Midway and Waco High face off at Waco ISD Stadium this Friday Night. Although it’s a non-conference game for both teams, Waco bragging rights and playoff implications are on the line. Midway (1-2) is coming off of an impressive victory over Temple, who, as of last week, was ranked tenth in the state in 5A.
Waco High (3-0) is coming off two straight out of conference wins, beating 6A programs Killeen and Harker Heights. This game against Midway will be their third 6A test in a row, and the Lions are confident.
Waco is led by Senior Quarterback Will Richards III who is a capable runner and decent passer. His favorite target is Ray High, another senior, who gets numerous screens and causes problems in space. The Waco defense is manned by an impressive secondary led by 6’4 Safety Edward McFloyd. This lengthy senior totaled 10 tackles and an interception in his last game against Harker Heights. He, along with imposing defensive lineman Ladadrian Glasker, will likely disrupt any momentum the Midway backup QB Josh Owen has gained.
As for Midway, junior Tanner Mordecai, an impressive dual threat QB with multiple Divison 1 offers, was sidelined during Midway’s first game against Cedar Park and his return does not look promising. With Owen at the helm, the Panthers might be in trouble even with playmakers around him in senior Ger’markee Satterwhite and sophomore James Fullbright. The Lions running game might be too much for the Panthers to handle, as junior Running back Terrance Hamilton has already compiled 475 all purpose yards and 5 TD’s, while Richards III has totaled 243 rushing yards of his own.
This is the best squad Waco High has seen in a few years, and for Midway, well, that’s another story.
Without head coach Terry Gambill, who now coaches for Allen, the Panthers have struggled to find their identity and are still adjusting to the new system and new players. I think the Lions take this one at home 31-21.
