Middies dominate Moeller

Watkins gets the scoring started with a 73-yard TD run, and the Crusaders never caught up.

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By Skip Weaver, Staff Writer Updated 1:51 AM Sunday, November 8, 2009

LOCKLAND — Dominance is the only word that describes the Middletown High School football time’s win over Moeller on Saturday night, Nov. 7.

The Middies used their speed to their advantage and never let Moeller’s size intimidate them in beating the second-seeded Crusaders 45-10 in the Division I, Region 4 quarterfinals at Lockland’s Roettger Stadium.

Middletown (10-1) jumped ahead on the second play of its first possession when quarterback Caleb Watkins ran 73 yards for a touchdown. He finished with a game-high 182 yards rushing and two touchdowns.

Moeller (9-2) scored on a 21-yard field goal by Corey Smith a couple of possessions later, but that was all the Middies defense would give up until the game was well in hand late in the fourth quarter.

Middletown scored 39 unanswered points after that field goal to roll to its first playoff win since 1990, which coincidentally was a 21-17 win over Moeller.

“We thought coming in to the game our speed versus their size was the matchup, and it was,” MHS coach Jason Krause said. “We told our kids that if we don’t take care of things, we’ll have to turn our stuff in, but they aren’t ready to turn their stuff in.”

The Crusaders were a dominant rushing team throughout the season, totaling more than 2,500 yards in the regular season. The Middie defense held them to 64 on Saturday.

“That’s unbelievable,” senior linebacker Aaron Lewis said of Moeller’s rushing total. “Our defense played their hearts out. This was a tremendous win. We couldn’t ask for better, but we’re going to demand better from ourselves.”

Lewis had a 48-yard interception return in the fourth quarter that set up the Middies sixth touchdown of the game. Jerry Gates took the hand off on a fake field-goal attempt and ran in 25 yards for the score.

On the ensuing kickoff, the Moeller return man was tackled and fumbled the ball. J.J. Greenwood scooped it up and darted 7 yards for the Middies final points of the game.

The Crusaders put a touchdown on the board with 1:12 left in the game when Tyler Hutchinson recovered a fumbled punt snap in the end zone.

“Everything started upfront,” Krause said. “Our O-line was so outmanned against their size, but we executed.

“We got big plays,” he continued. “Caleb played smart and made good decisions. Antonio (Banks) ran hard and Nick (McKnight) made some tough catches. This was a big win against a storied program. We’re happy, but not satisfied. We’re ecstatic to play in Week 12.”

Banks also had two rushing touchdowns, and McKnight had 101 yards receiving and a touchdown for the Middies.

Moeller coach John Rodenburg was unavailable for comment after the game.

Middletown will play Anderson — a 24-21 winner over Lakota West — next Saturday in the regional semifinals at a location to be determined today.

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

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