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NWE Midgets Win Playoff Game In Last 3.3 Seconds

The Northwest Escambia Midgets beat defending Gulf Coast Youth Football Alliance champions Ensley Gold 6-0 in  Saturday playoff action.

NWE pulled off the 6-0 win with a touchdown in the last 3.3 seconds of the game in round two of the GCYFA playoffs in Milton. With the win, the Northwest Escambia Eagles will advance to the semifinals next Saturday against either A&G or Milton Gold.

Daulton Tullis recovered the kickoff, and NWE started play at first and 10 at about the 41 yard line.  Quarterback Tullis handed off to Taylor Reyes, and Reyes gained four yards on the first down of the ballgame. From second and six, the Eagles Tullis handed off to Reyes again, and he was met at line of scrimmage for no gain. At third down and six, Reyes lost a couple of yards. With fourth and seven, Brannon Freeman was in to punt.  Ensley blocked the punt and took over first and 10 at the NWE 36. Ensley was pushed back to the 46 yard line, making it first and a long 20 to go.

Ensley Gold then fumbled the ball away to the Eagles at their own 44 yard line. Tullis handed off to Ryder Gifford for three to the 43. On second down, Reyes was up the middle to just shy of the midfield mark with about four minutes to go in the first quarter. On third and five,  Gifford crossed into Ensley territory to the 49. Faced with fourth and three, Ensley jumped offside, putting NWE at first and 10 from the 44.

Freeman gained three on the first down to the 41, and on second down,  it was Freeman again with five to the Ensley 36. Reyes took the next hand off, but was just shy of the first down. On fourth down down, Freeman gained a NWE first down at the Ensley 33.

With 47 seconds to go in the first, Freeman lost a yard. On second down, Tullis pitched to Freeman to end the first quarter in Milton.

Tied scoreless headed into the second quarter,  Freeman gained good ground to the 31 yard line. NWE went for it on fourth on nine, with a incomplete pass from Tullis. Ensley took over at their own 31. Ensley drove as close their own 17, and then lost ground on a penalty.

Northwest Escambia took over at their own 21 with about four minutes to go in the first half.  A Tullis to Reyes hand off  gained nothing for NWE.  Freeman then drove out to the 30 yard line to make it third and inches with 3:14 in the half.  On a QB keeper, Tullis then picked up the first down with a gain of four on the play.  The next downs, NWE was unable to gain any territory.

Ensley Gold took over inside the NWE 30 with 54 seconds in the second. A Sherouse tackle stopped Ensley with just over one on the first down. Ensley’s drive was ended by a fumble recovered by NWE  inside the Ensley Gold 20 with 20 seconds to go in the half.

Headed into the half, the score was still tied 0-0 in round two of the Gulf Coast Youth Football Alliance playoffs in Milton.

In the third, Ensley drove to the 41 before falling short of a first down. On two downs, Freeman picked up a NWE first down at the Ensley 48. On a quarterback keeper, Tullis picked up about three.  Freeman lost about three, then Reyes picked up about six on a carry. Freemen then went up the middle and fell  short of the first down with 3:16 to go in the third quarter.

From the 37, Freeman and Gifford brought the Ensley QB to the ground for a loss in the backfield. On third and 15 with a minute in the third, Ensley’s QB went down on a hard sack by the Eagle’s Deonte Mitchell.

The third quarter ended with the score still tied with no score.

Brannon Freeman started the fourth with a 2-yard run, and it was downhill from there. NWE was forced to punt, and Ensley returned to the NWE 40 with under seven minutes in a scoreless game.

On Ensley’s first down, they fumbled the ball away to the NWE Midgets at the 41 with 6:13 to go in the game. Tullis then drove to the 39 for eight and two on the play.  Reyes broke to the outside  for a NWE first down at the Ensley 28. on first down, Reyes gained another NWE first down to the 18.

After a short loss, the Eagles where third and 11 with 3:15 on the clock. A Tullis to Brannon Freeman pass was incomplete for fourth and 12.  The Eagles went for it, a Tullis pass into the end zone was incomplete.

Ensley then took over at their on 19 with 3:05 to go in the playoff game. They managed to drive to their own 40 with a minute on the clock. With 30 seconds on the clock, Ensley picked up a first down at their own 41.  With  17 seconds on the clock, Tullis blocked an Ensley pass, knocking it to the ground.

Second and 10 on their own 41, an Ensley pass was picked off by Brannon Freeman who returned it to the NWE 29.

With just 3.3 seconds to go in the scoreless game, the Northwest Escambia Midget Eagles had time for just one play. Tullis attempted a perfect pass deep into the end zone to Brannon Freeman. Freeman jumped and caught the pigskin for a NWE win, 6-0, over Ensley Gold.

Northwest Escambia entered the tournament as the number 12 seed. They started their league championship bid last week by beating undefeated powerhouse Myrtle Grove 12-6.

Members of the Northwest Escambia Midgets are: Brannon Freeman,  Daulton Tullis, Thomas Rolin, Olan Barlow, Deonte Mitchell, John Rhodes, Ryder Gifford, Dylan Berry, Chason Freeman, Logan Sherouse, Zachary Holland,  Taylor Reyes, Gavin Grant, Brodie Amos, David Edwards, Dalton Daniel, Elijah Harbison and Matthew Lee.

Next week, the NWE Eagles will continue their Midget championship playoff bid against the Albritton & Grant Rattlers. The Rattlers are coming off a 7-6 upset of the Milton Panthers Saturday afternoon.

Pictured above: The Northwest Escambia Midgets celebrate after a 6-0 win in the last 3.3 seconds of their league playoff game against Ensley Gold Saturday. Submitted photo by Wayne Holland for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.