Zach Welch ran for three touchdowns and kicked a field goal to lead Middletown to its first state football championship in a 43-6 romp over Douglass, of Prince George's County, for the Class 2A title Saturday at M&T Bank Stadium.
The Knights (13-1) had been to the state tournament 18 times without winning a title, including last year's 21-14 loss to McDonogh in the final, but Saturday, they jumped on the Eagles for the first 16 points.
The Eagles (10-3) pulled within 16-6 on Taitor Reynolds' 29-yard touchdown pass to Emmanuel Smith with 28 seconds left in the first half, but the Knights scored just over a minute into the second half on Ben Lewis' 53-yard run.
Welch ran for 172 yards on 24 carries as the Knights rushed for 335 yards.
D 0 6 0 0 — 6
M 7 9 20 7 — 43
M—Welch 1 run (Welch kick)
M—Lewis 28 pass from Pritts (kick failed)
M—Welch 27 FG
D—Smith 29 pass from Reynolds (run failed)
M—Lewis 53 run (Welch kick)
M—Welch 3 run (Welch kick)
M—Welch 1 run (Welch kick)
M—Pritts 1 run (Welch kick)