Oak Hills and Middletown are two of just three Division I teams in the state who have yet to win a game (Groveport-Madison is the other), but that will be changing for one of them.
“We are just trying to get on the uptick,” Highlanders coach Kyle Prosser said. “Our kids haven’t been broken. They are making progress, and we are looking forward to getting out of there 1-8.”
Middletown’s losing ways have reached 18 consecutive games.
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The Middies’ last win came on Oct. 30, 2015 when they closed the season with a 36-13 win at Princeton. Oak Hills has lost 10 in a row and 11 of its last 12 with just a win on Oct. 14, 2016, over Hamilton to snap the string.
The Highlanders beat Middletown 29-14 last year.
Oak Hills, which dropped a 42-6 decision to Sycamore last week, has been outscored 323-155 and enters with the third-ranked offense (327 yards per game), but the last-ranked defense (446).
Middletown, coming off a 35-7 loss to Lakota West, has been outscored 328-103 and ranks last in offense (248.9) and ninth in defense (379.1).
Still, Prosser knows the Highlanders have a lot to be concerned about heading into Barnitz.
“They are loaded with talent, but haven’t gotten the breaks,” he said. “They have the ability to turn broken plays into something, but they are young and that causes them to be a little inconsistent.”
Middletown quarterback Zach Maloney enters as the fifth-best passer in the GMC, hitting 72 of 158 passes for 793 yards and five scores while throwing nine interceptions. Diondre Cooper leads the ground attack with 383 yards on 105 carries.
Oak Hills’ potent offense is led by the GMC’s leading passer and two of the top three receivers, but Middletown’s defense features the third-leading tackler (63) and leader in sacks (5.5) in Ayron Thompson.
Jacob Woycke has completed 127 of 218 passes for 1,469 yards and 11 scores. Jacob Berkemeier has hauled in 47 passes for 507 yards, while Kevin Hopkins has 30 catches for 422 yards.
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Vince Kolb leads the ground attack with 289 yards on 72 carries.
“We have to control the clock,” Prosser said. “We have to take care of the football. When we get scoring opportunites, we have to finish.”
Middletown coach Lance Engleka did not respond to several phone messages seeking his thoughts on the game.
Friday’s game
What: Oak Hills (0-8, 0-6 GMC) at Middletown (0-8, 0-6 GMC), 7 p.m.
Where: Cris Carter Field at Barnitz Stadium, 1211 S. Main St., Middletown
Last year: Oak Hills won 29-14
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