The Middletown High School Football team was on the verge of its fourth straight state finals appearance, but they seemed nervous in the first half; unable to grasp the control they normally have.

The Knights brought a different energy to the second half, rattling off 21 straight points to begin the half, en-route to a 31-7 victory.

The win carries extra importance for the senior class, who continue on the 35 game win streak that started in 2011. Most graduating this spring have never lost a varsity game.

“It’s special to know that we never lost as players,” said Knights senior defensive back, Tim Schumacher. “It means a lot.”

The Knights were able to get on the board early in the first quarter, after the Bucs were forced to run only seven plays on their first drive.

Middletown’s first drive relied heavily on the legs of senior quarterback, Tim Pirrone. On the Knights first offensive play, Pirrone was able to bounce to the outside for a 20-yard run, and then run four yards for a first down to the Kent Island 28 yard line.

Schumacher finished off the drive for the Knights with an 11-yard touchdown run on an end-around.

After the first drive resulted in a touchdown the Knights were, for the most part, unable to move the ball for the remainder of the first half.

The momentum seemed to be heading in the Bucs favor until they attempted an ill-advised fake field goal inside the Knights five, early in the second quarter. The holder fumbled the snap, and the Knights took over on their own 11.

The Knights were still unable to gain any traction on their next drive, but then Kent Island running back Evan Greenwood fumbled the ball at the Buccaneers 48, and Schumacher recovered with 5:22 left in the second.

The Knights were able to move the ball to the Kent Island 27. Junior kicker Nick Welch then attempted a 33-yard field goal with 2:21 left in the half. Welch knocked the ball through the uprights with ease, momentum now back on the side of the Knights.

Even with the rough start, the Knights were up 10-0 at the half, and they came out at the beginning of the third quarter ready to dominate.

Kent Island tried to recapture the momentum in the second half by attempting an onside kick, but the Knights recovered at their own 36, and couldn’t be stopped from there.

The Knights burst out of the gates on their opening drive with a 2:43 touchdown drive, similar to the drive to open the second half at Thomas Johnson.

Senior tailback Brad Rinehart found a seam, starting out the drive with a 21-yard run. Junior Peter Heon bullied his way up the middle for 11 yards, and Pirrone ran 19 yards untouched to put the Knights within scoring range. Rinehart capped off the drive with a three-yard touchdown run.

This was the physical, run first offense that Middletown fans have grown accustomed to seeing.

“We spoke amongst ourselves in the locker room,” said Rinehart. “We told each other what we needed to do.”

The Knights came out punching, and it was up to the smaller, but faster Buccaneers to respond.

When faced with adversity the Kent Island team started to rely on its leading rusher, Greenwood, who came into the game with 2,218 rush yards and 31 touchdowns.

Against any other team this approach might have worked, but the Knights had keyed in on Greenwood all week. They weren’t going to let him get in the way of their state title conquest.

Greenwood finished the game with only 75 rush yards on 24 carries.

Rinehart would later run for a 26-yard touchdown, and a three-yard score. He finished the game 179 rush yards on 23 carries, and three rush touchdowns.

“To know that we never lost is one of the best feelings ever,” said senior tackle Logan Casey. “It gives meaning to what we did.”

With 5:30 left the Knights gave up a nine-yard touchdown pass from Kent Island senior quarterback, James Fromert to senior wide receiver Zach Goodrich. This effectively ended the shutout, and the Knights hopes for donuts Monday morning.

A fourth straight state-championship appearance seems to be a nice enough consolation prize.

“You can’t ask for anything more,” said Rinehart. “Senior year, this is what you’ve always dreamed of.”