Middlesex and St. George's have been playing football against each other for 110 years. Records have never mattered in this game, as both teams have battled to add a silver football to their trophy case. Over the years, this rivalry has produced some outstanding games and the 2013 season finale lived up to all the hype.
Both offensive units got right to work in the first quarter. The MX 11 started the scoring for the afternoon, moving the ball down the field on passes from quarterback Austin Dorsey '16 to Drew Coash '14, James Burr '15 and George Morris '14 and finishing the drive on a two-yard run by Hasani Figueroa '14. Sam Carlin '15 added the kick and MX led 7-0. St. George's wasted no time in answering the Middlesex score on their next possession. Their no-huddle offense caught the MX defense a little off guard and they finished their drive with a five- yard pass to even the score at the end of the first quarter 7-7. The MX offense again mixed passes and runs on their second possession of the second quarter to recapture the lead on a Carlin five- yard run. Both defenses tightened for the remainder of the quarter and MX took a 14-7 lead into the locker room at halftime.
St. George's set the third-quarter tone immediately by returning the opening kickoff 85 yards to tie the game again at 14-14. The MX offensive line and running game-which has been the team's strength all season- would again take charge on runs by George Morris '15 and a 52-yard touchdown run by Figueroa to reclaim the lead 21-14. St. George's again tied the score at 21-21 but Figueroa was not finished and would end the quarter with another long touchdown run of 42 yards to give MX a 28-21 lead. The fourth quarter was a defensive struggle until 2 minutes left in the game when St. George's broke through and scored. With the score 28-27, St. George's decided to go for the win on a two-point attempt. Their play was a pass that was covered so the quarterback turned the ball up to run it in. The quarterback was met one yard short of the goal line by the defense's entire left side, stopping the score and preserving a 28-27 lead. The MX hands team took possession of the ball on St. George's on-side kick attempt and the offense ran off the final time on the clock for the victory. Both sides of the ball played extremely well for the MX 11.
Offensive credit goes to the line: Connor Sloan '15, Steve Zawada '15, Walker Griggs '15, Ben Canniff '15, Will Baxter '15 and Jack Lyne '16. Receivers Drew Coash '14, Hamza Usman '15, quarterback Austin Dorsey '16 and running backs Hasani Figueroa '14, George Morris '15, James Burr '15 and Sam Carlin '15. And on the defensive side: linemen Zawada, Canniff, Baxter, Guy Kato '15, Abdul Sanogo '14 and Kai Long '16, linebackers Charlie Owen '14, Burr, Morris, Carlin and Ben Marchand '15, and secondary Figueroa, Nick Colangelo '14 and John Schuster '15.
