By John Hillman

Special to the Tribune-Herald

 When the dust finally settled, the point differential didn’t matter.

With University’s 35-34 overtime loss to Killeen, Midway advanced to the playoffs with a 36-22 win over Brownwood on Friday night at Panther Stadium.

 “I could see before the game we were ready,” Midway head coach Kent Bachtel said. “It hurt our feelings last week (losing 35-31 to University), and we came back this week and redeemed ourselves.”

For much of the contest, Midway players, coaches, and fans kept the number 12 on their minds, the margin of victory needed to insure a postseason berth. Running back John Hubert made certain the Panthers’ playoff dreams stayed alive, rushing for 219 yards and scoring four touchdowns. 

“I just had holes and saw daylight,” Hubert said. “Coach (Bachtel) said to fight for however many yards I could get. I just followed behind my line and got them.”

“I praise John Hubert for fighting hard for yards,” Midway quarterback Todd Glaesmann added. “We’re ready and will be a force to reckon with in the playoffs.”

Leading 21-14 at the half, the Panthers (5-5, 2-3) missed a golden opportunity to pad their lead to 14 points midway through the third quarter. Brownwood (6-4, 2-3) stopped Hubert three times inside the 1, and the Lions took over on downs with 5:26 remaining.

But the tough Midway defense stuffed Brownwood quarterback Casey Pachall in the end zone on first down, giving the Panthers a safety and a 23-14 lead.

Midway finally cracked the 12-point barrier early in the fourth quarter. Setting up with a first-and-10 at their own 41, the Panthers scored the crucial touchdown in six plays. Josh Williams’ 34-yard run on third-and-three to the Brownwood 5 provided the big boost, and on the next play, Hubert took it over the left side for the touchdown. 

But a breakdown in the kicking game caused a three-point turnaround. The Lions blocked Ryan Kelly’s extra point attempt. Jason Maldonado fielded the ball on the 12 and returned it the length of the field for a safety, and the Panthers led 29-16 with 9:33 left to play.

Midway’s defense provided some breathing room in the game’s late stages. Matt Davis intercepted Pachall at midfield with just over two minutes remaining. Five plays later, Hubert dashed around the left side for 36 yards, giving Midway a comfortable 36-16 margin with 1:28 left on the scoreboard.

“They were looking for me to have a big play,” Hubert said. “We had to win by 12, and they gave me the ball. I saw the opening, and I hit it.”

Midway exploded on its first possession, marching 55 yards in five plays. On second-and-10 from the Brownwood 40, Hubert swept left, broke into the clear, dodged a tackle at the 5, and waltzed into the end zone. With 6:44 left in the first quarter, the Panthers led 7-0.

After holding the Lions three-and-out, Midway struck for another quick score. Hubert swept the right side and went 32 yards to paydirt, and the Panthers upped their margin to 14-0 with 4:46 still remaining in the first quarter.

But Brownwood wouldn’t be denied. The Lions put together a 10-play, 59-yard drive with Pachall going over the right side from five yards out, cutting the deficit to 14-7 just six ticks away from the end of the first quarter.

The Panther defense dazzled for Midway’s final score in the first half. On first-and-10 at the Brownwood 45, Pachall mishandled a handoff, and the Midway defensive line blasted the Lions’ quarterback, forcing him to fumble. Linebacker Marc Martinez picked up the loose pigskin at the 35 and bolted untouched into the end zone, putting Midway in front 21-7 with 10:49 showing on the second-quarter clock.

“I saw the ball on the ground and thought about falling on it,” Martinez said. “But it bounced, and I just ran to the end zone.”

The Lions answered with another long drive, taking 12 plays to journey 69 yards. But Brownwood needed a bit of trickery to get on the scoreboard. 

Facing fourth-and-goal at the 5, Jarrod Howey lined up for a 22-yard field goal. Holder Chris Munson took the snap, never hesitated, and scampered around right end, barely reaching the end zone. Howey then kicked the extra point, and Brownwood trailed 21-14 with 5:48 remaining in the first half.

Brownwood – 7 – 7 – 0 – 8 — 22

Midway – 14 – 7 – 2 – 13— 36

First quarter

M – John Hubert 40 run (Ryan Kelly kick), 6:44

M – Hubert 32 run (Kelly kick), 4:46

B – Casey Pachall 5 run (Jarrod Howey kick), 0:06

Second quarter

M – Marc Martinez 35 fumble return (Kelly kick), 10:49

B – Chris Munson 5 run (Howey kick), 5:48

Third quarter

M – Safety (Pachall tackled in end zone), 5:15

Fourth quarter

M – Hubert 5 run (kick blocked), 9:33

B – Safety (Jason Maldonado 88 return blocked extra point), 9:33

M – Hubert 36 run (Kelly kick), 1:28

B – Parker Tayler 16 pass from Munson (pass failed), 0:00

Statistics                                   B                                  M

First Downs                              17                                14                                                       

Rushes/Yards                           37-110                         44-310

Passing Yards                           129                              92

Comp-att-int                            8-25-3                         4-11-0

Punts-avg                                 6-43                             5-35

Penalties-yards                         4-35                             5-45

Fumbles-lost                             1-1                               0-0

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

Rushing – B:  Corey Burr 20-106; Zach Green 5-8; Casey Pachall 11-minus 9-TD; Chris Munson 1-5-TD.  M:  John Hubert 25-219-4TDs; Josh Williams 9-62; Todd Glaesmann 10-29.

Passing – B:  Casey Pachall 7-24-3-113; Chris Munson 1-1-0-16-TD.  M: Todd Glaesmann 4-11-0-92.

Receiving – B:  Parker Tayler 4-73-TD; Jacob Allen 1-12; Jarrod Howey 1-21; Shelby Miller 1-15; Chris Munson 1-8.   M:  Trey Graham 3-85; Matt Davis 1-7.