MDI Defeats Belfast 34-21

The MDI Trojans traveled to Belfast on Friday, September 27th to take on the Belfast Lions in a game that had major playoff consequences for the Trojans. MDI needed a victory to prove to Eastern Maine that they belonged in the upper echelon of Class C, and they did so, coming away with a 34-21 victory!

MDI scored first with 11:16 remaining in the 2nd Quarter, when Jon Phelps went in for a two yard run. The Point After Kick was blocked, and MDI led 6-0.

MDI scored again with 4:46 left in the 2nd Quarter on a Tegan Candage run. MDI  completed the 2 point conversion when Jon Phelps threw to Keiran Rush. MDI was up 14-0.

Belfast scored with 41.7 seconds left in the half, when Zach Collier completed a 37 yard pass to Greg Clark. Belfast kicked the extra point and the first half ended with MDI up 14-7.

MDI came out in the 2nd Half and scored twice in the 3rd quarter. Jon Phelps ran in from 4 yards with 6:18 left, and the two point conversion failed. Then Phelps scored from 15 yards with 2:06 left, and when Sandy Henggelar ran in for the two point conversion, MDI was up 28-7.

Belfast answered with 1:01 left in the 3rd Quarter when Clark scored on a 41 yard touchdown run for the Lions. The point after kick was good, and the 3rd Quarter ended with MDI on top 28-14.

MDI scored with 8:42 left in the game, when Sandy Henggelar ran in from 4 yards. The point after kick was wide left, and MDI led 34-14.

Belfast closed out the scoring with 6:44 completing a 4th and 19 play, as Collier threw to Tyler Tran for a 41 yard touchdown pass. The point after kick was good, and the score was 34-21 Trojans.

MDI's Billy Laverdiere intercepted a Lions pass with 2:24 left, and the Trojans killed the clock carrying the ball on the ground and came away with the victory.

MDI had the ball for 9 drives. Belfast had the ball for 8 drives.MDI had 2 interceptions, one by Phelps and the other by Laverdiere, and each team lost a fumble.

MDI was flagged for 4 offsides penalties, and Belfast had 1 offside penalty and a blocking in the back penalty that negated a huge return, and instead of having the ball at the MDI 21 it was brought back to the Belfast 27 on their second drive, after MDI had scored.

Teagan Candage had 17 carries for 151 yards. Sandy Henggelar had 15 carries for 89 yards. Taner Bickford had 9 carries for 41 yards and Jon Phelps had 5 carries for 18 yards. Phelps was 2-4 passing. Kieran Rush had one reception for 14 yards and Dakota Stewart had one for 19 yards hanging on to the ball after a huge hit from the Belfast defender.

For Belfast Baxter Smith had 13 carries for 108 yards. Greg Clark had 17 carries for 90 yards and Zach Collier had 8 carries for 24 yards. Collier was 6 for 12 passiing for 113 yards and 2 interceptions. Tran had 3 receptions for 50 yards. Korey Doolan had two receptions for 30 yards and Clark had a reception for 33 yards.

MDI  improves to 3-1 and will play host to Nokomis Friday night, October 4th with kickoff at 7 PM for the homecoming game. That game will be aired on WDEA AM 1370 and WDEA Internet Radio. Belfast falls to 1-3 and travels to Hermon, Friday October 4th.