FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Following a pair of road trips and the bye week last week, the Midway sprint football team returned to the gridiron on Saturday (Oct. 15) when they battled Fontbonne (Mo.) at Benny Watkins Field in Frankfort, Kentucky.
The Griffins took a 14-0 lead into the locker room before taking a 27-12 lead into the fourth quarter. Midway cut the deficit to 27-19 with 6:14 left, but the visitors held on for the eight-point victory.
Following the loss, the Eagles fall to 0-4 overall and 0-3 in Midwest Sprint Football League action, while the Griffins pick up their first win in program history improving to 1-3 overall and 1-2 in MSFL play.
After neither team found the endzone in the opening quarter, the Griffins opened the scoring with a pair of touchdowns in the second stanza. Chris Reckel connected with Jaylen Politte for a 17-yard touchdown early in the quarter before Reckel capped a 13-play, 96-yard drive with a five-yard scamper right before the halftime buzzer sounded.
After being held scoreless for opening 30 minutes, the Eagles took advantage of a Fontbonne fumble on the opening kickoff of the second half. Midway converted a 3rd-and-7 when DJ Palmer (Pelham, Ga.) connected with Ja'shawn Lee (Picayune, Miss.) for 24 yards. Palmer then capped the scoring drive with an 11-yard touchdown run cutting the deficit to 14-6.
Fontbonne unfortunately answered right back with a touchdown drive of their own. Reckel found Reshad Singleton for a 49-yard touchdown reception to extend the lead to 21-6.
Midway once again responded, this time it was a 7-play, 41-yard drive that cut the deficit 21-12 with just over three minutes left in the third. Ramire White (Rochester, N.Y.) finished off the scoring drive with a 10-yard touchdown reception off a pass from Palmer.
After Fontbonne extended their lead to 27-12 late in the third quarter, the Eagles made one last rally as time ticked away in the fourth. Palmer connected with Lee for 15 yards and White for 12 yards before finishing off the 7-play, 82-yard drive with a nine-yard rushing touchdown.
The Eagles were able to stop the Griffins on their next drive as they got the ball back with 3:24 remaining and the ball on their own 15-yardline. Unfortunately for the home team, they were stopped on fourth down as the Griffins held on for the 27-19 victory.
Palmer led the offensive attack for the Eagles as he tossed for 137 yards and a score, while collecting 24 yards on the ground with a pair of scores. Preston Moore (Allensville, Ky.) also completed a pair of passes for 34 yards in the loss.
Kaden Parraz (Petersburg, Texas) led the rushing attack with 49 yards on 14 carries, and White added 32 yards on seven carries, while hauling in two receptions for 22 yards and a touchdown. Penther Alphonse (Lauderhill, Fla.) caught three passes for 71 yards and Lee had two catches for 39 yards.
Defensively, Tristian Berrios (Clarksville, Tenn.) led the way with eight tackles including 1.5 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery. Ben Jones (Bloutstown, Fla.) added seven tackles, while Keston Dupin (Miami, Texas) and Nolan Jones (Saint Ignatius, Mont.) each made six stops. Omarion Riddick (Elkton, Ky.), meanwhile, hauled in an interception in the loss.
Dan Davis' squad is set to return to action on Saturday (Oct. 22) when they travel down I-64 to Bellarmine (Ky.). Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET at St. Xavier High School.
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