Friday’s game
What: Middletown (2-5, 1-3 GMC) at Sycamore (4-3, 3-1 GMC), 7 p.m.
Where: Coach Bud Acus Alumni Field at Sycamore Stadium, 5757 Cooper Road, Blue Ash
Last meeting: Sycamore won 28-16 in 2014
The Middletown High School football team hasn’t performed to coach Chris Wells’ expectations this season, but if there is one positive going into this week’s game, it’s the Middies’ ability to stop the run.
Middletown ranks third in the Greater Miami Conference in run defense, an aspect the Middies (2-5, 1-3 GMC) will need to hold true as they travel to Sycamore to face the league’s top ground attack on Friday.
The Aviators (4-3, 3-1 GMC), who have won three straight, average 308.1 rushing yards per game, but the Middies, who are trying to end a three-game losing streak, allow just 169.1 rushing yards per game. Middletown’s overall defense ranks ninth in the GMC.
“It’s no secret they have a really good running attack,” Wells said. “They have a couple nice running backs and a strong offensive line. That’s something you work on and try to prepare for, but at the same time, you don’t want to overly prepare for one area and neglect another. They can still throw the ball well, so we have to be prepared for both.”
Sycamore, which beat Oak Hills 78-50 last week, ranks first in overall offense with 440.1 yards and 38.1 points per game. Running back Ra’Von Bonner leads the GMC with 1,178 yards and 22 touchdowns on 164 carries, while Clarence Dawson adds another 761 yards and five scores on the ground.
Quarterback Jake Borman has 920 yards passing and five touchdowns.
Wells’ biggest concern is just not allowing SHS to control time of possession, which was something he felt caused the Middies problems in a 34-22 loss to Hamilton last week.
“We had a chance to stop Hamilton toward the end of the game, but couldn’t do it,” Wells said. “We had them at the 1-yard line and could have gotten a safety and didn’t get it. They went 99 yards, and the next drive I think was 95 yards. They threw the ball well but they held the ball, and our offense didn’t get a lot of plays. We can’t let the other team hold the ball like that.”
Middletown’s offense has been slow to develop in the new Wing-T formation this year, but Wells said part of that is just not getting enough time on the field while the defense gives up long drives.
Blake Marshall is 22 of 46 passing for 427 yards with three touchdowns and five interceptions, and Vincent Calhoun, Allante Simmons, Jaevan Wright and Marquise Petty continue to share the bulk of the carries when Marshall doesn’t keep it. The Middies average just 279.7 yards and 24.3 points (seventh in the GMC).
Aves coach Scott Dattilo said the Middies have more potential than what shows on the scoreboard and stat columns, on both sides of the ball. His defense is led by middle linebacker Gary Traub.
“We have to contain their speed,” Dattilo said. “They run the Wing-T and like to get out on the edge, so we will have to be good on that side. Our defensive ends and safeties will have to play well.
“On the flip side, we’re going to have to drive the ball and run the ball hard because I see an aggressive defense with a bunch of athletes on the back end. Their record doesn’t reflect the caliber team they are. They’ve played some tough opponents, and we know we’re going to have to come well-prepared.”
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