Middletown Football Overcomes Pine Bush 28-13 to Remain Undefeated at 5-0

Credit: Dominick Fidanza

Five games. Five wins. But this one didn't come easily.

Middletown entered its matchup against Pine Bush undefeated after reclaiming the Erie Bell with a 28-7 victory over Port Jervis. Over the first four games, the Middie Bears had shown they could dominate opponents, overcome deficits, and deliver in rivalry games.

Pine Bush presented another challenge.

Two first-half interceptions stalled Middletown's offense, while the Bushmen battled back from an early deficit to send the game tied 7-7 at halftime. For an undefeated Middletown team looking to continue its impressive start, the second half became another test of how it would respond when things weren't going its way.

The Middie Bears answered.

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Middletown Sets the Tone Early

Pine Bush took control offensively to open the game, but the Bushmen were quickly forced off the field. Middletown's front four applied consistent pressure throughout the opening defensive drive, allowing the Middie Bears to strike first.

Middletown moved the ball to the 39-yard line before a Pine Bush facemask penalty pushed the Middie Bears forward. They slowly trudged into Bushmen territory before Royal found Zayden Phillpotts for a 24-yard gain as Middletown searched for its first score.

As they've done for most of the season, the Middie Bears struck first. Royal rushed into the end zone for the touchdown, and Mario DeGiorgio converted the extra point, giving Middletown an early 7-0 lead.

Jojo Royal (3) alongside his teammate Andy Aristhene (7) in shotgun formation.

Credit: Dominick Fidanza

Pine Bush looked to respond, but every time the Bushmen tried to make a play, a Middie Bear stifled them. Middletown's defense quickly forced another punt as the Bushmen offense failed to get into scoring position.

The Middie Bears closed the opening quarter with a 7-0 lead and a first down at the Pine Bush 19-yard line.

Pine Bush Fights Back

As the Middie Bears moved closer toward the goal line, a holding penalty pushed them back to the 27-yard line. On the following play, Jace Robinson intercepted Royal's pass, giving Pine Bush's offense a needed boost. However, the Bushmen continued to struggle offensively and failed to capitalize on the turnover.

Middletown's offense couldn't find its rhythm either. After consecutive incompletions, the game became chippy. Robinson eventually intercepted Royal again, giving Pine Bush another opportunity to tie before halftime.

The Bushmen finally generated offensive momentum, but another penalty pushed them backward. A roughing-the-passer penalty against Middletown helped Pine Bush advance deeper into Middie Bears territory with fewer than four minutes remaining in the half.

Penalties continued to haunt Pine Bush as a holding call pushed the offense back another 10 yards. Middletown's defense responded when Andre Maragh blasted a Bushmen player, helping force a 3rd-and-15. Faced with deciding between a field goal or going for the touchdown, Pine Bush elected to keep its offense on the field.

It was the right call.

Connor Amiel delivered, finding Noah Schorling on a line drive for a touchdown. The extra point tied the game at 7-7 and gave Middletown one final opportunity to respond before halftime.

The Middie Bears pushed into Pine Bush territory and reached the Bushmen's 39-yard line before Royal spiked the ball to stop the clock. Pine Bush's pressure forced another incompletion from Royal to Phillpotts as the Bushmen continued making life difficult for Middletown's offense.

Those struggles continued offensively for Middletown as a fumble at the line of scrimmage cost Middletown 10 yards with one second remaining, prompting the Middie Bears to call a timeout. Royal took one final shot toward Phillpotts, but the pass fell incomplete as the teams entered halftime tied 7-7.

Middletown Regains Control

Middletown's offensive struggles carried into the third quarter as its first drive ended in a turnover on downs. Once again, however, the defense stepped up and quickly gave the offense another opportunity.

As the defensive players ran off the field, they tapped their offensive teammates in encouragement before Middletown took possession again. The Middie Bears used that energy to finally break through.

Tinsley barreled through defenders and helped set Middletown up at the Pine Bush 8-yard line and a 1st-and-goal. Royal finished the drive by rumbling for eight yards through a sea of defenders for his second rushing touchdown of the game, putting the Middie Bears back on top 14-7.

Tinsley Helps Middletown Pull Away

A delay-of-game penalty against Pine Bush proved costly early in the fourth quarter, pushing the Bushmen backward and forcing a punt on what otherwise would've been a manageable fourth down.

Middletown's offense took advantage. Tinsley dropped a defender and burst down the sideline after hauling in a pass from Royal, taking it 43 yards for a touchdown. The explosive play extended Middletown's lead to 21-7 with 10:10 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Ryheem Tinsley Jr. (5) is hugged by his teammate Mario DeGiorgio (9) after scoring a touchdown.

Credit: Dominick Fidanza

An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against Middletown gave Pine Bush free yardage on its ensuing possession. Amiel connected with Schorling moments later for back-to-back first downs as the Bushmen attempted to stay alive. Schorling hauled in another pass just short of the first down marker with 6:24 remaining.

An offsides penalty against Middletown gave Pine Bush a 4th-and-2 at the Middie Bears' 27-yard line. After securing a fresh set of downs, the Bushmen eventually faced a crucial

3rd-and-12.

However, Maragh forced a big stop, forcing 4th-and-12 before Middletown's defense delivered again. Jude Smith intercepted Pine Bush, giving the Middie Bears possession at their own 15-yard line to put the game away.

Tinsley did exactly that.

The explosive running back took it 85 yards, darting downfield for his second rushing touchdown of the game. The score turned out the lights on Pine Bush as Middletown took a commanding 28-7 lead with fewer than three minutes remaining.

Middletown Improves to 5-0

Despite the deficit, Pine Bush refused to let up, charging downfield one final time as Robinson broke loose for a big gain. An ineligible-player penalty pushed the Bushmen backward, but they continued fighting until the final seconds.

Schorling eventually found the end zone for Pine Bush's final touchdown as time expired. However, it wasn't enough to spoil another Middletown victory as the Middie Bears walked away with a 28-13 win and improved to 5-0.

After reclaiming the Erie Bell against Port Jervis in their previous game, Middletown found another way to win. The Middie Bears overcame two first-half interceptions, a 7-7 halftime tie and an inconsistent offensive start before taking control in the second half.

Tinsley's explosive performance helped break the game open, while Royal scored twice on the ground. Middletown's defense continued to make timely plays, including Smith's fourth-quarter interception that set the stage for Tinsley's game-sealing 85-yard touchdown.

Now, the Middie Bears return to Faller Field with their undefeated record intact.

Middletown will host Valley Central Friday at 6 p.m. Eastern time as it looks to continue its perfect start to the season.

Middletown's latest victory wasn't defined by everything going right. It was defined by how they responded when adversity hit.

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