MIDWAY, Ky. - As he gathered everyone for a postgame speech following the most significant win in program history, first-year Midway sprint football coach Elbert Kern was cut off by a player who was was eager to sing the coach's praises.
"It's his first year here and he just took us to the playoffs," shouted sophomore receiver Dameon Miller-Duerson. "He's that dude."
And though the season has provided several challenges, Kern has proven to be the person to get Midway to the Midwest Sprint Football League Playoffs for the first time, as the Eagles clinched the final spot in the four-team tournament following a 25-12 win over Walsh (Ohio) Saturday.
"These guys deserve it. They really do," Kern said after the game. "They've never experienced this before. Emotions run high and again I'm proud of these young men for stepping up."
After a slow start, the offense stepped it up with a season-high 347 yards from scrimmage.
Quarterback Christian Carter and running back Quintel Thomas both rushed for over 100 yards, Carter gaining 111, Thomas 104.
The two started and ended the night's scoring as well, Carter scoring a 37-yard touchdown run on the first play of the second quarter, with Thomas scoring from 15 yards out with 11:43 to go, after the Cavaliers had gotten within one score following a 93-yard touchdown run of their own.
Though he only completed two passes, Carter also made a dent through the air, connecting with Miller Duerson for a 38-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter.
The offense was aided by a defense that gave up two long touchdowns but nothing else, as a swarming pass rush recorded a single-game program-record seven sacks.
Peyton Brazier, Gavin Lay and Trenton Leach all had two sacks. The trio also combined for nine-and-a-half tackles for loss, resulting in 63 negative yards.
The postseason brings a road battle against undefeated St. Mary of the Woods (Ind.), which secured the No. 1 overall seed thanks to a 36-17 win over in-state rival Calumet on Saturday.
The Eagles opened the year at St. Mary of the Woods and even took a 17-13 lead into halftime before being outscored 28-2 in the second half of a 41-19 loss.
Though still in celebration mode after the game, Kern said that wouldn't last much longer.
"We're going to enjoy this victory tonight. But come...tomorrow...we're going to start preparing for them," Kern said. "We've just got to turn it up a notch."
Next Saturday's semifinal game in Terre Haute, Ind. will kick off at 2 p.m.
