Midwest City comes up short in district championship

Bombers to host Bishop McGuinness in first round of playoffs

By Jeff Harrison
Midwest City Beacon

Midwest City’s football team knew they’d have to be on top of their game Friday night against Elgin (10-0, 7-0) in a de facto district championship game.

They looked the part on defense but couldn’t cash in on offense in a 13-3 loss on senior night at Rose Field.

The Bombers (6-4, 5-2) squandered a pair of red zone opportunities. In the first quarter, Kenneth Colston took a keeper up the middle but had the ball knocked free on the Elgin 15. Then in the third quarter, on fourth-and-goal from the Elgin 2, a bad snap sailed over Colston’s head for a turnover on downs.

Midwest City moved the ball across midfield only one more time in the game but couldn’t mount a comeback.

Senior kicker David Arriaga had the team’s lone points with a 35-yard field with 9:19 in the second.

A couple of Bomber turnovers set the tone early in the game. Midway through the first quarter, Colston tried to throw a screen pass, but the ball deflected and intercepted by defensive lineman Shay Spencer who returned it 40-yards for a score.

That put the Bombers in a 7-0 hole.

Midwest City bounced back with an impressive drive. Jaylan Woody picked up a first down on a four-and-one from the Elgin 24. On the next play, Colston fumbled on a keeper to halt the drive.

The Bombers got on the board with a field goal by Arriaga.

The Owls scored again in the final minute of the half. Tres Lorah hit Colyn Donnelly for an eight-yard score with 25 seconds left in the half. They missed on a two-point conversion try.
Elgin led 13-3 at halftime.

The Bombers kept the Owls off the scoreboard the rest of the night but couldn’t help themselves on offense. They turned the ball over on downs on their first two possessions of the third.

Jahim Mahmoud had 51 yards rushing and one fumble on 13 carries. Colston was 9 of 22 passing for 84 yards and one interception. Midwest City outgained Elgin offensively 221 to 217.

Kiewon Landrum led the Bombers with 12 tackles. Ross Jones had nine tackles and Josiah Johnson added eight stops.

Despite the loss, Midwest City finished second in District 5A-1 and will host a first-round playoff game Friday night against Bishop McGuinness (6-3, 4-2 District 5A-2). The Irish are coming off a 19-14 win over Piedmont. Their three losses have come against three of the top 5A teams in Carl Albert, Guthrie and Bishop Kelley.

The winner will face Bishop Kelley/McAlester in the quarterfinals on Nov. 17.