by Larry Chowning –
The Middlesex High School (MHS) varsity football team (3-0) continues to roll as the Chargers defeated the Chincoteague Ponies of the Eastern Shore 27-0 on Friday night at the Syd Thrift Athletic Complex at MHS in Saluda.
The Chargers defense, behind the strong play of defensive linemen Cole Ruark, Austin Lundy, Jaden Reed and Landon Norwood, have dominated as only one touchdown has been scored against Middlesex in its wins against Mathews, Cumberland and Chincoteague.
The only offensive score in the first half of play Friday night came when MHS halfback Adam Smith hit pay dirt on a 4-yard run. Smith kicked the extra point to make the score 7-0. The half ended with that score.
Middlesex’s offense came alive in the second half as the Chargers concentrated on their running game with Smith, Matt Hart, Troy Moncrief and Bryan Diggs racking up the offensive yards.
At quarterback, Hart scored the Chargers’ second touchdown on a 4-yard run with 8:43 left in the third quarter. The MHS speedster scored untouched on a run to the right side of the line. Smith’s extra point was good to make the score 14-0.
The Charger defense stopped the Ponies on their next set of downs and when MHS got the ball it drove downfield taking time off the clock. Smith scored his second touchdown with 3:06 left in the third quarter on a 25-yard run. The extra point was missed to make the score 20-0.
The Chargers last touchdown came on a broken play with 1:03 left in the game. The MHS center snapped the ball over the head of the MHS quarterback. The ball took a Middlesex bounce and landed directly into the hands of halfback Brian Diggs, who took advantage of the broken play, ran to the right side of the field and scampered 26 yards, dodging defensive players along the way, to score the Chargers final touchdown. The extra point was good to make the final score 27-0.
Middlesex will take their undefeated 3-0 record to Lancaster High School Friday to play the Red Devils at 7 p.m.
