MIDWAY, Ky. - Fresh off a bye week, Midway looks to rebound
from a disappointing loss two weeks ago by stamping its ticket to the Midwest Sprint Football League playoffs for the second year in a row.
The 2-2 Eagles are back on the road to face 0-4 Quincy (Ill.) in the second meeting between the two MSFL Black Division foes this season.
And while Midway's hopes of winning a division title are very slim, there is a very direct path to the postseason, one that can be cleared with a win this weekend.
LAST GAME: SAINT MARY OF THE WOODS 27 (IND.), MIDWAY 20
The Eagles had a chance to earn a statement win over the unbeaten Pomeroys. With 1:47 remaining in the third quarter,
Christian Carter and
Ayden Bauwens connected on a 75-yard catch-and-run touchdown that gave Midway a 20-13 lead.
But a SMWC team that had scored 49 points or more in its first three games found an offensive rhythm in the final period, scoring two touchdowns in the final 7:29, the game-winner coming on a 58-yard bulldozing touchdown run by Derron Hazzard.
In just four games, the Eagles have already scored a program-record 147 points. They've also set individual records for passing yards (1,176) and touchdowns (12) by Carter and receiving yards by Bauwens (415).
Carter is currently on pace to break the MSFL record for passing yards in a season. The current top mark of 1,923 was set by Bellarmine's Kyle Horvath last season.
Defensivley, Midway leads the league with 17 forced turnovers and 11 sacks. Freshman
Tristian Euell had four tackles for-loss against Saint Mary of the Woods and is currently tied for the MSFL lead with nine TFLs on the season.
Despite all its record-setting success, Midway has been plagued by penalties this season, accumulating more than 100 yards in each game. Those issues were at their worst against the Pomeroys, as the Eagles were flagged 19 times for 211 yards.
SCOUTING THE HAWKS
After opening the year against the three toughest teams in the league, Quincy was unable to get into the win column in week four, losing a 9-7 slugfest to Bellarmine at home.
Down 9-0 entering the fourth quarter, the Hawks scored on a 1-yard CJ Jackson touchdown run with 8:42 to play, then drove all the way to the Knight 15 with under a minute remaining, only to lose a fumble and, ultimately, the game.
Jackson leads the run game with 324 yards, while receivers Gregory Quince (241 yards) and Josiah Oliver-Ross (236) have found some success in an inconsistent passing game, which has seen four players combine for five touchdowns and 10 interceptions while completing just 41 percent of their passes.
Stopping the run has been a major problem for Quincy this season. The Hawks allow a league-worst 182.5 rushing yards per-game and have given up over 150 in all four outings.
The unit is led by Kaden Buchholz, who is tied with Euell for the MSFL lead with nine tackles for-loss.
MATCHUP HISTORY
After losing the first two meetings in 2022 and 23, Midway has won two straight against Quincy, including
a 41-12 rout at the Midway Turf Field in week three.
In that game, the Eagle offense set single-game records with 581 total yards and 369 passing yards.
Individual records in that game included Carter's 332 passing yards,
Demari Edelen's 178 rushing yard and
Chase Williams' 136 yards and three touchdowns receiving. Carter and Williams also connected on the longest offensive play in school history with an 89-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter.
The Eagle defense surrendered 414 yards but forced four turnovers with
Josiah Sander,
Preston Moore and
Omarion Riddick all intercepting passes. Euell added two sacks while
Brady Bond blocked a first-quarter field goal try.
PLAYOFF SCENARIOS
Saturday is a simple win-and-in scenario for the Eagles, who would be three games clear of the Hawks with just two weeks remaining in the season.
Midway still has a mathematical chance to win the MSFL Black Division, but would have to win out and have Saint Mary of the Woods lose out, as the 4-0 Pomeroys hold the tie-breaker after sweeping the Eagles this season.
Saint Mary of the Woods faces fellow unbeaten and MSFL Red Division leader Calumet (Ind.) on Saturday, in a rematch of the last three league championship games.
Midway's game at Quincy kicks off Saturday at 1 p.m. A live stream of the contest
can be found here.
