Big Plays Lead Midwood Football to 24-14 Win Over the Tigers

By Jerry Del Priore

The Midwood Hornets came up with several huge plays in their PSAL City Conference game against the Fort Hamilton Tigers, propelling them to 24-14 victory Friday at home.

With half of the season in the books, Hornets head coach Anthony Odita is taking a must-win approach with each tilt played, saying that no game is bigger than the one they’re playing at the moment. 

“We usually take it as a one-game-at-a-time approach, and we say every game is a must-win,” Odita said.

While Midwood (3-2) emerged victoriously, Oidia said that his boys are capable of playing a better overall game. 

“We have pretty high expectations for them,” he said, “and we feel like they didn’t meet them today.” 

The first big play came just a few munites into the contest, as junior quarterback Zade Edwards completed a 25-yard touchdown pass to give the Hornets a 6-0 lead in the first quarter.

Midwood could’ve piled it on early in the tilt, but a penalty called a touchdown back before the Hornets fumbled the ball over to the Tigers (0-5) on their 12-yard line.

Fort Hamilton took advantage of the opportunity and marched the ball down the gridiron. Juinor signal caller Edin Ibric took matters into his own hands, as he knotted the game at six on an eight-yard TD rush early in the second period.

But Midwood struck again when Edwards completed a 58-yard touchdown reception for a 12-6 advantage with approximately 10 minutes remaining in the first half.

The Hornets received another clutch play when it returned a short punt to the Tigers’ 25-yard line. A few players later, Edwards, after a valiant second effort, hit pay dirt on a three-yard rush that extended Midwood’s lead to 18-6 with 6:21 left in the second quarter.

The Hornets’ special team came through again, this time when sophomore Ceejay Newton returned a blocked punt for a touchdown, putting it ahead by a score of 24-6 early in the third period.

However, Fort Hamilton would come up with a big play of their own — an Ibric 78-yard scoring pass that sliced the deficit to 24-14 after they ran in the two-point conversion with 1:24 remaining in the tilt.

But it was a little too late for a Tiger comeback, as time ticked away on the clock. leaving the Bay Ridge football squad winless for the season.

Midwood travels to South Shore Friday for 3:30 p.m. matchup, while Fort Hamilton host Curtis Saturday at noon.