The Midway Raiders and the Princeton Bulldogs renewed an old Carolina 1A Conference rivalry Friday night in Johnston County. The Bulldogs, coming off an outstanding season last year, sent their top player Johnny Fraser to N. C. State.
The Raiders, now a member of the 2A part of the Four County Conference, shut out the home team 20-0.
The Raiders didn’t waste any time getting on the scoreboard. On their first possession, quarterback Austin Raynor connected with Paris Smith get the visitors to the Princeton 10 yard line. Running back Labi Olanipekun then ran it in for the 6-0 lead. Jackson Carr added the extra point and the Raiders were off and running.
Later in quarter, Midway had held the Bulldogs and reclaimed possession on downs. But a turnover gave the Bulldogs another opportunity. Shaking Warren then proceeded to pick off a Bulldog pass.
To begin the 2nd period, the home team offense was back on the field. A 35 yard pickup by Adrian Whack put the Bulldogs in good position. Once again the Raider defense came through with a stop, and took over on downs.
Larry Blanks got the Raiders to the 2 yard line and then hit pay dirt with 2:34 left in the opening half. Carr hit another PAT and Raiders led 20-0. That would be the score at intermission.
The Raiders got 1 more score in the 2nd half. Shaking Warren scampered 8 yards with 4:48 remaining in the 3rd period. The PAT was blocked by Whack. That made it 20-0, which was to be the final score.
The Bulldogs threatened a couple of times in the final frame. They had 4th and 1 from the 4 yard line, but a bad snap ended that possession. Princeton also regained possession with 1:02 left in the game. They completed but were turned away a final time by the Midway defense.
“We were pretty well pleased with our defense tonight,” attested Midway defensive coach Billy McLamb. “They got a few yards here and there, but we contained them for the most part, and kept them out of the end zone.”
“It was a good team effort tonight,” asserted Raider head coach Jason Fussell, “We had a whole lot less people than they did and we were smaller than them, and they had some speed. But our guys showed a lot of heart. It’s like the army: the few, the proud, the strong.”
Whack led the way for the Bulldogs with 90 yards on 15 carries. Jarrett Pearce was the top receiver with 36 yards on 2 receptions.
