The Tigers stick with their game plan despite problems and rally against Chamberlain.
By MIKE READLING
Published September 25, 2004
TAMPA - As incredulous as it sounded at the time, you just had to believe Middleton coach Harry Hubbard when he said his team didn't make any adjustments at halftime of his team's game against Chamberlain.
After all, this was a man whose Tigers had just held Chamberlain, which finished the first two quarters with 173 yards, to 10 total yards in the second half. Even when he looked you straight in the eye and said he didn't change a thing there was a thought that maybe he was being coy.
Hubbard's assistants backed him up, as did his players, Chamberlain's coaches, even the Chiefs players said the Tigers didn't do anything different in the third and fourth quarter. They just did it better.
Better is what allowed the Tigers to rally from a three-touchdown deficit in the third quarter to a 27-24 win at John Adcock Stadium.
Better is the reason Hubbard was able to take a deep breath and crack a slight smile because what he saw Friday night let him know his team can compete with just about anyone - if it performs up to its capabilities.
"I told them they weren't executing in the first half," Hubbard said. "They started executing in the second half and we played like we're able to play."
Mistakes are all Middleton (2-1) made in the first half as the Chiefs had their way on offense. Quarterback Jet Steele was 7 of 11 for 110 yards and a touchdown and running back Jordan Wilson tallied 79 yards before the half. Steele finished with 116 passing yards and Wilson had 97 yards when the game ended.
The Chiefs (1-2) hurt themselves in the second half with three fumbles and were outmanned on the line as Steele was sacked eight times.
Middleton started clicking as Cedric Harris threw for two touchdowns and Germain Lewis ran for another to help lead the Tigers to 20 unanswered points.
