For the 4th time in school history, the Midway Greenwaves football team has advanced to the quarter finals of the TSSAA State Tournament.
The first time was in 1988 when Coach Stan Branson’s Waves was the top ranked team for much of the season and garnered attention from the media throughout the state. Arguable one of the best teams ever in single A football, several went on to All-State honors and of course Wheaton went on to play at the University of Tennessee. The Waves tore through the regular season, losing only 1 game and that was to Kingston…eh, Roane County High, who also had one of their most talented teams ever. They cruised through the first 2 rounds and advanced to the quarter finals where they faced a private school from Nashville: Donelson Christian Academy. Donelson Christian held out Midway from the goal line in the final seconds to win the game, going down as the most controversial game in Midway history and possibly the biggest blown call in T$$AA history.
Members of this team included:*
QB/P- Lance Wheaton (Jr)
RB/CB/KR – Scott Carroll (Jr)
RB/TE/DE – Steve Crosswhite (Sr)
TE/DE – Michael Rose (So)
WR/FS – Craig Moser (Sr)
WR/CB – Glenn Longmire (Sr)
WR/CB – Lewis Edwards (Jr)
WR/KR – Brian Parks (So)
OL/DE/LB – Todd Clower (Sr)
OL/DL – Adam Thompson (Sr)
OL/NG – Jon Helton (Jr)
OL/LB – Trevor Davis (Jr)
OL/LB – Clayton Taylor (Sr)
OL/DT- Kris Pennington (Jr)
OL/DT – Ralton Emory (So)
By the late 90s, Coach Craig Moser began making a name for himself as a coach for the Greenwaves. The players that he had coached as junior high kids were now juniors and seniors in high school and in 2001 they battled their way into the quarter finals of the state tournament. This is one of the largest teams ever at MHS; a 49 man roster featuring 20 seniors. The Waves destroyed Oneida in the 2nd round to earn a quarter final road game against the Cloudland Highlanders; a game which Cloudland would later win.
Members of this team included:*
OL/DL – Jake Campbell (Sr)
OL/DL – Danny Robinson (Sr)
OL/DL – Todd Rucker (Sr)
OL/DL – Jon Tolley (Sr)
DE/TE – Aaron O’Toole (Sr)
DE – Lucas Collier (Sr)
RB/LB – Shane Gordon (Sr)
LB – Matthew McClure (Sr)
WR/CB – Kris Jenkins (Sr)
WR/CB – Josh Jillson (Sr)
WR/CB – Randy Radcliffe (Sr)
WR/CB – Cody Raby (Sr)
QB – Jeremiah McClure (Sr)
NG/FB – Joe Harman (Jr)
LB/OL – John Allen (Jr)
Six years later, the Waves found themselves in the 2007 TSSAA Quarter Finals. This time it was the legs of Mr. 5k, Ray Robinson, which carried the Waves to the school’s winningest season. The Waves had an explosive offense featuring Eric Stansbury, Ray Robinson, Harley Davidson and the Raven – Will Poe. The 2007 team holds the school record for most points in a season (397), most wins (11), and highest scoring average per game (39.7). The team only lost one game during the regular season (Rockwood) before beating Harriman and Grace Christian in the playoffs to reach the quarter finals where they faced off against the Hampton Bulldogs. Hampton would win the ball game to bring an end to the Waves’ excellent season.
Members of this team included:*
WR/RB/CB – Harley Davidson (Sr)
WR/RB/CB – Will Poe (Jr)
RB/LB – Ray Robinson (Jr)
WR/DB – Charles Binger (So)
WR/DB – Dillion Frazier (So)
WR/DB – Wakon Roberson (So)
WR/DB – Terrence Jeffries (Sr)
QB/S – Eric Stansbury (Sr)
TE/DE – Steven Blasko (Jr)
LB/RB – Chris Barry (Sr)
LB/QB – Quinton Pressley (Jr)
OL/FB/LB – Matt Oliver (So)
OL/DL – Dayne Britt (Sr)
OL/DL – Ethan Hall (Sr)
OL/DL – Ryan Hargis (Sr)
OL/DE – Ashton Chinn (Sr)
OL/DE – Jacob Franklin (Jr)
WR/CB/K – Mark Childers (Jr)
OL/DL – Nate Lamping (Jr)
OL/LB – Tyler Stockton (Jr)
No Midway team has ever reached the semi-finals of the State Tournament. Will 2013 be the lucky year? The Waves are poised and ready to tighten the chin straps and battle the Coalfield Yellow Jackets for pride, honor, and a step closer to hoisting the trophy. Good luck Waves! #GWFL
*Disclaimer: My apologies for those names I may have left out.