Midwest City makes punt blocking an art
Emmanuel Maxwell, Corey Mosley and Corey Lang are good at finding foes’ weak spots

By Ryan Aber Comments 2
Published: November 4, 2009

MIDWEST CITY — No matter what Midwest City’s opponents have tried to do to stop it from happening, there’s been no stopping the Bombers’ punt block unit.

Midwest City’s Emmanuel Maxwell, left, thwarts a punt attempt by Del City’s Alex Burton. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman

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Through nine games this season, the Bombers have blocked 12 punts.

Midwest City is the Virginia Tech of Oklahoma high school football.

"We try to find a weak spot on the punt coverage and go after it,” Midwest City special teams coach Jason Sexton said.

That hasn’t been a problem this season. The Bombers find the weak points and stick Emmanuel Maxwell, Corey Mosley and Corey Lang in those spots.

Maxwell leads the team — and surely the state — with seven blocked punts. He added another last week against Norman. Mosely has three and Lang two for 7-2 MWC.

Midwest City’s success is keyed by practice — the Bombers use Slip ’N Slides to get used to laying out for blocks — and scheme. This season, Midwest City began using almost all defensive backs on the punt return squad. Maxwell, a linebacker, is the only non-secondary player on the.

The success in going after punts has also helped the Bombers when teams actually do manage to get a punt off. Dillione Johnson has turned into one of the most dangerous returners around.

"People are so scared of getting one blocked sometimes they don’t worry as much about our return game,” Sexton said.

Maxwell, Mosley and Lang read the punt team and adjust their point of attack.

In studying film last week before the Norman game, the Bombers saw four different punt formations by the Tigers. Norman used two in the game, but Midwest City still found a way to come away with two blocks.

"The kids know where those weak links are,” Sexton said. "All week long we show them the various formations that the teams we play have. By the games, they know exactly how to respond on the field.

"Our kids are super intelligent.”

Midwest City might not have the same star power it did last year heading into the playoffs, but in close games, the kind the Bombers will surely find themselves in during the postseason, special teams can make a huge difference.