by NORTH OLMSTED, OH – A wild back and forth game saw Midview come out ahead 27-20 tonight from The Nest in North Olmsted. The Eagles battled back several times but couldn’t overcome a 229 total yard with 3 touchdowns performance by Marcus McMahon of the Middies.
Also helping the Midview cause was quarterback Shay Williams who went 11 of 21 for 182 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Williams also ran the ball 4 times for 47 yards. His top threats were Zach Wallace with 5 catches for 48 yards and Brennen Newton with 2 catches for 41 yards. Newton also ran the ball twice for 19 crucial yards.
The Eagles were led by tailback Amir Silmi who rushed for 41 yards on 9 carries and 90 yards on 2 receptions with a 85-yard touchdown. Their quarterback Will McPherson finished with 152 yards on 9 of 20 passing with 2 touchdowns and an interception. He also used his legs to run for 29 yards on 9 carries with a rushing touchdown. Cody Jak had 51 yards on 10 carries as well.
The Eagles forced a three and out to start the game, taking over at their own 46-yard line. Lawrence Stanley took a jet sweep 32 yards to start the game for the Eagles. A few plays later a 21-yard strike to Billy Suleiman set them up near the goal line. A moment later, the Eagles scored on a 6-yard pitch and toss from McPherson to Luca LaRue.
The Middies wasted no time firing back with an 86-yard touchdown pass from Williams to McMahon. It was a screen pass in which McMahon found the hole and took it the distance from there.
Multiple personal fouls by the Eagles on the next Middie drive, helped them get the ball down the field quickly. Within a few plays they were already at the Eagle 20-yard line. A few plays later it was Williams taking it in himself from 11 yards out to score, giving the Middies a 14-7 lead with 49 seconds left in the opening quarter.
Midway through the second, the Middies took over again and rode the legs of McMahon to a 40-yard touchdown run busting through would be Eagle tacklers. This increased the Midview lead to 20-7 with 4:53 left in the second quarter.
The second half started with the Eagles cashing in on a screen pass, this time it was 85 yards to Amir Silmi to score, cutting into the lead 20-14 with 11:02 to play in the third quarter. This made for the second screen pass touchdown of the game, both going over 80 yards.
The Eagles kept the heat coming on the next play as Senior Fouad Mohammad picked off a Williams pass early into the next Middie drive. From there they converted a Tanner Thorne first down on fourth and inches as he plowed ahead for the needed yardage to the Midview 23-yard line. From there, a few nice Silmi runs made it first and goal from the 9 of Midview.
Two players later it was McPherson on a quarterback sneak to score and tied the game with 6:01 to play. The game remained tied at 20 however as the extra point kick was blocked. The game entered the fourth quarter by that same score.
Halfway through the quarter, it remained tied when the Eagles took over from their own 20, couldn’t move the ball and had to punt. This allowed the Middies to flip the field and take over from midfield. Midview faced a fourth and 1 from the Eagle 9-yard line with 2:40 left to play. A Williams sneak picked it up and made it first and goal from the 8-yard line with 2:35 to play. A McMahon touchdown run moments later handed the Middies the lead back at 27-20 with 1:34 to play. They hung for the win from there.
Players of the game
Midview RB Marcus McMahon went for 143 yards rushing with 2 TD’s and 86 yards receiving with a TD.
North Olmsted RB Amar Silmi with 41 yards on 9 carries and 90 yards on 2 receptions with a 85 yard touchdown.
