August  23, 2019 @ Rockwood

Game Recap By Ed Greif

For the last two years, the season opening game between the Rockwood Tigers and Midway Green Wave have been close.

Friday’s opener at Rockwood’s Civitan Field wasn’t any different, although the Tigers won 19-6, it was closer than the score showed.

“It was a good win,” Tiger Coach John Webb said. “It gives a lot of things to work on, we know we made some mistakes." “Midway does a great job, the coaches, the players and the community they love playing football. “We knew coming in it was going to be a tough game and sure enough it was.”

The scoreless first quarter saw the Tigers have three possessions, being held to two yards rushing on 5 carries and 26 yards passing on 2-of-2 tosses, while Midway picked up 10 yards rushing on 8 carries and 39 yards passing on 5-of-7 with interception by Jack Alexander.

The Tigers capped their third possession on a 43-yard pass from Nate Brackett to Octavius Worthy for a 6-0 lead with 11:30 left in the first half. The extra point was no good. Brackett also passed 17 yards to Dillon Garrett for a crucial first down, as the Tigers rushed for 3 yards on four carries.

The Green Wave took the ensuing kick at 17-yard line and used the passing of Emmitt Hegland, who completed 1-od-3 passe for 24 yards to Lucas Goldschmidt and the rushing of Andrew Burton and Brandon Burnum, who combined for 53 yards, with Burton tying the game on a 2-yard run with 8:08 left in the half. The PAT was no good, leaving the game tied a 6-6.

The Tiger offense finished the half with 10 yards rushing on 10 carries and 43 yards passing on 1-of-3 tosses with two first downs, while the Green Wave had 71 yards rushing on 12 carries and 24 yards passing on 1-of-6 passes.

“We tried to establish the running game in the first half, but Midway did a great job taking it away,” Webb said. “We made a few adjustments at half time and it opened up the passing game a time or two and we were able to put a couple touchdowns on the board.

Rockwood opened the second half with three plays and out, but their defense led by Worthy, Brackett, Jackson Kelley and Gavin Evans calmed the Wave to force a punt, taking over at the Tiger 25.

Jayden Hannibal capped the 75-yard, 11-play drive with a 20-yard run. Again, the PAT was no good. Dakota Waldo carried five times for 20 yards, while Brackett completed 2-of-4 passes for 35 yards, a 14-yarder to Garrett and a 21-yard strike to Hyle, for crucial first downs.

The Tigers held the Green Wave to 1-yard rushing and zero yards passing the last 3:37 of the quarter, while the RHS offense was held to three plays and out on its final possession of the third, which ended 12-6 Tigers.

Midway started the final quarter at their 36-yard line, but was unable to cross the goalline.

After going three plays and out, Rockwood turned the ball back to the Green Wave, who was held to three plays and out. Hyle fumbled the Midway punt, giving the ball to the Green Wave.

Burton's pass was picked off by Hyle at the Tiger 35. Eight plays later, Waldo scored from the 3-yard line for an 18-6 lead with 2:30 left in the game. Ben Woodall's PAT made i 19-6. Worthy, Waldo and J. Hannibal carried the pigskin. A personal foul penalty kept the drive alive.

Midway took the ensuing kick at their, 26-yard line.Hegland completed 3-of-4 passes for 20 yards, but the Tiger defense led by Eli Grant and David Collett stopped the drive to end the game.

“I felt like we were able to keep the same intensity as the first half, but we just kept getting behind the sticks,” Midway Coach Ron Treadway said. “We’d move it a little bit, shoot ourselves in the foot and move back. “It’s hard to play against a Rockwood defense, they’re so well coached and you can’t make mistakes and not expect them to not take advantage of it. “We were still in the game up to the final drive.”

Waldo was the leading rusher with 45 yards on 14 carries, while Hannibal had 25 yards on 10 carries, while Brackett completed 5-of-12 passes for 104 yards and punted six times for 44.2 yards per kick. Garrett caught two passes fo 31 yards, while Worthy had one pass for 43 with a touchdown.

Josiah Gilbert (five solos, two assists) and Waldo (5 solos, 2 assists with a tackle for minus yardage. Brackett had four tackles.

Rockwood will go on the road to face Sweetwater this week with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff scheduled.

Players of the Week for the Midway game are: Offense: #1 Jaiden Hannibal and Defense:# 54 Josiah Gilbert

Game Video

Rockwood Sports Network Week 1 Game - Rockwood Vs. Midway

8/23/2019

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