Coach believes Middies football team headed in right direction

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Middletown football coach Jason Krause talks to the team on the Middletown, Ohio practice field Monday, Aug 3, 2009 during the first official day of practice of the 2009 - 10 school year.

Staff photo by Gary Stelzer Middletown football coach Jason Krause talks to the team on the Middletown, Ohio practice field Monday, Aug 3, 2009 during the first official day of practice of the 2009 - 10 school year.

By Skip Weaver, Staff Writer Updated 8:26 AM Thursday, August 20, 2009

MIDDLETOWN — Middletown High School football coach Jason Krause believes his team has taken a step in the right direction.

On the morning of the Middies last two-a-day practice, Krause went into the locker room at 7 a.m. to inform the players practice would not start until 7:30 a.m.

Instead of waiting the extra 30 minutes, the players took the field and ran the first 20 minutes of practice on their own as the coaching staff watched from the sideline.

“Pride. I was really proud the kids did that,” Krause said. “It shows me they believe in what we are trying to bring to the table here.

“They want to be part of something special,” he continued. “That is the atmosphere that has started to grow here.”

The Middies finished last season — Krause’s first at MHS — at 6-4 overall and 5-2 in the Greater Miami Conference, which earned them a tie for second place in the league.

And though Middletown graduated quite a few seniors — four offensive line starters included — there is still plenty of talent in the well.

“Obviously, we have a lot of skilled, talented players,” Krause said. “But it’s going to come down to old fashioned football. You have to play defense and run the football effectively to be successful in this league.”

Running the ball shouldn’t be a problem for the Middies, who return Antonio Banks for his senior campaign.

Banks, a 5-foot-10, 210-pound running back, has rushed for 1,825 yards and 24 touchdowns since his freshman season, including a career-best 944 yards and 12 touchdowns last season.

But the Middies also have the GMC’s top quarterback from the last two years. Caleb Watkins has thrown for 4,134 yards and 48 touchdowns in two seasons.

Watkins will have several weapons to throw to this year, including Nick McKnight and Zach Edwards, who combined for 49 receptions, 826 yards and eight touchdowns last year.

Krause also said the defense is noticeably improved.

“Our overall team speed is better,” he said. “That will be the most noticeable difference people will see in us, but they’ll also see our physicalness.”

So are the Middies ready to take the next step? Last season they stunned conference kingpin Colerain in Week 7 to put themselves in position to win the GMC and make the playoffs, but proceded to lose back-to-back games to Lakota West and Hamilton.

“We feel we can compete every Friday night,” Krause said. “Each week is a one-week season for us. We are trying to impress that idea on the kids, and if we can maintain that focus, we’ll be successful.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2852 or sweaver@coxohio.com.