LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The Midway sprint football team completed their shortest road trip of the season on Saturday (Oct. 22) when they traveled down I-64 to Saint Xavier High School to battle Bellarmine (Ky.) in chapter two of the 'Battle for the Bourbon Barrel'.
Trailing 22-16 at halftime and 29-16 early in the third quarter, the Eagles cut the deficit to 35-31 late in the third quarter, but they eventually fell short as Bellarmine hung on for the 49-31 victory.
Following the loss, the Eagles slip to 0-5 overall and 0-4 in Midwest Sprint Football League play, while the Knights improve to 4-1 overall and 3-1 in MSFL action.
A botched punt set the Knights up on their opening drive of the game as they grabbed a 7-0 lead following a one-yard touchdown run by Brenden Reid. Midway immediately answered with a big play.
With the ball on their own 39-yard line, Kaden Parraz (Petersburg, Texas) took the handoff and broke through the line before winning a foot race to the endzone for a 61-yard touchdown. Preston Moore (Allensville, Ky.) then found Rudy Loomis (Maple Shade, N.J.) on the two-point conversion as Midway took an 8-7 lead.
Bellarmine answered quickly and regained a 15-8 lead after Devan Hendricks found the endzone from 12-yards out. The Knights stretched their lead to 22-8 with 1:18 left in the first half after Hendricks found the endzone for the second time, this time a two-yard rushing TD.
With 1:18 left in the opening half, the Eagles dialed up a quick answer. DJ Palmer (Pelham, Ga.) connected with Michael Collins Jr. (Beaumont, Texas) for 12-yards and Penther Alphonse (Lauderhill, Fla.) for 24-yards before finding paydirt on a 30-yard scramble. Palmer then found Ja'shawn Lee (Picayune, Miss.) on the two-point try cutting the deficit to 22-16 at halftime.
A Dylan Gough 40-yard TD pass to D.J. Griffin extended the Bellarmine lead to 29-16, but Midway once again answered. This time Palmer lofted a pass to Alphonse who made a circus catch for his first TD of the day. Sean Richardson (Collbran, Colo.) then sent the PAT attempt through the uprights as Midway was within six at 29-23.
Following a 36-yard TD run by Brenden Reid that pushed the Knights' lead to 35-23, Midway responded with another big play through the air. Palmer found Lee for what looked like a short gain, but Lee then turned on the jets and raced to the endzone for a 61-yard TD reception. Palmer then scrambled and found the endzone on the two-point try making it 35-31.
Unfortunately for the Eagles, the Knights would then go on to score 14 unanswered points as they held on for the 49-31 victory.
DJ Palmer turned in his best outing of the season completing 8-of-14 through the air for 141 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He also gained 62 yards on eight carries including the 30-yard touchdown scamper.
Kaden Parraz had eight carries for 73 yards and a touchdown, while Ja'shawn Lee caught two passes for 79 yards and a touchdown. Penther Alphonse, meanwhile, had three catches for 42 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, Zaiquan Pinkard (Amarillo, Texas) and Ben Jones (Bloutstown, Fla.) led the way with seven tackles apiece. Tristian Berrios (Clarksville, Tenn.) added six tackles, while Matthew Grady (Falcon, Colo.) had an interception in the loss.
Dan Davis' squad will return to action next Saturday (Oct. 29) when they host Quincy (Ill.) in their regular season finale. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET at Benny Watkins Field in Frankfort, Kentucky.
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