Coalfield vs Midway Game Preview

By Greg Addington

The season has come down to a critical three-game region gauntlet for Coalfield in order to punch their ticket for the 2019 TSSAA playoffs.  However, Coalfield is focusing their attention on the Midway Green Wave, who will host the Yellow Jackets on Friday night.  Both teams are undefeated in the region with Coalfield at 3-0 and Midway at 1-0 and first-year head coach Ron Treadway has his team at 4-1 overall and primed to make a run at the postseason for what would be the third straight year.

Last week, the Yellow Jackets defeated Gordonsville on Turney Ford Field, 38-14.  Senior quarterback Peyton McKinney ran for two first quarter scores and threw a 35-yard scoring strike to Anthony Foster in the second as Coalfield built a 22-7 advantage with 5:31 to go before halftime.  After a Wyatt Pemberton 65-yard touchdown run to pull the Tigers to within eight, Anthony Foster added his second touchdown on the night with a 41-yard scoring run to make the halftime score 30-14.  The Jackets would add a fourth-quarter Seth Lowe scoring run to complete scoring for the game.  McKinney passed for 162 yards on 7-of-12 passing and ran for 82 yards on the night.  Anthony Foster and Seth Lowe each added a touchdown run and Foster caught the lone touchdown pass.  Defensively, Seth Lowe and Daniel Schaar led the way with 13 tackles each and Anthony Foster contributed 12 tackles for the defense.  Dylan Stewart recovered a fumble and Canaan Bowling and Austyn Hensley each had a sack.

Midway last week defeated Tellico Plains at Midway High School by a final score of 27-6.  Senior Lucas Goldschmitt, pressed into duty when starting running back Andrew Burton went down due to injury against Wartburg, ran for a touchdown and caught two touchdown passes from quarterback Emmitt Hegland to secure the win.  Hegland has played well for Midway and has a good arm.  Brendon Burnum and Lucas Goldschmitt have both stepped up with the recent injury to Andrew Burton to run the ball.  Ryan Clark and Caleb Goodman are capable pass catchers.  Defensively the Wave has fairly good size up front with a line anchored by senior Dequin Kile.  Freshman Chase Letner and senior Creek Johnston are active linebackers that move well.

Coalfield continues region play at Midway High School this Friday night, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30pm.