Midwest City beats Elgin, wins district on last-second TD
By Glen Brockenbush
ELGIN - Football games can change on just one play.
It’s what separates it from other sports.
Such was the case Friday night, as Elgin Owl Stadium went from a sense of anticipatory excitement to shock and sadness in a manner of moments.
After giving up a go-ahead touchdown with about a minute-and-a-half left, and with the district championship in the balance, Midwest City drove downfield, guided by the poise of quarterback DeAngelo Irvin Jr. He then capped the drive with a 29-yard touchdown pass to William Broiles with 11 seconds left, giving the Bombers a 23-21 win and the District 5A-1 title.
“It was a great game. It was a great game because we won, but it was a very good game regardless of the outcome,” Midwest City coach Darrell Hall said.
Elgin had taken a 21-17 lead on a 7-yard touchdown run by Matt Lund with 1:29 to go.
The Bombers had 60 yards to go. And when Irvin took off running on the first play of the drive and was stopped in bounds before reaching the first-down marker, things began to look bleak for the visitors.
But completions to Devin Sissons, Broiles and Jamarion Hamilton set the Bombers up at the 19. A holding penalty moved Midwest City back to the 29 with just 18 seconds left.
Offensive coaches called for a play focused on a post down the middle by Broiles, with an out route to Sissons as a Plan B. But as it turned out, Plan A worked just fine, as Irvin delivered a brilliant throw that nestled into the hands of Broiles, the senior receiver and younger cousin of Oklahoma Sooners defensive back Justin Broiles.
“Coach trusted me to make that play, and I just figured, I’ve got to go out and win the game,” William Broiles said. “Felt good.”
It was a victory with tremendous implications. With the Bombers unbeaten in district play and Elgin having just lost one district contest, Friday’s game was a de facto title game, with the winner getting the top seed from the district when the playoffs begin next week.
And the game played out like any good championship game should, with plenty of physical play and coaches largely keeping things close to the vest. The two schools combined for nearly 300 rushing yards in the first half, yet just 49 passing.
After the teams traded scoreless possessions in the first quarter, Elgin relied heavily on junior running back Lund on a drive that got them to a third-and goal on the Bombers’ 1-yard line, where quarterback Tres Lorah pitched to freshman Ritson Meyer for a sweep into the end zone.
That gave the hosts a 7-0 lead against the No. 8 team in the Associated Press Class 5A rankings just before the end of the first quarter.
But the Bombers quickly responded, beginning with good field position off the kickoff and following that up with a 15-yard screen pass from Irvin to Broiles. And even after the Owls defense forced a third-and-long, Irvin found Sissons for a long completion and a first down.
On the very next play, Irvin kept the ball and knifed through the Owls' defense, only being brought down once he had reached the end zone for a 26-yard touchdown.
Elgin scored with 3:40 left before halftime on a short touchdown run by Lorah. Midwest City looked like it might tie the game just before halftime, but had to settle for a Kamron Doyle field goal.
The Bombers headed into halftime down 14-10, but believing they could have been tied or leading, especially considering Midwest City’s 43 first-half penalty yards to Elgin’s zero. But there was no sense of panic or shock.
“All that was said in the locker was, ‘Don’t give up,’” Broiles said. “‘We can still win the game.’”
A scoreless third quarter was highlighted by an Elgin defensive stand that held the Bombers out of the end zone after getting inside the Owls' 25.
But the Bombers got the ball back in the fourth quarter, and Irvin led the offense on a 75-yard drive that was capped by a 21-yard touchdown scamper by Irvin, putting the Bombers up three, 17-14, with 7:45 left in the game.
Elgin was unable to do much on its next possession, but forced a Midwest City punt with 3:44 left. Irvin's 30-yard punt set Elgin up at its own 23.
On the first play from scrimmage, Lund weaved through the defense for a 52-yard run that put the Owls at the Bomber 25-yard line. A few plays later, Lund scored on a powerful run toward the corner of the end zone to put the Owls ahead, 21-17.
From there, the offense took over and won the game for the Bombers. Irvin finished the night with 125 yards passing and more than 100 yards rushing, accounting for all three of Midwest City’s touchdowns.
Elgin head coach Chalmer Wyatt knew how dangerous Irvin was and knew his defense had to stiffen on the final drive. Though disappointed in the result, Wyatt said it wasn’t due to lack of effort.
“After that score (by Lund), our defense came out confident like it should, like they have all year,” Wyatt said “Hat's off to Midwest City. They’ve got a great four-year starter at quarterback who made a heck of a throw in the fourth quarter.”
Midwest City (8-2, 7-0 in District 5A-1) hosts Piedmont in the first round of the 5A playoffs, while Elgin (8-2, 5-2) will host Guthrie.
