by Midview – This game consisted of effective offensive performances and explosive plays all around. Both teams came in undefeated at 3-0 on the year and looking to make a statement in a crucial game for both sides. In the end, Amherst Steele came away with the win 21-16 and moved to 4-0 on the year behind QB Cole Norris leading the way through the air and on the ground.
The game started with the Comets receiving the first half kick but would go 3 and out early and give up the ball. The Middies started with good field position and with it they took advantage early on a first play double move route down the right sideline to #8 Dior Jones for a 27-yd gain. A few plays later the Middies would be in a 4th and goal situation where the Comets stood up Midview on the goal line to retain the ball.
Following the defensive stop, it took Amherst Steele one play to strike first in the game as QB Cole Norris broke 2 tackles and went right 98 yards to the house to take the 7-0 lead at the 6:08 mark of the 1st quarter.
The Middies on their next drive would go three and out and they gave the ball back to the Comets offense in good field position which led to another large run by Cole Norris for a TD, this time 35-yds to make the game 14-0 at the end of the 1st quarter.
The Middies next drive looked promising but were denied by a fumble to give the ball right back to the Comets. Luckily for the Middies, the defense stepped up and #24 Max Kucera got the much-needed sack on 3rd and long to make the Comets punt.
Midview took advantage of the talent on the outside with another long ball to #8 Dior Jones down the left side for 33-yds. Plays later, Midview settles for a 26-yd FG from #25 Ethan Morris at 4:54 in the 2nd quarter to get the scoring going for the Middies. Amherst looked like it was going 3 and out again but was saved by a Pass Interference call on 3rd down to extend the drive. They chewed more clock and ran the ball effectively but had to punt late in the half.
Midview backed up in their own end of the field ran a methodical 2-minute drill to get them down the field quick and with 10 seconds left, #6 Shay Williams hit #8 Dior Jones on a screen pass that looked to be going nowhere but ended up with Jones breaking multiple tackles and taking it to the house which made it 14-10 at the half.
Midview started with the ball in the 2nd half. On a 3rd and long, Williams hit #17 Camden Scott for a 73-yd TD early in the 3rd quarter. PAT was blocked and the score stayed at 16-14.
Amherst began to mix in a little more of the pass than in the first half to become more balanced in the first drive of the 2nd half. The Comets struck again with Cole Norris running for an 8-yd score on the ground for his 3rd rushing TD of the night.
The next Middies drive ended with a failed 4th down conversion deep in Amherst territory. The Comets led after 3 quarters. Penalties on the ensuing drive backed them up and killed any momentum for the Comets and led to another punt.
Midview’s QB, Shay Williams, led the way down the field after starting in the Middies own 20 and did so by converting on a 3rd and long on the ground with a QB draw and then a long ball over the top 60 yds to, yet again, Dior Jones, who fought his way all the way to the goal line but lost the ball on extension at the 1 and rolled into the endzone. Touchback.
Midview forced a 3 and out and got the ball back again with a chance to win. The Middies used all the 3:34 that was left on the clock to get them down to the goal line but got shut down on 3 straight runs. On a 4th down with 6 seconds left on the Comets 5 yard line, Williams dropped to pass, tried to hit the flat to an open receiver but was hit in doing so and the ball fluttered to the ground, giving the Comets the 21-16 win and moving to 4-0 in one of the best games of the year to date.
Players of the game:
Amherst Steele QB Cole Norris – 6/9 77 Passing yds and 22 Carries, 197 Rush yds, 3 total TD’s
Midview WR Dior Jones – 9 Rec, 189 yds, TD
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