Middletown defeats Pine Bush 24-8 to end a three-game losing streak.

After a tough three-game road trip for three consecutive weeks, the Middletown Middie Bears got back on track, defeating the Pine Bush Bushmen 24-8 in a major divisional win for their playoff hopes. It extends their win streak to seven years over the Bushmen, ending a three-game losing streak coming off the road.

The game started with a five-yard face mask on Pine Bush to open the game, pushing the ball forward for Middletown to open up. A holding penalty against Middletown pushed them back 10 yards to the 21. Moments later, on a fourth-down play, Joseph Royal, who played quarterback most of the game, found running back Andy Aristhene to gain a new set of downs, while Middletown attempted to increase the tempo.

Another penalty on Pine Bush pushed the ball forward for Middletown in Pine Bush’s territory at the 39 with eight minutes to go in the first. Another holding call on the Middies pushed the ball back to the 49 as penalties were halting Middletown’s chance to take advantage of Pine Bush’s mishaps. 

Unnecessary roughness on Pine Bush pushed the ball 15 yards inside the 30 at the 24 for Middletown as they looked to get into the end zone. The penalties continued to rack up like a stack of bills for Pine Bush, as unsportsmanlike conduct was called to push Middletown to the 12-yard line. Middletown capitalized on Pine Bush’s self-inflicted penalties as Royal found Aristhene, who pounded his way through multiple Pine Bush defenders for nine yards. This gave Middletown a 6-0 lead, with Aristhene scoring the first of his four touchdowns of the game. 

Pine and Bush played an old-school, pound-and-ground style of football by running the ball on every possession during their opening drive. A false start on Pine Bush at the 39 in Middletown’s territory pushed them back to the 34. Middletown was able to force a fourth down, but Pine Bush quarterback Ryan Curtin was able to get a first on the quarterback sneak.

Middletown was able to stop the next play for a loss for Pine Bush, forcing a second and 11 as the first quarter came to a close. Pine Bush running back Reuben Simpson Jr. rushed into the end zone for Pine Bush early in the second to tie it at six apiece. Simpson Jr. was able to convert on the two-point conversion as Pine Bush took an 8-6 lead with 10:40 to go.  Middletown regained the lead with a 68-yard rush into the end zone by Aristhene, who breezed through the swarm of Pine Bush defenders like a gust of wind to put Middletown back up 12-8.

Pine Bush looked to respond, but a delayed game call backed them up five yards at the 22 as they looked to respond to Aristhene’s explosive play. Middletown forced a three-and-out on Pine Bush as the defense was able to make key stops.

A block in the back against Middletown during the kick return pushed them back 10 yards; however, that didn’t matter. Royal was able to find wide receiver Ryheem Tinsley for a 23-yard gain, setting them up at their own 48-yard line while Middletown’s offense was in full cohesive sync. Aristhene rushed for 18 yards on the next possession to set Middletown at 30, but another block in the back penalty on Middletown pushed them back to the 40 to make it first and long.

Middletown would go for it on fourth down with 12 yards to go, but the pass was incomplete as Pine Bush took over at their 32. Pine Bush threw their first pass of the game from Curtin to Marquis Smith for a first down at midfield. An incomplete pass from Curtin to Travis Thornton forced fourth down with five yards to go, as Pine Bush looked to go for it with 48 seconds in the half and still down by four in the game.

Royal intercepted the ball from Pine Bush and returned it to Pine Bush's 45-yard line. A face mask penalty against Pine Bush resulted in a 15-yard advancement for Middletown, who was in full control of the game as cheers roared throughout the crowd. Middletown was unable to put in the extra punch to end the first half, still leading 12-8 heading into the half.

The turning point of the game might have been when Pine Bush opened the second half with the ball, hoping to score. However, the laundry kept piling up as Pine Bush committed back-to-back penalties, resulting in a 15-yard loss. This put them on the 38-yard line and in a third-and-long situation, where Middletown's defense tightened up, preventing the Bushmen from advancing and forcing a punt.

They were never able to get near the end zone again.

Middletown’s Tinsley was able to maneuver his way through the Bushmen’s defense for 33 yards moments later to set Middletown up at Pine Bush’s 27. A 10-yard penalty on Pine Bush put Middletown on the 13-yard line, where Tinsley rushed to the end zone, but the play was called back due to a Middletown holding penalty.

A penalty was called on Pine Bush as Russo looked for Aiden Barbosa to help Middletown advance to the 13-yard line. Aristhene was able to rush from 13 yards out for his second rushing touchdown as Middletown picked up where they left off in the first half to take a 10-point 18-8 lead on the Bushmen with 3:17 left to go in the third.

Middletown’s defense stopped Pine Bush defensively to force a punt, as a short punt by the Bushmen helped set Middletown up at Pine Bush’s 39-yard line. Middletown had a 10-point lead going into the fourth quarter, but they couldn't score before the third ended.

Pine Bush intercepted Russo's pass to open the fourth quarter, with Barbosa as his intended target, setting them up at the 20. The Bushmen's grounded style of play pushed them midfield as they remained down 10 with the clock ticking, knowing they needed to pick up the pace if they were to have a chance of a comeback.

However, Middletown continued to dominate by stopping the Bushmen and scoring on their next offensive drive, during which Aristhene rushed for his third rushing touchdown and fourth overall of the game, extending Middletown's lead to a commanding 24-8.

Pine Bush struggled to score in the red zone during their subsequent offensive drive. They had one last chance when Justin Engelsen's pass was intercepted, but a penalty was called, negating the play. Unsportsmanlike conduct by Middletown pushed the Bushmen to about midfield, as the chance for any comeback by Pine Bush seemed inconceivable. 

Middletown secured a critical 24-8 victory over the Bushmen for their playoff chances in a needed win. Aristhene was named Player of the Game with three rushing touchdowns on five carries and a staggering 149 yards, highlighted by a 68-yard run. He also had one touchdown catch on three receptions for 31 yards.

The Middie Bears look to continue this momentum next week in their final road game of the regular season at Valley Central next Friday at 6 P.M. Eastern time.