The JV Midway Raiders football team was in action Monday evening, squaring off against East Bladen to start conference play after weather postponed the game on Thursday.
The first half was unkind to the Raiders as East Bladen stormed out to a 20-0 lead at the break.
The action picked up midway through the first quarter. After holding Midway to three and out, East Bladen was in for a score with 3:59 remaining. The two-point conversion was successful and the Eagles led 8-0.
That lead would grow early in the second quarter after the East Bladen defense shut down Midway’s offense.
At the 7:34 mark in the second quarter, East Bladen was in for its second touchdown of the game. This time the two-point try was unsuccessful and the Eagles led 14-0.
The Eagles would tack on one more score just as the half was closing. With 24 seconds remaining, the Eagles hauled in a 21-yard touchdown pass. Following the failed two-point conversion, East Bladen led 20-0 at the half.
After the break, East Bladen took the opening kickoff and started the drive with the worst field position they’d faced all game, backed up in their own territory.
The Midway defense came out with a different look and was able to force an Eagles fumble early in the quarter. The Raiders would take over at the East Bladen 26, setting up for their first score of the game with.
With 8:45 left, quarterback Cameron Barefoot ran it in on the QB sneak for the score. Donte Blue would run the two-point conversion in and the Raiders were back within 20-8.
The Raiders made things even more exciting when they recovered yet another East Bladen fumble at midfield. With 1:21 left in the third quarter, Barefoot connected with Blue on a pass play for touchdown, converting fourth and goal from the 5-yard line. Jaleen Moore converted the two-point conversion and suddenly Midway has closed to within 20-16.
At the start of the fourth quarter, the Midway defense successfully shutdown an Eagles drive that has moved well into Midway territory and now Midway had an opportunity to claim the lead.
The Eagles defense held, however, forcing Midway to punt as the game was winding down.
East Bladen was able to tack on one final score with 2:27 remaining and add the two-point conversion, reclaiming a double-digit lead at 28-16.
Midway was unable to get any closer and the game would end with the 28-16 East Bladen victory.
After the game, Midway head coach Austin Tart was proud of his guys for being able to fight back.
“This was a tale of two halves,” Tart stated. “After allowing them to score 20 in the first half, we held them to 8 in the second and got a couple scores of our own to get back in it, but they made a big third down stop late in the game and it cost us.”
With the loss, Midway falls to 3-1 overall and 0-1 in the Four County Conference. The Raiders are back in action Thursday as they host Pender.