"Yeah, those were two very different halves," said Middletown coach Eric Marszalek. "I think our kids were surprised at how hard St. Paul played in the first half. In the second half we played harder and some of the adjustments we made paid off."

The game turned in Middletown’s favor late in the first half. For most of the first 24 minutes the Blue Dragons played as if they’d never seen a football. In one sequence MHS went minus 43 yards in four plays, going in reverse from the St. Paul 42 to its own 15.

Late in the half St. Paul, a school that dropped football for a time over the last school year, mounted a drive that took off from its 25-yard line to the MHS five-yard stripe.

When the drive stalled, the Falcons’ Roger Salcedo attempted a field goal that was wide left. MHS took over on its 20 with 1:57 remaining and drove 80 yards in 59 seconds for a touchdown to take a 6-0 halftime lead.

"I thought it was important for us to score on that drive," said St. Paul coach Joe Cefaratti. "When we didn’t and Middletown came right down the field to score, that was a big momentum shift. Still, I was very pleased with how we played in the first half.

"Middletown is a good football team and to be down just 6-0 was a good thing. Unfortunately, we had to play the second half and we had some breakdowns that really hurt."

The 6-0 halftime lead was set up by Jashone Cunningham’s (13 carries, 132 yards) 48-yard run to the St. Paul 32. Four plays later Shamar Carr scored on a one-yard sneak.

Middletown blew the game open with a 19-point third quarter. On its opening possession Middletown moved 71 yards in 93 seconds to take a 13-0 lead. Carr hit Martavis Isaac on a 27-yard pass to get Middletown into St. Paul territory and two plays later Carr ran 35 yards for the touchdown. Fran DiStefano added the point.

Middletown took advantage of two St. Paul turnovers to score two touchdowns just 24 seconds apart to put the game away late in the quarter. Martavis Isaac intercepted a Robert Swanke pass at the St. Paul 38 and returned it to the 20-yard line. Two plays later Cunningham scored on a 10-yard run with 3:47 to go in the quarter.

After the kickoff, St. Paul halfback Juan Hernandez fumbled at his 20 and Jaron Murphy returned it to the seven yard line. On the next play fullback Hampton Watson scored with 3:23 left.

The Blue Dragons added some icing in the fourth when second-string quarterback Brian Tencza (4-for-6, 41 yards) hit Mike Bradley from 14 yards out for the touchdown with 5:24 left in the game.

Middletown (5-3-1) held St. Paul (3-6) to 115 yards rushing, just 11 in the second half. Middletown finished with 212 yards on the ground, 113 in the first half and 99 in the second. Neither team threw the ball well with St. Paul QB Swanke completing just four passes in 20 attempts for 40 yards. Isaac intercepted him twice.

MHS completed six of 17 for just 49 yards. Carr had a forgettable day completing two of 11 for eight yards.

Luis Rodriguez had 76 yards in eight carries to lead the Falcons.