By John Hillman

Special to the Tribune-Herald

History may not record Midway’s march as “The Drive.”

But the Panthers’ 98-yard scoring jaunt that led to a 14-7 win over Crowley at Panther Stadium on Friday night will be long remembered.

“We needed a break in the second half,” Midway coach Kent Bachtel said. “Miracles do exist sometimes.”

Trailing 7-6 late in the third quarter, a 41-yard punt off the foot of Crowley’s (0-2) Cody Bowden backed Midway (2-1) up to its own 2. The Panther offense couldn’t get untracked and seven plays later, Midway faced fourth-and-19 from the 3.

Corey Holmes, who doubles as Midway’s quarterback and punter, took the snap five yards deep in the end zone, dropped the ball, scooped it on the bounce and took off down the left sideline. Breaking a tackle at the 20, he lunged forward for a first down at the 23.

“I saw a huge hole open on the left side,” Holmes said. “Ahmad Dixon made a great block, and I just took what I had and made a first down.”

The Panthers came up with another big play in the drive, facing third-and-10 at their own 23.  Holmes found tight end Trey Graham for an 11-yard completion to keep the ball in Midway’s possession. 

Two plays later, tailback John Hubert broke off a 35-yard scamper to the Eagle 29. After Josh Williams gained 11 off the left side, Hubert, who finished the game with 166 yards on 23 carries, needed just two plays to reach the end zone.

Hubert’s 15-yard run capped the 98-yard march, and his two-point conversion run put Midway in front 14-7 with 8:11 left in the game. 

“I saw the hole and hit it full speed,” Hubert said. “I saw the cut open wide and got some yards.”

“Legends are made this way,” Bachtel added. “Those legs never quit.”

Down 7-0 at halftime, the Panthers used their kicking game for a quick comeback. Ryan Kelly’s pooch kick to open the third quarter landed in front of the Crowley upback, and Vyonte Guess recovered the loose ball just before it rolled out of bounds at the Eagle 21.

On third-and-eight from the 18, Holmes found Graham over the middle, and the tight end bulled his way into the end zone. But Kelly’s PAT missed to the right, and the Panthers trailed 7-6 with 10:39 left in the third quarter.

“You can’t give up,” Holmes said. “You’ve got to keep driving and driving.”

Midway’s offense struggled in the first half, turning the ball over on four of its eight possessions. Holmes threw two interceptions and mishandled snaps created two fumbles, both recovered by Crowley.