Coalfield Survives Midway Comeback in 41-34 Victory
By Terry Futrell
After taking a commanding 34-7 lead over the Midway Greenwave in the third quarter, the Coalfield Yellow Jackets had to overcome a late Midway aerial blitzkrieg to take home a 41-34 Region 2A victory Friday evening.
The Jackets were unstoppable throughout the first half with their balanced attack. Quarterback Cole Hines connected on 8 of 9 passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns. Hines hit Rommel Conlon for a 19-yard touchdown in the first quarter, and later hit Eli Roberts for a 39-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Meanwhile, the Jackets ran the ball 13 times for 118 yards in the first half.
The Greenwave got on the board in the second quarter with a 9-play drive that covered 80 yards. The drive began when quarterback Emmett Hegland connected with Caleb Goodman for 40 yards. Hegland connected with his receivers on 9 of 11 passes in the half for 84 yards. Greenwave runners carried the ball 12 times for 41 yards in the half.
The Yellow Jackets took a comfortable 21-7 lead into the locker room at the half.
After the Greenwave were forced to punt on their first possession in the second half, Hines connected with Conlon on the Jackets first play for 62-yard touchdown. After Luke Treece kicked the point after, the Jackets led 28-7.
Midway fumbled the ball on their next possession and the Jackets recovered at the Greenwave 24-yard line. Coalton Henry carried the ball on consecutive runs of 14 and 10 yards for a Jacket touchdown, and Coalfield increased its lead to 34-7.
Faced with a potential blowout by the Jackets, Midway found opportunity in the Coalfield secondary. Hegland connected with Seth Gordon for an 80-yard touchdown to close the gap to 34-14. The Jackets responded with an 11-play drive that covered 71 yards to lead 41-14.
Midway then marched 86 yards downfield in 8 plays, capping off the drive when Hegland threaded the ball between two Coalfield defenders to hit Brennan Reed in the corner of the end zone, closing the gap to 41-20.
The Jackets turned the ball over on their next possession when Caleb Goodman intercepted a Luke Treece pass and returned the ball to the Coalfield 11-yard line. The Greenwave scored when Hegland again found Reed all alone in the corner of the end zone. Sierra Cowell kicked the extra point and Coalfield’s lead was cut to 41-27 with 8:24 remaining in the game.
Coalfield moved the ball 38 yards to the Midway 16 in a 7-play drive but turned the ball over on downs. The Greenwave again came charging back with an 8-play drive that covered 84 yards. The Greenwave covered 56 yards in the air on four passes, scoring on a 20-yard pass from Hegland to Seth Gordon. Cowell kicked the point after and Coalfield’s lead was cut to 41-34 with 2:03 remaining.
Coalfield was able to run out the clock and seal the Region 2A victory 41-34.
Both teams were frustrated by penalties; 25 were called in the game – 11 against Midway for 90 yards and 14 against Coalfield for 145 yards.
For the entire game, Hines was 13 of 17 passing for 248 yards. Hegland connected on 21 of 29 passes for 316 yards. The Jackets rushed for 223 yards compared to only 83 yards for the Greenwave.
Rommel Conlon led the Jackets in receiving with four catches for 115 yards. Seth Gordon led Midway receivers with five catches for 123 yards.
Cole Hines led the Jackets with 16 carries for 144 net yards, and Ty Mason carried 12 times for 57 yards for the Greenwave.
With the win, Coalfield is now 3-0 in Region 2A and faces Greenback next Friday at home. Midway falls to 0-2 in Region 2A and plays Harriman at home next Friday.
