Photo credit: MISD student intern, Cambree Van Meter

What happened: Midland High closed out non-district play with a 14-6 win over California’s Red Bluff on Friday, improving the Bulldogs to 3-3 overall, while Red Bluff fell to 3-2. Midland is now ranked No. 88 overall in Texas and No. 50 among UIL 6A teams.

The big picture: Neither offense found the end zone in the first quarter before Midland broke through in the second. Junior quarterback Holt Howard connected with senior wide receiver Elijah Ramos for a touchdown. Midland’s defense kept Red Bluff off the board before halftime. Junior cornerback Cade Rylander intercepted a Spartans pass late in the second quarter, and the Bulldogs went into the break leading 7-0.

Midland struck again early in the third quarter when Howard connected with senior Tayte Frazier for his second touchdown pass of the night, extending the Bulldogs’ lead to 14-0. Red Bluff answered later in the quarter with its only touchdown of the game, but a missed extra point left Midland ahead 14-6 entering the fourth.

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The Spartans had two more chances to cut into the lead in the fourth quarter, but Midland’s defense stopped Red Bluff on downs both times. The final stop came inside the Bulldogs’ 15-yard line with less than two minutes remaining, allowing Midland to close out the eight-point win.

Go deeper: Midland finished with 122 passing yards and 99 rushing yards. Howard completed 13 of 22 passes for 122 yards, two touchdowns and one interception and led the Bulldogs with 54 rushing yards. Junior running back Evan Taylor added 45 yards on 11 carries.

Ramos led Midland’s receivers with 57 yards and a touchdown on three catches, while junior wide receiver Walker Campbell caught seven passes for 55 yards. Frazier added Midland’s other receiving touchdown.

Red Bluff outgained Midland 315-221, but 306 of the Spartans’ yards came on the ground. Red Bluff completed just one of 10 passes for nine yards and threw one interception.

What’s next: Midland now turns to district play. The Bulldogs open on the road against Odessa High at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, in Odessa. Odessa High enters the matchup 2-4 overall.