MIDWAY, Ky. -- Midway took care of Quincy with a 54-35 win in their semifinal matchup on Saturday afternoon at Midway Turf Field to advance to the MSFL Championship.
Midway's starting offense delivered the same consistent performance it has shown pretty much all season. The Eagles put up 54 points in the first half, which is the highest point total they've scored in a half this season, narrowly beating the 50 points they scored in the second half in their away game against Bellarmine.
The Hawks didn't go down quietly. They scored 28 unanswered points and held the Eagles offense scoreless in the second half.
Chase Williams scored a career-high three touchdowns. Williams started his day off with a 15-yard receiving touchdown thrown by Christian Carter. On the next drive, Williams took an 85-yard punt return for a touchdown. Carter then found Williams for a 55-yard touchdown reception. He scored three touchdowns in less than three minutes of game time. Williams also tallied a team-high 98 receiving yards on four receptions (24.5 avg.).
Carter started at quarterback for Midway and threw for 173 yards on seven completions (24.7 avg.). He also tossed a game-high three touchdowns. On the Eagles' opening drive, he found a wide-open Isaiah Mattingly on a third-and-1 over the middle of the field for a 60-yard touchdown.
Quincy quarterback Kiet Truong was a big reason Quincy stayed in the game. Truong threw for a game-high 361 yards. He also tossed for two touchdowns.
Tristian Euell had a team-high nine total tackles. Euell also joined Trenton Leach for one of the two times the Eagles got to Truong. Corlin Penn recorded the other Midway sack, which was his first career sack.
Zane Wickliffe led the backfield for Midway. Wickliffe ran a team-high 10 times and rushed for a team-high 65 yards (6.5 avg.). He also found the end zone once with a 16-yard rush.
Javari Burnett had a career-game, putting up a career-high in receiving yards with 87 on two receptions (43.5 avg.). Burnett also scored his first career touchdown. He used his speed on a streak route, and Duri Trahan found him for the completion that went 74 yards to the end zone.
Hayden Cockrell went one-for-one on field goals, completing his only one from 28 yards out. Cockrell also went five-for-five on PATs.
Omarion Riddick had a team-high three pass breakups and came down with his first interception of the season. Robert Thompson had the other Eagles interception, which was the first of his career.
With the win, Midway clinches a spot in the MSFL Championship, where they will await the winner of the other semifinal match between Calumet College and Bellarmine. The MSFL Championship is scheduled for next Saturday, Nov. 7, hosted by the highest remaining seed.
About Midway University Athletics
Midway University competes in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and its 29 athletics teams are part of the River States Conference, Mid-South Conference, the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association, and USA Archery. For more information about Midway University Athletics, please visit www.gomidwayeagles.com or contact Tyler Beck at 859-846-5366.
