MIDWAY, Ky. — For the first time in program history, the Midway University sprint football team will compete for a Midwest Sprint Football League (MSFL) championship when the Eagles travel to Whiting, Indiana, to face Calumet College of St. Joseph on Saturday, November 7.

Kickoff between the second-seeded Eagles (6-1) and top-seeded Crimson Wave (6-1) is scheduled for 7 p.m eastern, 6 PM central.

Saturday's matchup will also mark the end of an era for Midway Athletics, as the Eagles will compete in their final sprint football game before transitioning to traditional NAIA football and joining the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) for the 2027 season.

The championship marks the third meeting between the two programs this season, with the teams splitting their regular-season contests. Midway earned a 38-24 road victory on September 12 before Calumet responded with a 28-9 win at Midway Turf Field on October 17.

Both programs finished the conference schedule with identical 5-1 records, sharing the MSFL regular-season championship. Calumet earned the No. 1 seed through the league's defensive points allowed tiebreaker, while Midway secured the No. 2 seed.

Now, the Eagles will look to close their sprint football era by capturing their first MSFL postseason championship.

Last Time Out

Midway punched its ticket to the championship game with a 54-35 victory over Quincy University in the MSFL semifinals on Saturday, October 31, at Midway Turf Field.

The Eagles' offense continued its high-scoring season, reaching the 50-point mark for the fifth time in seven games.

Junior wide receiver Chase Williams delivered one of the game's biggest performances, catching four passes for 98 yards and two touchdowns while adding an 85-yard punt return touchdown.

Williams' three-touchdown performance helped Midway advance to the championship game.

Quarterback Christian Carter guided the Eagles' offense, while the defense received contributions from Trenton Leach, who recorded four tackles, a half-sack and two pass breakups.

On special teams, Hayden Cockrell connected on a 28-yard field goal and averaged 42.6 yards on five punts, including two traveling more than 50 yards.

The victory improved Midway to 6-1 and extended its winning streak to two games heading into the championship.

Last Meeting

Calumet handed Midway its only loss of the 2026 season on October 17, defeating the Eagles 28-9 at Midway Turf Field.

After falling behind 7-0, Midway responded to take a 9-7 advantage at the end of the opening quarter.

However, the Crimson Wave scored 21 unanswered points in the second half to secure the victory.

Carter threw for 250 yards and a touchdown, connecting with Williams on a 26-yard scoring strike.

Williams finished with six receptions for 84 yards, while Isaiah Mattingly led the receiving corps with 94 yards on three catches.

Defensively, Justin Ball recorded a team-high 13 tackles, followed by Tristan Euell with 11 and Leach with 10.

Calumet controlled the ground game, rushing for 246 yards while forcing five Midway turnovers, including an interception returned for a touchdown.

The loss evened the season series after Midway defeated the Crimson Wave 38-24 in Whiting on September 12.

By the Numbers

The championship will feature two teams that have established different offensive identities throughout the season.

Midway enters Saturday averaging 50.4 points per game, while Calumet averages 27.1.

The Eagles have accumulated 476.0 yards of total offense per game, including 333.6 passing yards and 142.4 rushing yards.

Calumet has relied more heavily on its rushing attack, averaging 202.7 yards on the ground and 153.1 through the air for 355.9 total yards per contest.

Defensively, the Crimson Wave have allowed 15.1 points per game, compared to Midway's 20.0.

Midway's defense has been particularly effective at forcing turnovers, recording 18 interceptions through seven games.

Senior defensive back Keegan Hill leads the Eagles with eight interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns.

The Eagles have also recorded 27 sacks and held opponents to 111.6 rushing yards per game.

Players to Watch

Offense — Christian Carter (Quarterback)

Carter has been a key part of Midway's offensive success, throwing for 1,723 yards and 19 touchdowns this season. The junior quarterback threw three touchdown passes in the first meeting with Calumet and enters the championship following another strong performance in the Eagles' semifinal victory over Quincy.

Defense — Trenton Leach (Defensive Line)

Leach has been a consistent force against Calumet, recording 17 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks across the two regular-season meetings. He added four tackles, a half-sack and two pass breakups in Midway's semifinal victory over Quincy.

Special Teams — Hayden Cockrell (Kicker/Punter)

Cockrell has been a reliable contributor throughout the season, earning five MSFL Special Teams Player of the Week honors. He connected on a 28-yard field goal against Quincy in the semifinals and averaged 42.6 yards across five punts, including two of more than 50 yards.

MSFL Championship History

Saturday's matchup marks the fifth championship game in Midwest Sprint Football League history and the first time Midway University will compete for the league's postseason title.

Since the MSFL began competition in 2022, the championship game has featured Calumet College of St. Joseph and Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in each of the first four seasons.

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods claimed the inaugural championship in 2022, defeating Calumet 23-7 in Whiting, Indiana.

The Crimson Wave responded by capturing back-to-back postseason championships in 2023 and 2024, defeating the Pomeroys in both title games.

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods reclaimed the championship in 2025, defeating Calumet 33-6 to complete an undefeated season.

With Saint Mary-of-the-Woods transitioning to traditional NAIA football for the 2026 season, Saturday's matchup guarantees a new championship game pairing for the first time in league history.

Calumet will make its fifth consecutive championship appearance, while Midway will look to become the third different program to capture the MSFL postseason title.

Previous MSFL Champions

• 2022: Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College

• 2023: Calumet College of St. Joseph

• 2024: Calumet College of St. Joseph

• 2025: Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College

The Eagles have previously reached the MSFL playoffs, including a semifinal appearance against Saint Mary-of-the-Woods in 2024 and another postseason appearance in 2025. Saturday will mark the program's first trip to the championship game.

End of an Era

Beyond the championship implications, Saturday's contest will carry additional significance as the final sprint football game in Midway University history.

The Eagles launched their sprint football program in 2022 as one of the charter members of the Midwest Sprint Football League, helping establish the conference during its inaugural season.

Over five seasons, Midway has developed its program within the MSFL, culminating in a share of the 2026 regular-season championship and the program's first appearance in the postseason title game.

Following Saturday's championship, Midway will begin its transition to traditional NAIA football, joining the Mid-States Football Association for the 2027 season.

The move will mark a new chapter for the Eagles, who will compete under traditional football roster and eligibility rules rather than the weight restrictions associated with sprint football.

For Midway's current players and coaching staff, Saturday presents one final opportunity to represent the university on the sprint football stage and close the program's five-year history with a conference championship.

Championship Matchup

Saturday's championship game will be the eighth all-time meeting between Midway and Calumet.

The Crimson Wave hold a 5-2 advantage in the series, but the Eagles have already shown they can win on the road against Calumet, doing so in the season opener.

Midway enters the contest seeking its first MSFL championship game victory, while Calumet looks to capitalize on its home-field advantage.

With the regular-season title already shared between the two programs, Saturday's winner will claim the postseason championship.

ABOUT MIDWAY UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

Midway University competes in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and its 29 athletic teams are part of the River States Conference, Mid-South Conference, 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.