Middletown 42, North Hagerstown 28

Fans clad in orange and black crowd the home side of Knights Field in anticipation of the varsity football contest between the Middletown Knights and the North Hagerstown Hubs.

As the now standard montage played, North Hagerstown won the toss, and chose to receive the football.

The Knights defense started the game by forcing a three – and – out and a North Hagerstown punt.

On the first play of the drive, Will Lyons made a spectacular leaping grab for an 84 yard touchdown. Nathaniel Iott’s kick brought the score to 7 – 0 Middletown.

Middletown’s defense held firm, forcing a North Hagerstown punt.

Tony Boyer fumbled on first down, but fell on it to keep possession. Two plays later, quarterback Rob Michels was sacked, and dangerously close to a safety. That forced a Knights punt.

Alec Nelson broke a big run up the middle on first down, pushing the ball into Knights territory. A few plays later Anthony Winters caught a swing pass from Stephen Coccodrilli and ran long for a TD. Chase Worthington’s kick brought the score to 7 – 7.

The North Hagerstown defense held firm, giving up only four yards to Middletown, forcing a punt after three plays.

After a long offensive set of mixed gains, Tyler Spencer caught a long TD pass from Coccodrilli. Worthington kicked through to make the score 14 – 7 North Hagerstown.

North Hagerstown dominated on defense until Will Lyons dropped a long pass to force a Middletown punt.

After running multiple times to pick up large chunks of yards, Jordan Ricketts ran off the right breaking tackles for a 32 yard TD. Worthington’s kick made the score 21 – 7 Hubs.

The Middletown offense faltered once more, missing open passes and losing yards to go three – and – out and punt the ball away to North Hagerstown.

Two plays later, Jaraad Yates intercepted a pass and ran it all the way back for a Middletown touchdown. Iott kicked it through to bring the score to 21 – 14 in favor of North Hagerstown.

Middletown’s defense stepped up and pushed the Hubs back, forcing a big three – and – out.

The Knights offense stepped up as well, moving the ball on the North Hagerstown defense before Michels hit Pat Ryan for a TD pass with 34 seconds left. Iott kicked the extra point through to even the game at 21.

Middletown stopped the Hubs on their only play before halftime, with the score tied at 21.

After the Homecoming Court was announced at halftime, it was announced that Hank Binzer and Eva Boettcher were named Homecoming King and Queen.

Middletown received the kickoff to start the second half. Middletown’s offense kept the ball moving, including a long pass to Sam Glushakow. Michels then ran the ball off the left side for another big gain. They sputtered on the 18, however, and turned the ball over on downs to the Hubs.

The Knights defense held, but they couldn’t stop the big plays, and gave up a lot of yardage to the Hubs. They stopped them deep in Knights territory to a fourth down, and held them to turn the ball over on downs.

On first down, Michels threw a 23 yard pass to Glushakow down the middle. Michels then hit Yates for a huge touchdown to the left side. Iott kicked the extra point through for a 28 – 21 lead.

On first down, Matt McConaughey sacked Coccodrilli for a huge loss. On the next play, Glushakow intercepted an easy pass to give the Knights the ball in Hubs territory.

A 9 yard pass to Pat Ryan brought the third quarter to an end at 28 – 21 Knights.

Michels started the fourth quarter with an incomplete pass, and then ran up the middle for a first down. Michels then hit Adam Dulberger for a short TD pass, and Iott kicked it through for a 35 – 21 lead.

On the third play of the ensuing drive, McConaughey sacked Coccodrilli for an 8 yard loss, and to force a punt.

The Knights offense went nowhere, and punted.

A few plays into the next series, Kyle Reese intercepted a Coccodrilli pass to give Middletown the ball in Hubs territory.

On first down, Michels ran off the right side for a huge gain, and then ran off the left for a big TD. Iott kicked the extra point for a 42 – 21 lead.

The Knights stopped the Hubs multiple times until Ricketts had a huge run off to the right. Coccodrilli then threw a short TD pass to the right. Worthington kicked the extra point to bring the score up to 42 – 28 Middletown.

Glushakow took a few knees to end the game, with the score 42 – 28 Middletown. Scoring 35 unanswered points in the third and fourth quarters, the Knights took control and in turn took the game.