FRANKFORT, Ky. — Bellarmine sprint football rode the strength of its running game to a 27-7 road win over the Midway Eagles in Frankfort, Ky. on the campus of Western Hills High School.  With the win, the Knights are off to a 3-0 start for the second consecutive season and maintain possession of the Bourbon Barrel.

The Knights drew first blood, moving the ball efficiently on the ground on the game's opening drive.  Brenden Reid carried it three times in the first four plays for a total of 18 yards before back-to-back 11 yard rushes by Luke Worley and Derrik Gant took Bellarmine to the Midway 15-yard line.  Two false start penalties caused the Knights' drive to stall and Bellarmine settled for a 37-yard Caiden Mellecker field goal.

Midway quickly responded as Keegan Hill hit Rudy Loomis for a 64-yard catch and run down to the Bellarmine three-yard line and Matthew Young scored on the next play to give the Eagles a 7-3 lead.

Following a Gant kick return to the Midway 39-yard line, Bellarmine continued to gash the Midway defense on the ground.  Following a holding penalty, Reid broke off a 24-yard run to the Midway 29.  Reid would ultimately finish off the drive with a two-yard TD run to give the Knights a 10-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.

After a Midway three-and-out, The Knights once again marched down the field on the backs of their running backs as Reid gained 28 more yards on five carries and Worley hit Gant for passes of 10 and seven yards before a Midway personal foul penalty moved it to the Eagles' 20-yard line.  After Worley again hit Gant for 16 yards, Reid ran it down to the 1 before punching it in on third down to give Bellarmine a 17-7 lead.

Following an exchange of punts between the two teams, Bellarmine's Cross Licht came up with an interception at the Midway 39 with 51 seconds to play in the first half, but back-to-back sacks by Midway closed out the half.

After forcing another three-and-out to start the second half, Bellarmine took the ball at the Midway 38-yard line following a kick catch interference penalty on the Eagles.  Tyler Smith ran it to the 27, but a false start and delay of game penalty pushed the Knights back to the 37.  Two Reid rushes took the Knights to the Midway 21 and Mellecker connected on a 38-yard field goal to make it 20-7.

The Bellarmine defense forced a punt to begin the third quarter and Worley then hit Gavin Foushee for a 34-yard catch and run down to the Midway 32.  On the next play, a six-yard Worley shovel pass to Gant plus a personal foul penalty took the Knights to the 13.  Following an Eagles offsides penalty, Worley hit Shannon Tonge for an eight-yard score to put the Knights up 27-7.

The two teams exchanged three-and-outs to fill out the remainder of the third quarter.  Midway drove to the Knights' 49-yard line early in the fourth, but turned the ball over on downs.  Following a 12 yard Worley pass to Reid and a defensive pass interference penalty, Bellarmine drove down to the Eagles' eight-yard line before a Worley lost fumble gave Midway possession at their own 12.

On the ensuing drive, the Eagles drove to the Bellarmine 32, but four straight incomplete passes resulted in another turnover on downs with 4:17 remaining.  The Knights milked the clock down to 2:06 and time expired on Midway's last possession.

The Knights converted 23 first downs and gained 153 net yards on the ground, with 129 coming from Reid.  Reid had 94 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries in the first half alone.

Worley finished 12-of-17 for 115 yards and a touchdown through the air.  Gant led the Knights in receptions with five for 41 yards.  Foushee had two catches for 42 yards.

The Knights were efficient and methodical on offense, finishing with a 35:39 time of possession and converting 6-of-13 third downs.

Next week, the Knights travel to Saint Mary of the Woods, Ind. to take on the Pomeroys of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College on Saturday, October 7 at 4 PM.