The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Higley throws five touchdown passes in win
Midview senior Shemaus Higley is picking up where his predecessor left off.
Taking over for Dustin Crum this season, Higley has had an impressive start. The 5-foot,10-inch, 160-pound senior threw five touchdowns and the defense was dominating as the host Middies stayed unbeaten with a 42-6 Southwestern Conference win over North Olmsted Sept. 8.
“He’s (Higley) coming along real nice,” Midview coach D.J. Shaw said. “He’s working hard. He’s making good reads and getting more confident and comfortable — which you can tell. A huge part of that is our offensive line giving him good time.
“He’s playing behind a really good running game. When you can run the ball like we were able to run it; that opens things up in the passing and screen game.”
Midview (3-0, 2-0) used the vertical passing game to take a 14-0 lead in the first half.
In the first quarter, Higley hit Ben Gendics — who got behind the Eagles’ secondary — on a go route. Once Gendics caught the ball he went in untouched to complete the 62-yard touchdown pass.
The duo hooked up again in the second quarter — this time from 30 yards out — to make it 14-0.
“With Ben’s speed, he makes a lot of big plays,” Higley said.
“I just have to throw it out there far enough for him to go get it.”
Still in the game, North Olmsted had a chance to stop the Middies on the first possession of the second half.
Facing third-and-14, Midview ran a wide receiver screen as the Eagles came with an all-out blitz. Higley hit Nick Crum, who make one juke and then raced to the end zone for a 53-yard touchdown pass.
“Those are plays for a young team — which we are — that’s a turning point,” North Olmsted coach Tim Brediger said. “If you make them punt there … you have a chance to get right back in it. When we are watching film, that is something we are going to point out. That’s where you have to get off the field.”
While the offense was putting up points, Midview’s defense continued to stifle North Olmsted’s offense.
Missing starting quarterback Sean Elbin with an injury, the Eagles tried to establish the running game to no avail.
For the game, the Middies allowed just 59 yards rushing and less than 200 yards of total offense.
“(Darren Anders) is a great runner, but we executed well,” Chuck Grasse said. “I think we have some of the best linebackers in the state.”
Higley (10-15, 207 yards) threw touchdown passes of 14 (Seth Sanders) and 10 (Connor Wolfe) to cap off his night. The strong running game was evident with Wolfe rushing for 141 yards on 14 carries.
Anders (14-40) did get into the end zone in the fourth quarter, catching a four-yard touchdown pass from Liam Fay.
Though the win was decisive, Shaw felt there are areas where Midview needs to improve.
“While we are ecstatic with the win, the penalties were awful,” Shaw said. “We were very sloppy, undisciplined and we need to clean things up if we want to be the type of team we want to be this year.”