Middletown falls to Moses Brown in D-III Super Bowl. What happened?

CRANSTON — Middletown gave Moses Brown all it could handle before the unbeaten Quakers edged the Islanders 13-7 in the Division III Super Bowl on Saturday afternoon at Cranston Stadium.

The Islanders trailed 13-0 midway through the second quarter and – despite holding Moses Brown scoreless the rest of the way – couldn’t get enough offense going to surpass the Quakers as they saw their seven-game winning streak come to an end. Middletown will carry a 9-2 overall record into its Thanksgiving Day game against Portsmouth.

Here what we learned on Saturday:

Middletown could smell the victory but didn’t get the chance to taste it

Middletown quarterback Julien Delacruz was dancing in the pocket and buying time on the Islanders final two drives of the game. On the last drive, which started at the Moses Brown 27-yard line, he tried to get his team into the end zone with 2 minutes, six seconds showing on the clock.

A holding penalty on Middletown and an incomplete pass were followed by a 14-yard scramble by Delacruz to the Quakers 23-yard line. A third-down pass fell incomplete and Moses Brown’s Myles Craddick dove and intercepted the ball on fourth down.

Middletown’s previous drive began and its own nine-yard line and stalled at the Quakers 26.

“Obviously we wanted a better outcome,” Middletown coach Kestler said. “And I felt like we definitely were right there. We get down here close, we score and kick an extra point and we win 14-13. We came up a little bit short there.

“Good defense by both teams and two well-prepared teams. We needed to score and we didn’t get it and yet we held them scoreless. We had the opportunities but we didn’t finish it at the very end.

“But as far as the season goes you can’t ask for much more. This was a great experience and we’re still returning a bunch of guys. So we’ve got to just recuperate, get back to work and make sure we get back here.”

Islanders offense was two steps forward, one step back

Middletown kept its fans on the edge of their cold cement seats or left them standing and screaming on numerous occasions on Saturday.

Middletown running back Juleun Gilman had a four-yard touchdown run with 98 seconds left in the first half and Pat Cranson made the conversion kick to put the score at 13-7. But the Islanders had three potential scoring drives end in or just outside the red zone and also had a field goal try blocked. The Islanders were whistled for eight overall penalties and six came when they possessed the ball.

“Overall we didn’t play that well offensively although we had spots,” Middletown coach Matt Kestler said. “It’s not like we couldn’t move the football. It seemed like every time we got a couple of good plays, mistakes followed and backed us way up. And that’s a tough spot to be.

“Penalties, mistakes, guys aren’t doing what they’re supposed to do. Younger guys are on offense and it’s a big moment. It’s difficult for the kids. They put a lot of pressure on themselves.”

Middletown senior John Wiest looks at the big picture

Middletown senior wide receiver/defensive back John Wiest turned philosopher after the game as he clutched the team’s runner-up Super Bowl plaque. Wiest had an interception and caught two passes for 21 yards.

“I feel so great. I’m so greatful that we got the chance to be here,” Wiest said. “We haven’t done this. My first season with Middletown we were 0-3. Kestler came in and coach (Max) Yates came in and they built a program. It’s really something that we got as far as we did.

“There’s failure in life and I think it’s a big thing for these juniors to learn. And I think overall that you learn a lot more in failure than you do in success. I’m happy for these juniors next year and for the future of this program.”

Quakers disrupt Middletown running game

Middletown had 61 rushing yards for the game on 16 carries and had just 12 yards on the ground in the opening half. Trent Ames ran for 11- and five-yard gains on the first two Middletown plays of the second half to surpass the first-half, running-yards total but the Islanders were inconsistent with their ground game. 

“They were sending a lot of heat, really clogging the middle and they were slanting some guys,” Kestler said. “So while we could run the ball a little we weren’t going to be able to just move the ball down the field running it.

“One of the reasons too is because (lineman) Will Buzard had the ankle injury and we were rotating some of the younger guys in. That’s okay if maybe they’re not sending all the pressure. But the pressure kind of put us in a bind there.”

Quarterback Delacruz gets the chance to air it out

Middletown junior quarterback Julien Delacruz was slinging the ball around on Saturday afternoon as he finished 12-for-24 for 99 yards. Trent Sotelo and RJ Wiggins each caught four passes as Delacruz connected with five different receivers overall. He also was sacked three times and twice scrambled for big gains.

“Overall for such a  big game, the biggest of his career, in big spots, he made some big throws,” Kestler said. “While he didn’t play perfect I thought he played really well. He played well enough to win. It’s valuable for him and we’ll be back here again next year.”

This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: Middletown falls to Moses Brown in RI high school D-III Super Bowl