On a dark and cloudy Oct. 16 evening, the Middletown faithful pack Knights Field to watch the Middletown football team beat the Frederick Cadets, 20-0.

Frederick won the toss, and chose to defer to the second half.

Middletown went three – and – out on their first series, and punted away to Frederick.

The Knights defense held, and forced a punt.

The Middletown offense rolled, with Rob Michels completing passes to Pat Ryan and Adam Dulberger before stalling on the 10 yard line and throwing an interception.

Frederick couldn’t capitalize, fumbling the ball away on their own 23 yard line.

On the first play of the ensuing drive, Gilbert Kim intercepted a Michels pass.

Rico immediately ripped off a 16 yard run for the Cadets. Middletown held the rest of the way, however, and forced a turnover on downs.

Michels took control of the offense, running out the quarter, with the scored tied at zero.

Beginning the second quarter, the Knights drove all the way down to the 2 yard line before Michels ran for a Middletown touchdown. Nathaniel Iott kicked through the extra point for a 7 – 0 Knights lead.

Frederick drove slowly up the field before Michels intercepted a Deon Walker pass.

Sam Lavala intercepted Michels’ next pass, Frederick’s third INT on the night.

The Cadets immediately fumbled the ball back to Middletown.

Middletown drove to the three yard line before a holding call that cost the Knights a touchdown. Two plays later, Michels hit Tony Boyer out of the backfield for a thirteen yard TD pass. Iott’s kick was blocked, and that brought the score to 13 – 0 Middletown.

Frederick’s offense went nowhere, and Middletown forced a punt.

Middletown also did nothing on offense and punted right back to the Cadets.

Frederick ran the clock out to end the first half with the score 13 – 0 in favor of Middletown.

Frederick received the ball to start the third quarter, and couldn’t move the ball, punting away to Middletown.

The Knights offense sputtered, with Michels throwing his fourth INT of the game.

Middletown held, forcing a punt.

The Knights went nowhere, and punted back to the Cadets.

Pat Ryan ended Frederick’s next drive with an interception in the endzone.

The Middletown offense woke back up, running with Koby Cavanagh and Thomas Pitsenbarger, and ran out the third quarter with the score 13 – 0 Middletown.

Tony Boyer took a handoff on the fourth play of the fourth quarter into the endzone for a Middletown touchdown. Iott’s kick brought it to 20 – 0 Middletown.

On the first play of the ensuing drive, Deon Walker threw an INT to Michels.

Two plays later, Michels fumbled the ball back to Frederick.

The Cadets took advantage, running down to the five yard line before Pat Ryan ended another Frederick drive with an interception in the endzone, this throw by Andrew Zimnik.

Middletown’s offense, with Sam Glushakow under center, did little, punting back to Frederick.

The Cadets drove deep into Middletown territory, but couldn’t score, taking too much time and preserving a shutout for the Middletown defense.

Middletown wasted many scoring opportunities by giving the ball away, but the Knights defense was exceptional in shutting down the Frederick offense, with the final score 20 – 0 Middletown.