LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The third installment of the "Battle for the Bourbon Barrel" is set for Saturday at 1 p.m. at Western Hills High School in Frankfort, Kentucky as the Bellarmine and Midway sprint football teams will square off.
 
Last year, Bellarmine and Midway made their Midwest Sprint Football League debuts against one another with the schools agreeing to start the tradition of awarding a commemorative bourbon barrel to the winner whenever the teams met.  Last year, Bellarmine claimed victories in both meetings, winning the inaugural game 17-15 on Sept. 17 and a month later taking a high-scoring affair by the final of 49-31.
 
This year, Bellarmine is off to a 2-0 start with wins over Oakland City and Calumet College of St. Joseph.  The Eagles have opened 1-1, winning their opener 29-26 over Walsh before falling to Fontbonne 20-13.
 
The Knights' two victories have come in different ways.  In the 43-23 win at OCU, Bellarmine piled up 327 yards of total offense, nearly all on the ground.  The following week, the Knights managed just 130 yards of total offense in defeating CCSJ 25-14.  Against the Crimson Wave, Bellarmine's defense helped provide the offense opportunities by creating five takeaways.
 
Through the first two games, Luke Worley has been the sole quarterback for the Knights.  He has gone 20-for-33 through the air for 121 yards.  The Bellarmine ground game has been dominated by Brenden Reid, last year's MSFL Offensive Most Valuable Player.  The sophomore from Jonesborough, Tennessee has accumulated 229 rushing yards through the first two games.
 
Bellarmine's defense has been solid with linebacker Caleb Murray leading the team in tackles while also picking off a pass and forcing two fumbles.  Lineman Michael Miller has a team-leading three sacks including one with just over two minutes remaining that forced a fumble that Luke Jackson scooped up and returned for a game-sealing touchdown.  The defensive secondary has combined for six interceptions in two games with Lance Weiter getting a pick in each game.
 
The Knights' special teams also are off to good starts.  Freshman kicker Caiden Mellecker is the reigning MSFL Special Teams Player of the Week after nailing a program-record 36-yard field goal and turning in a solid punting game with two downed inside the 20.
 
For Midway, Connor Baker has handled the quarterbacking duties for the most part.  He's 22 of 47 for 212 yards with just one interception, and his leading target so far this year has been Rudy Loomis, who has seven catches for 124 yards.  On the ground, Matthew Young has been the primary ball carrier for the Eagles.  He's carried 34 times for 157 yards.
 
The Midway defense is being led by freshman linebacker Noah Watson, who has notched 13 tackles and two forced fumbles.  In the secondary, Cameron McDonald has two interceptions to lead the way.
 
For more coverage of Bellarmine athletics, follow BUKnights on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.