A dominant ground attack led Hamilton to a 41-24 win over Middletown in the Butler Bowl on Friday night at Barnitz Stadium.
The Big Blue was paced by sophomore running back Kaleb Johnson, who rushed for 229 yards and four touchdowns.
Fellow sophomore Keyshawn Stephens added 89 yards and TD on the ground as Hamilton totaled 311 yards rushing (5.7 per carry).
Kamari Fuller passed for 201 yards and two touchdowns and Josh Bryant added 71 yards rushing and a TD to lead the Middies, who fell to 1-7 overall and 0-6 in the Greater Miami Conference.
Middletown’s Cameron Junior caught a 58-yard TD pass from Fuller, forced two fumbles (recovered one) and had 12 tackles. Elijah Rockhold caught the other TD pass from Fuller.
Quincy Simms-Marshall added a TD pass Jayden Marshall for Hamilton, which improved to 4-4, 2-4. More importantly, Big Blue remained in the Division I, Region 4 playoff hunt. They entered the week 11th in the region’s computer ratings. The top eight teams make the playoffs.
Hamilton was led defensively by Kevon Burnett, who had a team-leading eight tackles and an interception.
Big Blue hosts Sycamore next Friday night and wraps up the regular season Nov. 1 at Lakota East. Middletown finishes the season with road games at Mason and Lakota West.
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