MIDWAY, Ky. - Midway found a fitting opponent for the first home sprint football game on its new on-campus turf field.
On Saturday, the 0-2 Eagles will host in-state foe Bellarmine, which comes in red hot with a 2-0 record. This is the second time the Eagles will host the Knights in a milestone game, as the two programs squared off in the first ever week of Midwest Sprint Football League play in 2022.
Saturday's game kicks off at 7 p.m.
LAST WEEK: OAKLAND CITY 14, MIDWAY 0
The Eagles gained first downs on the first and last offensive plays of their week-two game, but mustered only three others in-between. All told, Midway gained just 59 total yards of offense in the loss.
The defense held its ground for awhile, but after being on the field for nearly 44 minutes in almost triple-digit heat, the unit wore down, surrendering two touchdown drives in the third quarter, the first of which lasted more than nine-and-a-half minutes.
The offense will again have to battle against the elements Saturday. While temperatures will be far more mild -- highs are projected in the mid-to-low 60s -- heavy rain is expected all day Friday and Saturday.
SCOUTING THE KNIGHTS
The Eagles will be tasked with containing junior running back Brenden Reid, who in three career games against Midway has run for 454 yards and five touchdowns.
The tailback will be supplemented by an improved passing game, as freshman quarterback Kyle Horvath has thrown for 495 yards and five touchdowns with just one interception through two games.
Sophomore Shannon Tonge, who caught a touchdown pass in a 27-7 win against Midway last season, leads a balanced receiver group with 170 yards and two touchdowns.
Defensively, the Knights were dominant in a 37-0, week-two win over Walsh (Ohio), recording six sacks and holding the Cavaliers to negative-8 yards of offense. MSFL Defensive Player of the Week Tyree Thomas was unstoppable in that game, recording two sacks, four tackles for loss, a forced fumble and fumble recovery.
Both teams had an MSFL Player of the Week winner, with Midway punter Preston Moore becoming the first honoree in program history after being named Special Teams Player of the Week.
MATCHUP HISTORY
Dubbed "The Battle for the Bourbon Barrel," the Eagles have yet to capture the game's ceremonial prize, as Bellarmine owns a 3-0 record in the series.
Midway's best chance came in the first meeting when it forced seven turnovers and held a 15-14 lead with under a minute to play, only for the Knights to steal the win with a 33-yard Ben Valle field goal.
That same year produced a wildly different game. In a 49-34 Bellarmine win on Oct.22, 2022, both teams gained their most single-game yards in program history, the Knights netting 538, the Eagles 335.
