LOUISVILLE, Ky. - After showing a lot of progress
in its season opener against the projected Midwest Sprint Football League Champion, the Midway sprint football team will attempt to break into the win column and capture its first rivalry game victory on Saturday.
The Eagles (0-1) will make a trip to Louisville to face Bellarmine in the Battle for the Bourbon Barrel, which will be played at St. Xavier High School.
Here's a look back at week one and a look ahead to the week-two matchup.
LAST WEEK: ST. MARY OF THE WOODS 52, MIDWAY 36
Week one was the very definition of a mixed bag for the Eagles. A new, fast-paced offense gained 529 yards, one of 10 program records set on the day.
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But unfortunately, a slew of mistakes prevented Midway from pulling off the upset against a SMWC team that has never lost a road game. The Pomeroys threw for 417 yards and scored 35 unanswered points between the second and third quarters, getting five touchdowns on six drives in the process.
Though the offense moved the ball all afternoon, it also threw three interceptions to Pomeroy defensive back Byran Simmons, none bigger than his 95-yard interception return for a touchdown on a drive where Midway was attempting to get back within one possession in the final two minutes of play.
The Eagles were also hurt by 14 penalties, which accounted for 112 yards.
Quarterback
Christian Carter accumulated 416 yards of offense (320 passing, 96 rushing) and four touchdowns passes, with two each going to wideouts
Ayden Bauwens (132 yards) and
Quincy Barber (102).
The Eagle defense, which forced four turnovers and surrendered just 1.7 yards per-carry on the ground, and was headlined by
Tyler Guyton (six tackles),
Trenton Leach (two forced fumbles) and
Keegan Hill (one interception with 28 return yards).
SCOUTING THE KNIGHTS
Since starting the program in 2022, the Knight offense has run through senior running back Brenden Reid and will likely do so again this season. Reid had 113 yards from scrimmage and scored two touchdowns in a 43-0, season-opening blowout of Oakland City.
In 17 career games, Reid has rushed for 1,515 yards, and a big chunk of that has been accumulated against Midway. In four games against the Eagles, Reid has 509 yards on 64 carries (7.9 per-carry) and six touchdowns.
In his first collegiate game, freshman quarterback Dylan Morris completed 14-of-18 passes for 168 yards against Oakland City, tossing two touchdown passes to junior wideout to Tyler Smith, who had 103 yards on five catches.
The defense was even stronger, pitching a shutout while accounting for 16 of the Knights' points. The unit started the scoring with a first-quarter safety, then had touchdowns on a 45-yard interception return by Kori Woods and a 30-yard fumble return by Bryce Bullock.
MATCHUP HISTORY
Bellarmine is 4-0 all-time against the Eagles, including a 49-15 win a season ago in a game that looked like it would go a much different way well into the second half.
Midway turned a Knight fumble into an 11-yard Carter-to-Bauwens touchdown pass to tie the score at 15 with 9:36 left in the third quarter.
The Eagle defense then forced a 3rd-and-20 on the ensuing Knight possession, only for Bellarmine to hit on a 36-yard pass, which was followed by a 20-yard Reid touchdown run on the next play.
From that point on, the Knight offense was unstoppable, scoring 34 points while gaining 289 yards on 22.2 yard per-play. They gained 20 yards or more on seven plays in the game's final 22 minutes.
The 2025 Battle for the Bourbon Barrel will kick off at 1 p.m.
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