FAIRFIELD — Harlem Coleman knew Fairfield wasn’t going away.
The Middletown junior made sure the Indians didn’t get another chance.
Coleman intercepted Sean Clore in the end zone with less than a minute remaining Friday night, preserving Middletown’s 27-20 Greater Miami Conference victory over Fairfield at Alumni Stadium and giving the Middies their first win of the season.
“It was a fight,” Coleman said. “We knew they weren’t going to give up. We knew we had to keep going hard at them.”
Middletown improved to 1-2 overall and 1-1 in the GMC after opening the season with losses to Elder and Princeton. Fairfield dropped to 1-2, 0-2 GMC.
Coleman’s interception ended one final push by Fairfield, which had driven into scoring position looking for a potential tying touchdown.
The Indians had pulled within striking distance after Hunter Gagen’s 22-yard field goal made it 20-19 with 4:47 remaining.
Middletown responded.
Gavin Nolan capped the ensuing drive with a 1-yard touchdown run with 1:21 left, then ran in the 2-point conversion to extend the Middies’ advantage to 27-20.
Fairfield drove back down the field, but Coleman was waiting in the end zone.
“We had a couple miscommunications, a couple missed tackles, but you see in the end, it prevailed,” Coleman said.
Middletown coach Kali Jones said the finish was fitting for Coleman, a junior captain who has emerged as one of the Middies’ defensive leaders.
“He’s a phenomenal kid,” Jones said. “He does excellent in the classroom. He’s a leader. I’m so proud of him. For him to step up at the end, we expect that because that’s what he does.”
Jones said Coleman has about six college offers and has developed into a key piece of a Middletown team trying to replace significant production from last season’s Division I state semifinalist.
The Middies needed contributions throughout their lineup Friday after injuries forced them to adjust on the fly. Jones said Middletown lost several players during the game — and in warmups — and was forced to lean on inexperienced players in key spots.
“We have faced unprecedented adversity as a staff,” Jones said. “For us to pull this out, and then with the self-infliction and being able to stay disciplined with all the new personnel, it’s tough. I’m extremely proud.”
Middletown finished with a 326-199 advantage in total offense despite committing three turnovers.
Kolby Morgerson completed 10 of 17 passes for 126 yards and a touchdown before leaving the game with an injury. Nolan completed 7 of 12 passes for 104 yards and also rushed for 40 yards and two touchdowns.
Middletown took a 3-0 lead on Carson Hagins’ 14-yard field goal before Fairfield answered with Axsel Rogers’ 1-yard touchdown run.
Morgerson connected with Elijah Jones for a 42-yard touchdown in the second quarter, and Hagins added a 22-yard field goal with 24 seconds remaining before halftime to give Middletown a 13-7 advantage.
Morgerson scored on a 4-yard run in the third quarter, and Nolan later added a 3-yard touchdown run as Middletown built its advantage.
Fairfield stayed within reach behind its defense and running game. Corrious Booker rushed for 83 yards on 17 carries, while Clore completed 11 of 19 passes for 110 yards.
Gagen connected on field goals of 18 and 22 yards.
But Fairfield coach Justin Roden pointed to missed opportunities — particularly in the red zone — as the difference.
“We do a lot of good things, and then we kind of get in our own way,” Roden said. “Whether that’s a penalty, an interception, a wrong route. We still continue to have some procedure penalties and alignment penalties and just things that keep stopping ourselves.”
Roden said the Indians’ effort wasn’t the issue.
“We could have faded, and we didn’t,” Roden said. “I’ll take away the effort and the progress, but we’ve got to get better.”
Middletown entered Friday searching for a response after an 0-2 start against a difficult opening schedule. Jones said that was the message throughout the week.
Coleman knew it, too.
“This meant a lot for us,” Coleman said. “We had to get this win.”
Middletown hosts Oak Hills next Friday, while Fairfield hits the road for its first game away from Alumni Stadium this season against Colerain.
