Middies erupt in 2nd half to beat Thunderhawks

Usual starting QB doesn’t play in a scoreless first half, but his return and 8 East turnovers key win.

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By Skip Weaver, Staff Writer 1:34 AM Saturday, October 10, 2009

LIBERTY TWP. — Turnovers were the story on a rainy night at the Hawks Nest at Lakota East High School.

Middletown and Lakota East combined for 11 turnovers, but it was the Middies that took advantage in a 27-0 Greater Miami Conference win Friday night, Oct. 9.

Following a scoreless first half, Middletown (7-0, 4-0 GMC) took its first possession of the third quarter 49 yards to the end zone and never looked back.

Caleb Watkins, who did not play the first half for Middletown, scored that first touchdown on a 21-yard run with 9 minutes, 6 seconds to go in the period.

Watkins came through again on their next series when he picked up 28 yards on a third-and-15 situation to put the Middies at the 1-yard line.

Antonio Banks bulled in from there for the first of his two scores on the night. Banks had 16 carries for 58 yards in the game.

“The Caleb situation was just something we were working out within the framework of our team,” Middletown coach Jason Krause said of why Watkins didn’t play in the first half. “He came in the second half and showed his leadership. We are a different team with him in the game.”

Watkins completed 5-of-6 passes for 62 yards.

Pedro Powell led all rushers with 28 carries for 149 yards, but he was denied from the end zone by a stiff Middie defense.

“Field position was the key,” said Lakota East coach Greg Bailie, whose team drops to 1-6, 1-3 GMC. “They are too good a team to let them play on a 50-yard field when we are playing on a 100-yard field.

“We didn’t compliment Powell on the outside like we did last week,” he continued. “The turnovers were devastating, too. I don’t remember ever throwing six interceptions in a game.”

Middletown’s Jerry Gates corralled three of those picks, with Kyle Schwarber, Jahmi Calhoun and Eric Redding each snagging one.

“We came in the locker room (at halftime) with our heads down,” Gates said. “We just weren’t ready in the first half, and they were.

“It was a gut check for us,” he continued. “We had to pick ourselves up, and when we got that first touchdown, I think it helped us get things rolling.”

Gates also had a fumble recovery in the first half. East had two fumbles in the game.

The Middies rushed for 210 yards in the game, and Krause praised the offensive line for much of it.

“We had two starters out and put two guys in there that hadn’t played o-line all year, and they did a great job,” Krause said. “We were able to run the ball like that in these conditions because of them.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2852

or sweaver@coxohio.com.

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