Middletown High School senior Bradley Rinehart is a premier a player at MHS and in Frederick County, but he takes no credit himself. He thinks all of his success derives from the great team he is on.
Rinehart not only stands out on the offensive end, he leads the team in rushing with 538 yards and touchdowns with 15. He has been a real stalwart on defense, racking up 21 tackles and five interceptions.
“I’m not really talking about my individual success,” says Rinehart. “Without my line I wouldn’t have gotten the touchdowns I have. Without coach Ridenour running the defense and the rest of the coaching staff stressing to focus on our jobs, I wouldn’t have had the defensive success I have had.”
It must not only be Rinehart doing his job on the defensive end, the Knights are giving up only 4.9 points per game this year and have shutout their opponent in four of their seven games.
MHS senior linebacker Frankie Meighan is leading the team in tackles with 29.5; fellow senior and Florida State commit Ricky Leonard leads the team with 3 sacks.
With the big win last week against previously undefeated Urbana, and undefeated Linganore looming on the horizon, many feel this could be a trap game Friday night against Governor Thomas Johnson (4-3).
“We are extremely proud of the win last week, but that’s the past,” Rinehart says. “We move onto the next game, and the next game is TJ.”
“We take each game one step, so right now we’re not even focused on Linganore,” says Rinehart.
The Knights are too mature to take the bait. The two-time defending state champions are riding a 29 game win streak, they couldn’t risk that.
Linganore next week is not the Knights only distraction; their coach, Kevin Lynott is in the running for USA Today National Coach of the Year.
“Playing for a coach like Coach Lynott is so rewarding,” Rinehart says. “He is a friend first and a coach second.”
Lynott boasts a 55-12 record since his arrival at Middletown and has only lost to TJ once.
“Coach Lynott is one of the most unselfish individuals I’ve met,” says Rinehart. “If anyone deserves to win that award it is Coach Kevin Lynott.”
The Patriots have lost three of their last four, and are hoping to halt the Knights winning streak at 29.
“TJ has speed,” says Rinehart. “We are going to come out ready to play physical, hard nose and blue collar. Middletown football.”
