WHITING, Ind. — There was no better way for the Midway University sprint football program to close its final chapter.
Playing in the final sprint football game in school history, the Eagles captured their first Midwest Sprint Football League (MSFL) championship on Saturday evening, defeating top-seeded Calumet College of St. Joseph 24-17 at Jeff Cain Stadium.
Midway (7-1) entered the championship as the No. 2 seed and avenged its lone regular-season defeat, using 10 unanswered fourth-quarter points to overcome a three-point deficit and secure the historic victory.
The win marked the culmination of Midway's five seasons competing in the MSFL, as the Eagles will transition to traditional NAIA football and join the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) beginning with the 2027 season.
For head coach Krae Kelso, who has been with the program since its inception, the championship represented years of hard work and belief.
"There's no words to actually describe what it is, man," Kelso said. "We've worked so hard for this, and where we started from the beginning, the time I've been at this program, to where we're at now. I'm so happy that the guys stuck around and believed in us, believed in our coaching staff, and this is what it led to."
For quarterback Christian Carter, the championship was the culmination of years of hard work and perseverance.
"It's out of this world," Carter said. "I'm just so happy for our team. Everything we've been through the last couple years, this is just something that we really needed."
Zane Wickliffe delivered the defining moment of the championship, breaking free for a 77-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter to give Midway a 24-17 advantage.
The Eagles never relinquished the lead, with their defense forcing a critical fourth-quarter turnover before holding off a final Calumet possession to secure the championship.
Quarterback Christian Carter finished with 202 yards of total offense and two touchdowns, while Hayden Cockrell connected on a 44-yard field goal and converted all three extra-point attempts.
FIRST QUARTER
Midway's defense set the tone early, keeping the Crimson Wave off the scoreboard despite several lengthy possessions.
Calumet threatened to open the scoring, but a missed 48-yard field goal by Jeau Vinatieri kept the game scoreless.
The Eagles capitalized on the opportunity, putting together a quick three-play, 69-yard touchdown drive.
With 4:04 remaining in the opening quarter, Carter connected with Chase Williams for a 19-yard touchdown pass. Cockrell converted the extra point, giving Midway a 7-0 advantage.
The scoring drive took just 46 seconds, showcasing the Eagles' ability to strike quickly.
Midway carried its seven-point advantage into the second quarter.
SECOND QUARTER
Calumet responded with a lengthy drive to even the contest, marching 94 yards on 13 plays.
Zaire Davis capped the possession with a seven-yard touchdown run, tying the game at 7-7 with 4:54 remaining before halftime.
Midway wasted little time responding.
The Eagles needed just four plays to cover 59 yards, with Carter finishing the drive on a two-yard touchdown run.
Cockrell added the extra point, putting Midway back in front 14-7 with 3:06 remaining in the half.
Calumet answered with another sustained possession, moving 65 yards on 13 plays before Vinatieri connected on a 24-yard field goal with 13 seconds remaining.
The field goal trimmed Midway's advantage to 14-10 heading into the locker room.
THIRD QUARTER
Following halftime, the Crimson Wave continued to lean on their rushing attack, looking to take control of the championship.
Midway's defense held Calumet scoreless for much of the third quarter, but the Crimson Wave eventually broke through late in the period.
Davis capped a six-play, 80-yard drive with his second seven-yard touchdown run of the evening.
Vinatieri converted the extra point, giving Calumet its first lead of the game at 17-14 with just 54 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
Facing their first deficit of the championship, the Eagles entered the final quarter needing a response.
FOURTH QUARTER
With the championship hanging in the balance, Midway delivered its most important stretch of the season.
The Eagles opened the final quarter by turning to Cockrell, who connected on a 44-yard field goal with 13:59 remaining.
The kick tied the contest at 17-17 and shifted momentum back toward Midway.
Less than two minutes later, the Eagles produced the biggest play of the night.
Wickliffe took the handoff and broke free for a 77-yard touchdown run, racing into the end zone to put Midway ahead.
The one-play scoring drive took just 12 seconds, with Cockrell's extra point extending the Eagles' lead to 24-17 with 12:20 remaining.
Calumet continued to threaten, using its physical rushing attack to move the football and control possession.
However, the Midway defense came through with a crucial takeaway in the closing minutes.
With Calumet facing a first down near midfield, Byron Wallace forced a fumble by Jamall Warnell, and Martylan Boston recovered the football at the Calumet 48-yard line with 3:46 remaining.
The turnover gave the Eagles an opportunity to drain valuable time off the clock.
Midway moved the ball inside the Calumet 15-yard line before a 28-yard field goal attempt by Cockrell was blocked with 28 seconds remaining.
The Crimson Wave took over at their own 16-yard line with one final opportunity to extend the game.
Calumet completed a 20-yard pass and added a 10-yard quarterback run, but time expired before the Crimson Wave could reach scoring position.
The final whistle confirmed Midway's 24-17 victory, sending the Eagles into celebration as the first MSFL championship in program history belonged to Midway.
Kelso credited his team's ability to overcome adversity and make plays when they mattered most.
"I think it shows that our guys are ready for situations like that," Kelso said. "Being able to fight through adversity, which is something in years past we hadn't been able to do, coming up with the plays that we needed to come up with, just in the right time and the right place. It's a full team win — special teams, defense, offense, everybody."
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
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Zane Wickliffe led the Midway rushing attack with 104 yards on 10 carries, averaging 10.4 yards per attempt. His 77-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter proved to be the game-winning score.
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Christian Carter completed 8-of-19 passes for 102 yards and one touchdown without an interception. He also rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries.
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Chase Williams led Midway with three receptions for 33 yards and a touchdown.
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Ayden Bauwens finished with two receptions for a team-high 54 receiving yards.
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Hayden Cockrell connected on a 44-yard field goal and went 3-for-3 on extra points. He also averaged 42 yards on six punts, placing three inside the Calumet 20-yard line.
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Byron Wallace led the Eagles defensively with a game-high 16 tackles, including one tackle for loss.
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Tristian Euell recorded 10 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.
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Justin Ball added 10 tackles, while Martylan Boston finished with nine tackles and a fumble recovery.
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Jeremiah Aiken contributed five tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack.
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Midway finished with 323 yards of total offense, including 221 rushing yards and 102 passing yards.
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The Eagles averaged 6.3 yards per offensive play and committed no turnovers.
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Calumet finished with 456 total yards, including 347 on the ground, but lost two fumbles.
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Davis led the Crimson Wave with 192 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 38 carries.
A CHAMPIONSHIP FIVE YEARS IN THE MAKING
Saturday's victory marked a historic achievement for a program that began competing in the Midwest Sprint Football League in 2022.
Midway entered the league as one of its charter members, helping establish the MSFL as a new opportunity for collegiate sprint football programs across the Midwest.
The Eagles experienced the challenges of building a new program before developing into one of the league's top contenders.
The 2026 season represented the program's most successful campaign, with Midway finishing the regular season 5-1 in conference play and sharing the MSFL regular-season championship with Calumet.
Despite identical conference records, Calumet earned the No. 1 seed through the league's defensive points allowed tiebreaker, leaving Midway as the No. 2 seed.
The Eagles advanced to the championship after defeating Quincy in the semifinals, setting up a third meeting with Calumet.
The two programs split their regular-season matchups, with Midway claiming a 38-24 road victory in September before the Crimson Wave responded with a 28-9 win in October.
With the championship on the line, the Eagles delivered the decisive victory in the season series.
The result gave Midway its first MSFL championship and provided a fitting conclusion to the program's sprint football history.
For Kelso, the championship was especially meaningful for the seniors who remained committed to the program through its early challenges.
"I've been fortunate enough to be here since the beginning of it, and I saw where we were at at the beginning of it," Kelso said. "It wasn't pretty. The guys that stuck around, it's very few, 10 seniors from that class that stuck around. I appreciate that they believed in us, believed in myself when I took over as a coach, and kept putting the work in."
For senior Mike "Skip" Anderson, the championship was the reward for four years of dedication and perseverance.
"There's too many feelings to even put into words," Anderson said. "All the early mornings, all the sprints, all the getting in trouble, everything paid off. Give credit to my team. I couldn't do it without my team."
Anderson, who has been with the program for four seasons, reflected on the challenges the Eagles faced during their early years, including multiple coaching changes.
"We've been through a lot," Anderson said. "Three coaching changes since I've been here, and it's only been four years. I give all the credit to Coach Kelso and Coach Russell. They've come in and turned this program around, and I'm a champion."
The senior also emphasized the importance of special teams in the championship victory, crediting the coaching staff for preparing the Eagles to excel in all phases of the game.
"Every week in practice, we harp on it," Anderson said. "We have to be great at all three phases of the game — offense, defense and special teams especially. And it definitely showed out here tonight."
Kelso also credited his coaching staff and the support surrounding the program for helping the Eagles reach the championship.
"I couldn't do it without the staff we have and all the guys we have around here," Kelso added. "I'm just excited for everyone that's been involved in this."
THE END OF AN ERA, THE BEGINNING OF ANOTHER
While Saturday's championship represented the culmination of five seasons of sprint football, it also marked the beginning of a new chapter for Midway University Athletics.
The Eagles will officially transition from sprint football to traditional NAIA football for the 2027 season, joining the Mid-States Football Association.
The move will bring a new level of competition and an opportunity for the university to continue developing its football program within the NAIA.
Unlike sprint football, which operates under a player weight limit, traditional NAIA football will allow Midway to recruit and compete without the sprint football weight restriction.
The transition will also introduce new conference opponents and provide the Eagles with an opportunity to compete for NAIA postseason opportunities in the years ahead.
For the student-athletes and coaches who helped establish Midway's sprint football program, Saturday's victory ensures that the final game in program history will be remembered as a championship.
For Carter, the championship represented more than a victory on the field. It was an opportunity to celebrate alongside the teammates who helped build the program.
"It means the world to me," Carter said. "This will be with me through every year of my life. I'll think back and just know that I won this with my brothers."
The victory was particularly meaningful for Carter, who had the opportunity to share the championship experience with his brother, who joined the program last season.
"It's a great feeling," Carter added. "When he came and joined us last year, it's brotherly. I know what clicks, he knows what clicks, and it's out of this world."
When asked to describe his emotions following the victory in one word, Kelso settled on pride.
"Proud of the resilience that we have. Proud of these guys that have been doubted their whole life, doubted by all these other teams," Kelso said. "I am proud that these guys took it upon themselves to put the work in and get this win."
The Eagles began their sprint football journey in 2022, and five seasons later, they leave the MSFL as champions.
As Midway prepares for its next chapter in the Mid-States Football Association, the 2026 team has established a championship standard for the future of Eagles football.
POSTGAME INVTERVIEWS
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.
