For nearly a half Friday night, Midland High looked capable of leaving Keller with a statement victory. The Bulldogs forced turnovers, created explosive plays and answered each of Keller’s early scores. They led 24–20 with 6:07 remaining in the second quarter after Rylan Marino kicked a 22-yard field goal.
Then the answers stopped
Keller moved ahead before halftime and scored all 28 points after the break, closing the game with 35 unanswered points to hand Midland High a 55–24 loss at Keller ISD Athletic Complex. The Bulldogs fell to 0–2, wasting three takeaways and an encouraging start against a Keller team that eventually overwhelmed them through the air and on the ground.
Takeaways give Midland High an early lift
Midland High’s defense helped create the opportunities that allowed the Bulldogs to trade scores with Keller. After Keller took an early 7–0 lead, quarterback Holt Howard found Evan Taylor for an 8-yard touchdown with 7:43 remaining in the first quarter. Defensive lineman Luke Anderson then recovered a Keller fumble, and Taylor converted the takeaway into points with a 6-yard touchdown run that put Midland High ahead, 14–7.
Keller immediately attacked downfield
Quarterback Matt McCroskey connected with Chris Hanson for a 34-yard touchdown. The Indians failed on a two-point attempt, leaving Midland High in front, 14–13. McCroskey struck again before the end of the quarter, finding Cash Erdmann for a 54-yard touchdown that gave Keller a 20–14 advantage.
The Bulldogs answered with their biggest offensive play of the night. Howard hit Frankie McGehee for a 55-yard touchdown with 10:24 remaining in the second quarter, putting Midland High back in front, 21–20. Cade Rylander recovered another Keller fumble, leading to Marino’s 22-yard field goal and Midland High’s largest lead of the night. The Bulldogs had taken the ball away three times and turned two of Keller’s fumbles into 10 points. But they could not make the advantage last.
Keller takes the lead — and never gives it back
The game turned on Keller’s final scoring drive of the first half. Running back Blake Dyniewski finished it with a 7-yard touchdown run, sending the Indians into halftime with a 27–24 lead. It was the beginning of a decisive shift. Midland High did not score again, while Keller abandoned the first-half shootout and took control on the ground. The Indians scored four rushing touchdowns after halftime, with Bryce Fonteno accounting for three and Dyniewski adding his second of the night. Keller’s ability to run the ball allowed it to sustain the pressure that Midland High’s offense could not.
Dyniewski finished with 174 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries. McCroskey was nearly flawless through the air, completing 14 of 15 passes for 265 yards and three touchdowns despite throwing one interception. Hanson caught seven passes for 114 yards and a touchdown. The result was a Keller offense Midland High could disrupt occasionally but never consistently stop. Even after losing the turnover battle 3–1, the Indians won by 31 points.
Early offensive promise gives way to another stalled finish
Howard gave Midland High opportunities in the passing game, completing 16 of 28 attempts for 243 yards and two touchdowns. He threw one interception. McGehee led the Bulldogs with 71 receiving yards on two catches, including the 55-yard touchdown. Walker Campbell added three receptions for 69 yards, while Devin Rodriquez caught five passes for 40 yards and Elijah Ramos had two receptions for 39. Taylor scored both of Midland High’s touchdowns in the opening quarter, but Keller kept him from consistently moving the chains on the ground. He finished with 60 yards on 21 carries and caught four passes for 24 yards.
As a team, the Bulldogs managed only 87 rushing yards on 38 attempts. That imbalance became more damaging once Keller took the lead. Without a dependable running game, Midland High could not sustain possessions, slow Keller’s momentum or give its defense enough relief. The Bulldogs finished with 330 yards of offense, but none of their production resulted in points after Marino’s field goal midway through the second quarter.
A fast start is not enough
There were legitimate positives in Midland High’s opening-half performance. The Bulldogs responded three times after Keller scores. Howard pushed the ball downfield, Taylor found the end zone as both a runner and receiver, and the defense produced three takeaways against an opponent that entered the night coming off a 55-point season opener. But the final 30 minutes exposed the larger problem. Midland High could not establish its running game, could not get Keller’s offense off the field often enough and could not stop the game from snowballing once the Indians moved ahead.
A four-point lead became a three-point halftime deficit. That deficit became a 31-point defeat without the Bulldogs producing another score. For a young team installing a new offense, flashes of progress matter. Against quality competition, however, flashes are not enough. Midland High must find a way to turn productive stretches into four complete quarters.
What it means
Midland High is 0–2 following consecutive non-district losses and is still searching for its first complete performance of the season.
The Bulldogs return home Friday, Sept. 11, to face Amarillo High at 7 p.m. at Astound Broadband Stadium.
Then the answers stopped
Keller moved ahead before halftime and scored all 28 points after the break, closing the game with 35 unanswered points to hand Midland High a 55–24 loss at Keller ISD Athletic Complex. The Bulldogs fell to 0–2, wasting three takeaways and an encouraging start against a Keller team that eventually overwhelmed them through the air and on the ground.
Takeaways give Midland High an early lift
Midland High’s defense helped create the opportunities that allowed the Bulldogs to trade scores with Keller. After Keller took an early 7–0 lead, quarterback Holt Howard found Evan Taylor for an 8-yard touchdown with 7:43 remaining in the first quarter. Defensive lineman Luke Anderson then recovered a Keller fumble, and Taylor converted the takeaway into points with a 6-yard touchdown run that put Midland High ahead, 14–7.
Keller immediately attacked downfield
Quarterback Matt McCroskey connected with Chris Hanson for a 34-yard touchdown. The Indians failed on a two-point attempt, leaving Midland High in front, 14–13. McCroskey struck again before the end of the quarter, finding Cash Erdmann for a 54-yard touchdown that gave Keller a 20–14 advantage.
The Bulldogs answered with their biggest offensive play of the night. Howard hit Frankie McGehee for a 55-yard touchdown with 10:24 remaining in the second quarter, putting Midland High back in front, 21–20. Cade Rylander recovered another Keller fumble, leading to Marino’s 22-yard field goal and Midland High’s largest lead of the night. The Bulldogs had taken the ball away three times and turned two of Keller’s fumbles into 10 points. But they could not make the advantage last.
Keller takes the lead — and never gives it back
The game turned on Keller’s final scoring drive of the first half. Running back Blake Dyniewski finished it with a 7-yard touchdown run, sending the Indians into halftime with a 27–24 lead. It was the beginning of a decisive shift. Midland High did not score again, while Keller abandoned the first-half shootout and took control on the ground. The Indians scored four rushing touchdowns after halftime, with Bryce Fonteno accounting for three and Dyniewski adding his second of the night. Keller’s ability to run the ball allowed it to sustain the pressure that Midland High’s offense could not.
Dyniewski finished with 174 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries. McCroskey was nearly flawless through the air, completing 14 of 15 passes for 265 yards and three touchdowns despite throwing one interception. Hanson caught seven passes for 114 yards and a touchdown. The result was a Keller offense Midland High could disrupt occasionally but never consistently stop. Even after losing the turnover battle 3–1, the Indians won by 31 points.
Early offensive promise gives way to another stalled finish
Howard gave Midland High opportunities in the passing game, completing 16 of 28 attempts for 243 yards and two touchdowns. He threw one interception. McGehee led the Bulldogs with 71 receiving yards on two catches, including the 55-yard touchdown. Walker Campbell added three receptions for 69 yards, while Devin Rodriquez caught five passes for 40 yards and Elijah Ramos had two receptions for 39. Taylor scored both of Midland High’s touchdowns in the opening quarter, but Keller kept him from consistently moving the chains on the ground. He finished with 60 yards on 21 carries and caught four passes for 24 yards.
As a team, the Bulldogs managed only 87 rushing yards on 38 attempts. That imbalance became more damaging once Keller took the lead. Without a dependable running game, Midland High could not sustain possessions, slow Keller’s momentum or give its defense enough relief. The Bulldogs finished with 330 yards of offense, but none of their production resulted in points after Marino’s field goal midway through the second quarter.
A fast start is not enough
There were legitimate positives in Midland High’s opening-half performance. The Bulldogs responded three times after Keller scores. Howard pushed the ball downfield, Taylor found the end zone as both a runner and receiver, and the defense produced three takeaways against an opponent that entered the night coming off a 55-point season opener. But the final 30 minutes exposed the larger problem. Midland High could not establish its running game, could not get Keller’s offense off the field often enough and could not stop the game from snowballing once the Indians moved ahead.
A four-point lead became a three-point halftime deficit. That deficit became a 31-point defeat without the Bulldogs producing another score. For a young team installing a new offense, flashes of progress matter. Against quality competition, however, flashes are not enough. Midland High must find a way to turn productive stretches into four complete quarters.
What it means
Midland High is 0–2 following consecutive non-district losses and is still searching for its first complete performance of the season.
The Bulldogs return home Friday, Sept. 11, to face Amarillo High at 7 p.m. at Astound Broadband Stadium.
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