MIDDLETOWN — Kali Jones sees it as an opportunity for his Middletown High School football team to measure up against one of its most competitive rivals.
The Middies host the Lakota West Firebirds on Friday night at Barnitz Stadium in a Greater Miami Conference showdown between two state-ranked programs.
“That team, Lakota West, the man that leads that team has established a good thing over there,” said Jones, the Middies’ first-year coach who has led them to their best start at 4-0 since the 2011 season.
“They’re always physical. They’re going to be mentally tough. They’ve had success in the playoffs, and so this will be a great measuring stick to see where we measure up with physicality, mental fortitude, toughness and being able to execute in those types of conditions.”
The Middies (4-0, 3-0 GMC) are ranked eighth in the first Associated Press state poll that was released earlier this week. The Firebirds (3-1, 2-1 GMC) are seventh.
Lakota West has won nine straight against Middletown, which last beat the Firebirds 47-7 back on Sept. 30, 2011 — the same season the Middies finished 10-2.
“I’m excited. The coaching staff is excited,” Jones said. “We’re excited to see where we measure up with that type of game.
“We respect our opponents each and every week. And we understand what type of opponent this is. It’s a great opportunity for us. The majority of my staff — if not all of them — have been at each stage of football, whether it’d be coaching high school, playing in the Big Ten, playing in the NFL. So, we’re just giving of ourselves the knowledge and some of the experience that we’ve had so they can be prepared and go out there and play free, have fun. I think it should be a good one Friday night.”
Middletown’s Chandler Shields and Maximillian Johnson lead the GMC with a combined 37 receptions, 607 receiving yards and six touchdowns.
Middies senior quarterback Jeremiah Landers was injured against Colerain two weeks ago and will be back under center Friday. Junior Jastin Bourne stepped in while Landers was out.
On the defensive side of the ball, Middletown is led by junior defensive lineman J.D. Singletary. The transfer from Fenwick has 22 tackles and three sacks.
Lakota West senior linebacker and Purdue commit Grant Beerman is tied for second in the conference with 37 tackles.
Offensively for the Firebirds, senior quarterback Sam Wiles has done most of the work. He’s thrown for 525 yards and five touchdowns, adding 259 yards and three scores on the ground.
“The game of football is an emotional ride. We’re not going through the same gamut of emotions as they are,” Lakota West coach Tom Bolden said. “We’re going to get their best shot, and we’re going to give them our best shot.
“I totally understand that this is a huge game for them. Hats off for them for being 4-0. I personally think it’s cool to see, and I am happy for those kids at Middletown. Because when the GMC is good, it makes you good. That’s the competitor in me. I love playing good teams.”
Middletown and Lakota West have the two best defenses in the GMC — both giving up just over 10 points a game.
And their offenses aren’t too shabby either. The Middies score 28 points a game, while the Firebirds put up 26 per outing.
“Love opportunity,” Bolden said. “Their emotions are probably on a whole different level than ours. I’ve done this for a long time to understand that this is their Super Bowl, and like I said, we’re going to get their best.”
