Patriots Fall Against Tough Midway Squad

The Christ Prep Patriots limped into Cass-Midway last night and left with a 48-15 loss to a tough 5-1 Viking team. Although losing by a lopsided score, the Patriots competed well with what was a depleted and makeshift squad of players.

Timothy Finley, the Patriots usual TE, got the nod at QB last night as Josiah Thill and Tanner Metzdorf (1st and 2nd Stringers, respectively) were sidelined with injuries. Other players were shuffled around as well to compensate for other Patriot casualties.

Despite the adversity, Christ Prep didn't back down but ran into a Viking juggernaut that was Bobby Zielinski. Zielinski scored the first four Midway touchdowns of the game, the first two coming on pass plays from QB Peyton Semsch on strikes of 21 and 68 yards, respectively. Zielinski then followed up with a 58 yard interception return then concluded the half with another 42 yard touchdown pass from Semsch.

Those four plays put the Patriots in an early hole, but the team fought back late in the first half as Finley hit paydirt on a one yard run. The game went to intermission with Christ Prep trailing 28-7.

The Patriots entered the second half with momentum on their side and were optimistic that they could come back against the Vikings during the second half. However, Midway quickly squelched that notion as Semsch picked of a Finley pass and returned it 14 yards for an early third quarter score.

Midway added two more third quarter touchdowns, opening up a 48-7 lead early in the fourth quarter. Christ Prep wasn't finished however, as Finley hit Chase Stamatis on a 75 yard bomb that struck gold for CPA. Following a pass from Finley to Davis White for the two point conversion, the Patriots drew closer to 48-15 but could not score again as the game ended with that margin.

In many ways, the game represented the Patriots best effort of the season given the injuries and resulting adversity affecting the team as well as the strength and size of the Midway squad. Statistically the Patriots put up some decent numbers against the Vikings. Timothy Finley was 13-17 passing for 185 yards and one touchdown with three interceptions. Chris Mills caught five of those passes while Chase Stamatis caught 2 passes for 86 yards and a TD. Davis White caught five more passes and Levi Mann grabbed one. The Patriots managed only 55 yards on the ground on 28 carries.

Follow this link https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/113773381929590803444/albums/5793665205055528305?authkey=CMuL7sW05s6UQA to view photos of last night's contest.

The Patriots will take their 1-4 record next week to St. George, Kansas to play the 3-2 Rock Creek Mustangs. Midway travels to Rich Hill to take on the 0-6 Tigers.