Middletown moves to 5-0

Middies outscore Mason 40-7 in second half and move to 2-0 in Greater Miami Conference play.

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By Skip Weaver Staff Writer 1:43 AM Saturday, September 26, 2009

MASON — Middletown got exactly what it needed on a wet night in Mason.

The Middies ran the ball successfully all night against the Comets defense and rolled to a 61-24 win on Friday, Sept. 25, at Dwire Field at Atrium Stadium.

Senior Antonio Banks was the biggest rusher, totaling 195 yards on 15 carries and three touchdowns.

“I’ve been on a slow track the last four games,” Banks said. “Tonight was a statement game, but it was more of a statement game for the offensive line. Every yard I got is credited to them.”

Banks had 127 of his yards and two scores in the first half.

Even though it never led in the first half, Mason (1-4, 0-2 Greater Miami Conference) played with purpose and took advantage of a couple Middies miscues.

Middletown (5-0, 2-0 GMC) built a 15-0 lead on touchdown runs by Banks and Caleb Watkins, as well as a safety. But with 8:53 left before halftime, Mason took the ball 30 yards on nine plays and settled for a 41-yard field goal by Andrew Grage.

A few seconds later, the Comets recovered a fumble on the Middletown 22-yard line and promptly scored on a pass from Alex Farren to Derek Henson. Suddenly, Mason was within five at 15-10.

Banks extended the Middies lead on their next possession on a 6-yard run, but after the ensuing kickoff, Henson broke free from two would-be tacklers and rambled 71 yards to the end zone.

The Comets went to the locker room with loads of confidence despite trailing by four points.

“It was a tale of two halves,” Mason coach Dave Sedmak said. “We were able to make some plays and hung in there despite being down two touchdowns. We gave ourselves some confidence in doing that, but turnovers in the second half killed us.”

Middletown’s Jerry Gates was the first to convert a Mason turnover in the second half when he intercepted a Farren pass and raced 25 yards for a touchdown a little more than three minutes into the half.

The Middies’ defense did it again on Mason’s next possession when Aaron Lewis scooped up a fumble and raced 70 yards for the score. The Middies’ defense would score one more time late in the game by recovering a fumble in the end zone.

“This was a good check for us,” Middletown coach Jason Krause said. “It showed our kids that we have to come ready to play every game. The GMC is good football.”

Besides the defensive scores in the second half, Kevin Watts caught a 47-yard touchdown pass from Watkins, Banks had his third rushing score of the night and Frank Frazier had a 16-yard scoring run with 2:26 remaining.

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