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Desperation has brought out the best of the Middletown High football team.

Three weeks ago Middletown fell to 2-3 after a 32-16 setback at Governor Thomas Johnson High. Fighting for their postseason lives ever since, the Knights logged their third straight victory Friday with a 46-6 drubbing of Monocacy Valley Athletic League Piedmont-Blue Conference rival Brunswick High.

"Every game is a playoff for us," said Middletown head coach Kevin Lynott. "That's our mentality and how we need to treat every game."

Brunswick made mistakes, and the Knights made them pay. All seven of Middletown's touchdowns occurred on drives following a Railroaders miscue, with 6 of 7 of the scoring drives beginning within Railroaders' territory.

"I think that was huge in the beginning, being able to capitalize on the short field," Lynott said. "Anytime you can put points on the board real quick, that helps with momentum."

Forcing a punt on fourthdown during Brunswick's opening possession, Middletown brought plenty of pressure and burst through the Railroaders' line.

Junior punter-wide receiver Tyrus Lawson, who did well in recovering a slippery ball after fumbling the snap, was brought down on his own 41 by junior defensive lineman Hunter Lumley. Less than a minute later, Knights junior running back Sam Michels recorded the evening's first score on a 10-yard dash for a 6-0 lead as the extra point failed.

After another Brunswick three-and-out and dicey punt, the Knights (5-3 overall, 1-0 conference) once again took over on the Railroaders 41. Senior quarterback Sam Glushakow capped off a four-play drive with a one-yard keeper at 4:31 in the first quarter to give the hosts a 12-0 lead.

Approximately 45 seconds later, an interception by senior linebacker Koby Cavanaugh set Middletown up at Brunswick's 49. Shortly after, Glushakow's 4-yard burst gave his team an 18-0 advantage.

Middletown's next score, a five-yard Michels' run, was set up after the Railroaders' punt landed at their own 49 early in the second quarter. A short punt, interception and turnover on downs, awarded the Knights the ball on three subsequent touchdown drives.

Cavanaugh rushed for 126 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries. Glushakow finished with three touchdowns and 61 yards rushing on eight carries.

He also threw for 47 yards on 3 of 7 passing. Michels rushed for 114 yards and two scores on 14 carries, while junior tailback Rakim Hamilton also tallied a rushing touchdown.

"We're playing like we have to win every week," Glushakow said. "If we want to make the playoffs, we have to win every week."

Brunswick's lone touchdown came on a 7-yard hookup from sophomore quarterback Ian Fisher to Lawson at 3:20 in the second, making the score 25-6. Lawson finished with six receptions for 148 yards.

"[Middletown] came out and really took it to us," said Brunswick head coach Pat Foster, whose team fell to 3-5 overall and 0-1 in conference play.

"They dominated both sides of the line of scrimmage. We just could never get anything going offensively. They played hard and we just didn't match up to their intensity."