WEST TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Following a very promising first half against the projected Midwest Sprint Football League champion, a series of second-half mistakes did Midway in, as St. Mary of the Woods pulled away for a 41-19 win in the opening week of MSFL play Saturday.

A string of big plays helped the Eagles take a 17-13 lead into halftime, only for the Pomeroys to take control during a 21-0 third-quarter, with 14 of those points coming from their defense.

BACK-BREAKING MISCUES

After playing turnover-free with two takeaways in the first half, a mistake on Midway's third offensive play of the third quarter turned things the way of St. Mary of the Woods. 

On a third-and-4 play, linebacker Brandon Washington made a great read, stepping in front of a Christian Carter pass and returning it 21 yards for a touchdown, putting the Pomeroys ahead 20-17.

After SMWC padded its lead on a 60-yard touchdown drive by its offense, the defense proceeded to essentially ice the game on the ensuing Eagle possession.

After getting into Pomeroy territory following a 28-yard run by Preston Moore on a fake punt, the Midway offense was undone by another pick-6, this one by defensive back Austin Petrillo from 55 yards out.

Carter and Keegan Hill combined for 234 passing yards, just five short of the single-game program record of 239, which was also against St. Mary of the Woods on Oct. 1, 2022.

But the Pomeory defense kept the Eagle offense scoreless in the second half, their only points coming on a fourth-quarter safety. SWMC intercepted three second-half passes while holding Midway to 2.2 yard-per carry on the ground.

SPARKLING DEBUT

Despite the loss, several newcomers flashed major big-play ability on Saturday, none more than Chase Williams.

On his first college touch, the freshman from Independence, Ky. got separation from two defenders and hauled in a 57-yard touchdown pass from Carter to give Midway a 10-6 lead late in the first quarter.

Williams wasn't done making highlight-reel plays.

With Midway trailing 13-10 with just over five minutes to play in the second quarter, he fielded a punt at the Eagle 30. After finding an opening down the sideline, he spun between two Pomeroy defenders, then hurdled another, somehow staying on his feet and running in a spectacular 70-yard touchdown.

Williams had a team-best 87 yards on three catches, while accumulating 201 yards from scrimmage. This is the second-most yards to ever be gained by an Eagle player, trailing only the 216 gained by Matthew Young in the 2023 season opener against Walsh (Ohio).

Dameon Miller-Duerson added 69 yards while leading all players with six catches.

Other freshman to make big plays in the first half were Aiden Weatherholt and Giovanni Southhall.

Weatherholt finished with two tackles for loss and had a sack on 4th-and-3 to force a Pomeroy turnover in the first quarter, while Southhall had an interception in the end zone with 16 seconds left in the second, allowing Midway to take a lead into halftime.

Sophmore Trenton Leach, also playing in his first game at Midway, tied Gavin Lay for the team lead with seven tackles. Brady Bond had four tackles and accounted for the fourth-quarter safety, while Omarion Riddick forced and recovered a fumble in the opening period.

Midway will return to southern Indiana next Saturday, traveling to Evansville to take on Oakland City a 2 p.m. The Eagles forced four turnovers en route to a 20-12 win over the Mighty Oaks last season.

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