DB135
08-18-2007, 09:25 AM
http://www.middletownjournal.com/s/content/oh/story/sports/high-schools/2007/08/18/mj081807middletown.html
Rams started off with quick score, but they couldn't hold the line against visitors in scrimmage game.
By Skip Weaver
Staff Writer
Saturday, August 18, 2007
TROTWOOD — The Middletown football team was hungry Friday night at Trotwood-Madison.
Even though it was only the final scrimmage game of the season, the Middies came prepared to do battle with the Rams, one of the top-rated Division II schools in the state.
And battle they did. Trotwood's vaulted offense marched right down the field on the opening drive needing only in five plays to score the first touchdown of the game.
Domonick Britt hit Michael Shaw on a 28-yard strike for the score, a connection Trotwood fans will see plenty of this season.
But the Middies did not back down and scored 21 unanswered points over the next 22-plus minutes of the first half en route to a 21-13 road victory.
"We did absolutely a great job tonight," Middletown coach Ron Johnson said. "I'm extremely pleased about a lot of things. We absolutely mauled them on both sides of the ball. The Middies are back."
Middletown did answer the Rams' opening score by marching down the field on 12 plays capped by a 1-yard touchdown plunge by sophomore Antonio Banks.
Middletown scored again three minutes into the second period when Daryl Conley squeezed through the goal line pile into the end zone, and the Middies had a lead they would not lose.
Defensive damage
In the final minute of the second quarter, Trotwood forced and recovered a fumble at the Middletown 27-yard line, bringing them new life and a chance to tie the game.
But defensive lineman James Howard was in the right place at the right time and intercepted a Britt pass on a third-and-five situation. He rumbled 75 yards the other way to the end zone, giving Middletown a comfortable cushion. "I just tucked the ball and told myself not to let it go," Howard said. "I had to run as hard as I could (to get to the end zone)."
Game called
The scrimmage format was supposed to be three quarters of live action and an overtime period with both teams working from the 20-yard lines. But after Britt was knocked down on back-to-back disputable roughing calls, the referees called the game with 15 seconds remaining in the third quarter. "We had some turnovers and we didn't finish a few drives," Johnson said, "but this was great for our kids to have this happen. We'll have to overcome even more next week in Massillon
http://www.middletownjournal.com/s/content/oh/story/sports/high-schools/2007/08/03/mj080307football.html
Middies bring 'whole lot of heart'
Players hope they have the chance to improve on last season's 6-4 record.
By Skip Weaver Staff Writer
Friday, August 03, 2007
MIDDLETOWN — High school football is back.
Players across Ohio returned to the field Thursday for the first practice of the 2007 season.
The Middletown Middies were no exception. With their season in question pending the outcome of Tuesday's emergency school levy and the possibility of $900 pay-to-participate fees should it fail, the Middies — who were 6-4 last season — went back to work.
Senior offensive lineman Blaec Walker, one of several heavily recruited seniors on the Middies' roster, has high expectations for himself and his team.
"I want to win every game," said Walker, who has received scholarship offers from several Big Ten and Mid-American Conference schools, including Illinois, Miami and Eastern Michigan.
"I think we have the team to win every game," added Walker, who stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 315 pounds. "That would be a great way to end my senior year, but we've got to keep building off the way we finished last year. We won our last four games."
Walker said this year has been a long time coming for him.
"My freshman year, I didn't think I was strong enough to play anywhere," Walker said referring to the collegiate level. "Last year, we finished above .500 for the first time in my career. I'm bigger and stronger, and our team is bigger and stronger this year. I see a whole lot of heart and effort out there."
On the other side of the ball, senior linebacker John Cordero knows what it's going to take for the Middies defense to improve.
"We've got to do a better job of stopping the run," Cordero said. "We have the guys that can cover deep, and our guys up front and in the middle are experienced, but we still have some work to do defensively."
Third-year coach Ron Johnson was pleased with much of what he saw on the first day of practice.
"They were crisp and sharp and their enthusiasm was very high," Johnson said. "The retention of our fundamental skills and concepts was very good, too. Because of that, we can play at a faster level because they all know what we're doing."
Johnson agreed with his players that continuing the momentum from last year's 4-0 finish is crucial.
"We have to start the season the way we finished last year," Johnson said. "Our kids have so much invested in this season and in the program, they are really anxious to get a return on that investment."
Middletown opens on the road for the second straight season. The Middies will travel to northeast Ohio to take on the Massillon Tigers, a team many predict will compete for the Division I state championship.
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2852
or at sweaver@coxohio.com.
Rams started off with quick score, but they couldn't hold the line against visitors in scrimmage game.
By Skip Weaver
Staff Writer
Saturday, August 18, 2007
TROTWOOD — The Middletown football team was hungry Friday night at Trotwood-Madison.
Even though it was only the final scrimmage game of the season, the Middies came prepared to do battle with the Rams, one of the top-rated Division II schools in the state.
And battle they did. Trotwood's vaulted offense marched right down the field on the opening drive needing only in five plays to score the first touchdown of the game.
Domonick Britt hit Michael Shaw on a 28-yard strike for the score, a connection Trotwood fans will see plenty of this season.
But the Middies did not back down and scored 21 unanswered points over the next 22-plus minutes of the first half en route to a 21-13 road victory.
"We did absolutely a great job tonight," Middletown coach Ron Johnson said. "I'm extremely pleased about a lot of things. We absolutely mauled them on both sides of the ball. The Middies are back."
Middletown did answer the Rams' opening score by marching down the field on 12 plays capped by a 1-yard touchdown plunge by sophomore Antonio Banks.
Middletown scored again three minutes into the second period when Daryl Conley squeezed through the goal line pile into the end zone, and the Middies had a lead they would not lose.
Defensive damage
In the final minute of the second quarter, Trotwood forced and recovered a fumble at the Middletown 27-yard line, bringing them new life and a chance to tie the game.
But defensive lineman James Howard was in the right place at the right time and intercepted a Britt pass on a third-and-five situation. He rumbled 75 yards the other way to the end zone, giving Middletown a comfortable cushion. "I just tucked the ball and told myself not to let it go," Howard said. "I had to run as hard as I could (to get to the end zone)."
Game called
The scrimmage format was supposed to be three quarters of live action and an overtime period with both teams working from the 20-yard lines. But after Britt was knocked down on back-to-back disputable roughing calls, the referees called the game with 15 seconds remaining in the third quarter. "We had some turnovers and we didn't finish a few drives," Johnson said, "but this was great for our kids to have this happen. We'll have to overcome even more next week in Massillon
http://www.middletownjournal.com/s/content/oh/story/sports/high-schools/2007/08/03/mj080307football.html
Middies bring 'whole lot of heart'
Players hope they have the chance to improve on last season's 6-4 record.
By Skip Weaver Staff Writer
Friday, August 03, 2007
MIDDLETOWN — High school football is back.
Players across Ohio returned to the field Thursday for the first practice of the 2007 season.
The Middletown Middies were no exception. With their season in question pending the outcome of Tuesday's emergency school levy and the possibility of $900 pay-to-participate fees should it fail, the Middies — who were 6-4 last season — went back to work.
Senior offensive lineman Blaec Walker, one of several heavily recruited seniors on the Middies' roster, has high expectations for himself and his team.
"I want to win every game," said Walker, who has received scholarship offers from several Big Ten and Mid-American Conference schools, including Illinois, Miami and Eastern Michigan.
"I think we have the team to win every game," added Walker, who stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 315 pounds. "That would be a great way to end my senior year, but we've got to keep building off the way we finished last year. We won our last four games."
Walker said this year has been a long time coming for him.
"My freshman year, I didn't think I was strong enough to play anywhere," Walker said referring to the collegiate level. "Last year, we finished above .500 for the first time in my career. I'm bigger and stronger, and our team is bigger and stronger this year. I see a whole lot of heart and effort out there."
On the other side of the ball, senior linebacker John Cordero knows what it's going to take for the Middies defense to improve.
"We've got to do a better job of stopping the run," Cordero said. "We have the guys that can cover deep, and our guys up front and in the middle are experienced, but we still have some work to do defensively."
Third-year coach Ron Johnson was pleased with much of what he saw on the first day of practice.
"They were crisp and sharp and their enthusiasm was very high," Johnson said. "The retention of our fundamental skills and concepts was very good, too. Because of that, we can play at a faster level because they all know what we're doing."
Johnson agreed with his players that continuing the momentum from last year's 4-0 finish is crucial.
"We have to start the season the way we finished last year," Johnson said. "Our kids have so much invested in this season and in the program, they are really anxious to get a return on that investment."
Middletown opens on the road for the second straight season. The Middies will travel to northeast Ohio to take on the Massillon Tigers, a team many predict will compete for the Division I state championship.
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2852
or at sweaver@coxohio.com.