HS Football: Tigers Hold Off Essex 21-13

MIDDLEBURY — The Middlebury Union High School Tigers opened up a 14-0 haalftime lead and held off a second half Essex comeback to beat the Hornets 21-13 on Friday night on Doc Collins Field.

Middlebury took the game’s opening kickoff and put otgether a 70 yard drive. Quarterback Cody Pomanville produced a biggest play on a quarterback keeper straight up the middle before halfback Lane Sheldrick scampered in from two yards out for the games first score.

The game then slipped into a battle of defenses, punctuated by turnovers. Middlebury fumbled the ball over to Essex twice, but the Hornets reciprocated with a fumble and three pass interceptions before Middlebury tallied late in the half on a 17 yard touchdown pass from Pomanville to Zach Dunn with just over a minute remaining for a 14-0 edge at the break.

Essex, though regrouped, and took over in the third quarter, getting on the board a 25 yard halfback option pass from Jordan Hines to Anthony Hope to cut the Middlebury lead to 14-7. The Hornets then got the ball back and after a long run by Hines got them into the red zone,  Jack Carney’s one yard TD run brought them to within a point with 8:46 left in the game. But the game tying extra point try went wide left and Middlebury retained a one point edge.

Essex tried an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff, but the Tigers recovered on their own 49 and Pomanville and the offense took it from there, with the  quarterback hitting Sheldrick on a fourth down five yard touchdown pass with 4:30 left on the clock to seal the win.

Middlebury with the win evens their record at 2-2. Rssex slips to 0-4.