VIKES TOP MULES IN DISTRICT SHOOT OUT

Midway’s varsity football Vikings traveled to the home stomping grounds of the Lone Jack Mules for the first game of district play on Friday, October 14. The Mules were riding a three game winning streak heading into the game, but Midway won the shootout with Lone Jack 42 to 28.

Bobby Zielinski scored Midway’s first touchdown at 8:40 of the first quarter on a 15 yard touchdown run. Tyler Willms booted the Vikes point after, giving Midway a 7 to 0 lead.

At 7:25 of the first quarter, and shortly after a Lone Jack fumble, the Vikings scored again on a 3 yard touchdown run by Tyler Yahnig. Tyler Willms made the point after kick to make the score Vikings 14 and Mules 0.

Lone Jack continued the game’s early scoring when Bryan Moore tossed a 4 yard touchdown pass to Jake Suhr at 1:45 of the first quarter. Joey Rains ran in the two point conversion to make the score Midway 14 and Lone Jack 8.

It didn’t take the Vikings long to score following the Lone Jack TD. Taylor Ayres hit Dylan Wise with a 47 yard touchdown pass 1:28 of the first quarter. Tyler Willms was good again on the point after boot to boost the score to Vikings 21 and Mules 8.

The Mules closed the scoring gap with a Bryan Moore 20 yard touchdown run at 2:48 of the second quarter. Lone Jack was unsuccessful in their two-point conversion trial, leaving the score Midway 21 and Lone Jack 14.

Midway couldn’t get control of the ball in a strange series of plays in the last two minutes of the second quarter. As a matter of fact, the Vikings lost forty-six yards on three plays before giving the ball back to Lone Jack on a fumble.

Lone Jack’s Joey Rains scored on a 3 yard touchdown run with 1:16 to play in the first half. A two-point conversion pass from Bryan Moore to Jake Suhr put the Mules in front of the Vikings 22 to 21 at halftime.

Midway’s first offensive play from scrimmage at 9:53 of the third quarter went for 59 yards and a Bobby Zielinski touchdown. Tyler Willms hit the PAT to make the score Midway 28 and Lone Jack 22.

At 4:40 of the third quarter, the Vikings scored again. Taylor Ayres plowed into the end zone for a touchdown on a 1 yard quarterback keeper. Tyler Willms made the point after kick to make the score Vikings 35 and Mules 22.

 Bryan Moore connected with Skyler Overlander for a 22 yard Lone Jack touchdown pass with 6:03 to go in the fourth quarter. The Mules’ two point try was no good. The score with half of the fourth quarter gone stood Cass Midway 35 and Lone Jack 28.

Midway scored the game’s final points with just 0:32 to play in the game. Bobby Zielinski ran in a 1 yard touchdown. Tyler Willms added the point after kick giving the Vikings a 42 to 28 triumph over the Mules.

“It is important to win your district opener,” said Midway head coach Larry Burchett. “We were not at our best, but we came out on top. Lone Jack is a very physical team.”

Coach Burchett continued, “We hurt ourselves on offense, but still scored forty-two points. We gave up a lot of yards on defense, but stopped them at crunch time. Those are the things winning teams do.”

Midway had 133 yards rushing the football. Bobby Zielinski had 7 carries for 78 yards. Taylor Ayres had 25 net yards on 12 carries. Tyler Yahnig gained 25 yards on 7 carries. Peyton Semsch gained 5 yards on 1 carry.

The Vikings passed the ball for 78 yards. Taylor Ayres was 6 of 9 passing the football for 78 yards. Dylan Wise caught 2 passes for 51 yards. Bryan Fregeau caught 2 passes for 16 yards, and Bobby Zielinski caught 2 passes for 11 yards.

Tyler Willms averaged 55 yards per kickoff on seven kickoffs. Taylor Ayres punted one time for 36 yards.

Dylan Wise had a 34 yard punt return for the Vikings. He also had a 9 yard kickoff return. Taylor Ayres had a 33 yard kickoff return, Tyler Machal had an 8 yard kickoff return and Tyler Yahnig had a 3 yard kickoff return.

Midway’s defensive unit gave up 324 yards of total offense to the Mules, but the Vikings also forced four Lone Jack turnovers. Taylor Ayres picked-off two Lone Jack passes. Paul Stark had an interception, and Bryan Fregeau had a fumble recovery.

Peyton Semsch had 5 solo tackles and 5 assists. Clay Dahman made 7 unassisted tackles. Tyler Yahnig had 4 solo tackles and 6 assists. Taylor Ayres had 2 unassisted tackles and 7 assists.

Kyle Bayard and Conrad King each made 1 unassisted tackle and each assisted on 9 tackles. Paul Stark had 5 solo tackles and 2 assists. Chandler Nelson had 3 unassisted tackles and 4 assists. Bryan Fregeau had 4 solo tackles and 1 assist.

Blake Mullikin made 4 solo tackles. Zach Smith had 2 unassisted tackles and 4 assists. Adam Doyle had 1 solo tackle and 2 assists.

Dylan Wise and Tyler Machal each had 1 unassisted tackle. Tyler Greer, Kessler Woods, and Sean DeFeo each assisted on 1 tackle.

Midway will host Drexel on Friday, October 21 for the second of the three district games. Drexel is 7-1 on the season. The Bobcats were defeated by the University Academy Charter Gryphons 48 to 28 on Saturday, October 15. The kickoff is set for 7:00 PM.

“This is a significant game for both schools, but what is more important to both schools is the welfare of the two young men from Drexel that were hospitalized after the wreck on Saturday,” said Midway head coach Larry Burchett. “The Midway community has both of these young men and their families in our thoughts and prayers.”

The thirteen Viking football seniors, four cross country seniors, one flag corps senior, five band seniors, and one cheerleading senior will be honored on the field at 6:30 PM in the annual senior/parents ceremony. (Midway’s volleyball seniors will be recognized at the final home volleyball match on October 20.)

This article appears courtesy of The Adrian Journal and The Drexel Star.