The Vinemont Eagles took on the Midfield Patriots in Birmingham Friday night. (Ryan Guthery for The Cullman Tribune)
BIRMINGHAM – The Vinemont Eagles (Class 3A, Region 5) traveled to take on the Midfield Patriots (Class 3A, Region 5) Friday night and the Patriots took advantage of numerous mistakes by the Eagles, cruising to a 40-20 win.
The Patriots took the ball right down the field on their first possession, ending it with a 6-yard touchdown run with 9:24 remaining in the opening quarter to take an 8-0 lead. It only took the Eagles two plays to answer with a score of their own when running back Dustin Moore busted up the middle on a 56-yard touchdown run, cutting the lead to 8-6 with 8:31 still remaining in the first. On Midfield’s second possession, the Patriots drove right down the field again, and a 9-yard touchdown pass gave the Patriots a 14-6 lead midway through the first quarter.
After exchanging punts, Midfield broke off a 43-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 22-6 with only 18 seconds remaining in the opening quarter. Both defenses dominated the second quarter and neither offense was able to score. Jake Griggs tried to change that for the Eagles when he intercepted the ball on the last play of the half and made it to around the 20-yard line before he was forced out of bounds.
Vinemont was forced to punt on its first possession of the second half but would get the ball back thanks to a fumble recovery by Dallin Dinkle. The Eagles took advantage of the turnover, scoring on a 6-yard run by Moore, cutting the lead to 22-12 halfway through the third quarter.
Midfield scored early in the fourth to extend its lead to 28-12. The Patriots added to the lead on a 2-yard touchdown run with 7:56 remaining in the game. Midfield was able to score again on a 21-yard touchdown run to make it 40-12 with 4:00 remaining. However, Vinemont was not going to end the game by just running out the clock; the Eagles put together a nice drive ending in a 12-yard touchdown pass from Jack Hill to Moore with 21 seconds left, making the final score Midfield 40, Vinemont 20.
The Eagles will have to put this one behind them and regroup for their matchup at home next week against the Hanceville Bulldogs.
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