that tied the score at halftime.
“Our defense has played well most of the year and apparently we came up big tonight,” said coach Lewis Edwards. “We just need to keep working, we’re one win away from playing for the championship.”
Midway didn’t get much movement on offense in the first half against Huntsville. They didn’t come close to scoring until Cody Moore returned a kickoff 85 yards after the Bears had scored their only TD of the night.
Midway’s defense did hold off Huntsville twice in the first half holding them out of the end zone after the Bears had reached the five yard line on their first two possessions.
Midway’s offense remained quiet through the first possession of the second half. They did try a fake punt from their own 42, but the pass fell incomplete.
Huntsville again drove deep into Midway territory reaching the 12 where they fumbled and Midway’s Tyler Gibson got the recovery.
Three plays later, Midway took the lead when QB Logan Davidson hit FB Josh Brum-mitt in the flat. Brummitt would split a pair of defenders and race 86 yards for a score.
Davidson hit Moore on the two-point try, but he was brought down just short of the end zone to leave the Green Waves up 12-6 with 1:26 left in the third quarter.
A little luck and Midway’s defense provided another break after the kick off.
After a Huntsville three-and-out, the punt snap sailed over the punter’s head and Mid-way gained possession at the Bear 15 yard line.
Davidson didn’t waste any time scoring this time rambling in on a sweep from 15 yards on the first play.
Moore again tried for the two-pointer, but was stopped short again to leave Midway up 18-6 with 7:06 left in the game.
Huntsville quickly drove to the Midway one after the kickoff, but the Bears coughed up the ball again with Gibson getting another recovery.
Midway did push out to the 20, but instead of punting and risking a block for a touch-down, the Waves elected to take a safety that made the score 18-8.
Huntsville got the ball back after the free kick, but Midway’s Dalton Davidson stripped a Bear runner on the next play to all but end the game.
Midway beat Robbin Middle on Tuesday to advance to the Championship game. More details to follow.