Bombers run from Demons and into postseason

Mahmoud, Johnson run for nearly 400 yards in win over Duncan; Carl Albert awaits

By Jeff Harrison
Midwest City Beacon

Midwest City rode its powerful ground game into the playoffs.

Jahhim Mahmoud and Josiah Johnson combined for nearly 400 yards rushing to lead the Bombers (5-5, 4-2) to a 40-26 win over Duncan (4-6, 2-4) Friday night in the regular season finale.

Mahmoud rushed for 252 yards and four touchdowns on 19 carries. Johnson had 15 rushes for 146 yards and two scores.

Midwest City controlled its destiny heading into the game and ultimately needed a win after Bishop McGuinness knocked off Lawton MacArthur. Those three teams finished at 4-2 in District 5A-1.

The Bombers finished fourth in the district based on the margin points tiebreaker and will have a rematch with undefeated Carl Albert (10-0, 7-0) on Friday night. The Titans won the first game 49-0.

Newcastle (7-3, 6-0) won the district, followed by McGuinness (7-3, 4-2) and MacArthur (7-3, 4-2). The top four teams in each district advance to the playoffs.

Midwest City trailed Duncan at halftime but outscored the Demons 28-12 in the second half. The defense also forced three takeaways including a pair of pivotal interceptions in the second half. Chance Davis grabbed an interception in his own end zone, and Brandon Dixon stopped another Demon drive with an interception.

Duncan struck first with a quick scoring drive to start the game. Sawyer Rice completed a long pass and later scored on a four-yard keeper, to make it a 7-0 score.

After early miscues, the Bombers answered late in the first. Josiah Johnson hit Davis on a 32-yard pass down to the Duncan 3. On the next play, Mahmoud blasted his way into the end zone. A missed extra point made it a 7-6 score with 2:38 in the first.

Johnson gave the Bombers their first lead of the game with a 79-yard touchdown midway through the second. A missed two-point conversion made it a 12-7 score.

That lead wouldn’t hold. Duncan marched to the end zone one more time before the break. On third down, Rice hit CJ Warner across the middle for a 14-yard touchdown pass with 49 seconds left in the second.

Duncan led 14-12 at halftime.

Midwest City regained the lead on their first possession of the second half. Mahmoud capped the drive with a 16-yard touchdown run up the middle. Ruben Trejo added the extra point for a 19-14 lead at the 9:41 mark in the third.

A fourth-down stop gave the Bombers the ball back across midfield. Mahmoud had a big run on fourth down and followed with a short touchdown run. Trejo’s extra point made it a 26-14 score.

Defense came up with another big stop. The Demons drove inside the Bomber 10 but turned the ball over on third down. Rice grabbed a bad snap and tried to force the ball to a receiver, but Davis made a leaping interception in the end zone for the Bombers.

Rice made up for it on the next possession. He connected with White for a 58-yard pass play and later found him in the end zone on a seven-yard-touchdown pass. A missed extra point made it a 26-20 score with 7:18 to play.

About a minute later, the Bombers found some breathing room with a 45-yard touchdown run from Johnson to make it 33-20 lead.

Midwest City’s defense then forced another turnover as Brandon Dixon stepped in front of a pass for an interception. On the next play, Mahmoud broke free for a 45-yard touchdown run and a 40-20 lead with 3:14 remaining.

Duncan added another touchdown to make it a 40-26 final score. White caught a 37-yard touchdown pass and Aidan Brown blocked the extra point.

The Bombers ran out the clock for the 40-26 victory.

Ross Jones led the way with 10 total tackles. Davis, Jaeshawn Grigsby, Hayden Parent and Keiwon Landrum had eight tackles each. Dustin Anderson had an interception.

 

34 to the 8

Johnson broke a 79-yard touchdown

Dustin Anderson interception with 1:40 in first., ball on MWC 22. punt

Duncan recovered a fumbled punt, Duncan 40

Jah
Sawyer Rice to Boston White, two TD
26-20