The Middletown High School football team has won back-to-back 2A state championships, and is on the verge of completing its sixth undefeated season in team history. The unsung heroes through it all. The focal point for the Knights, the offensive line, and the work done in the trenches.
“The offensive line is where it all starts,” said MHS Head Coach Kevin Lynott. “A good offensive line is something you got to have in order to succeed as a football team.”
On Nov. 8 the Knights will take on Oakdale for senior night. This will be the last regular season game at MHS for the 26 seniors.
MHS senior running back Brad Rinehart leads the Knights in carries, 119, and yards with 774; he also leads the team with 22 touchdowns.
“The offensive line plays a major part in my success,” said Rinehart. “I give them full credit for whatever happens offensively on the football field.”
Rinehart and the offensive line played tough and well last week; the Knights took down previously undefeated Linganore to improve to 9-0 on the season, and won their 31st straight.
“These guys are measuring what they are going to do on every single play,” said Lynott. “That’s whats cool about these guys, they take each individual battle personal. No matter what the scoreboard says.”
Rinehart racked up 134 rush yards on 17 rushes, and ran for five of Middletown’s six touchdowns.
MHS senior quarterback Tim Pirrone got off to a slow start; throwing an interception on the Knights second possession, but went on to complete his next seven passes for 95 yards.
The defense really stepped up though. After giving up a long touchdown run on the Lancers first possession; the defense never looked back. The Lancers didn’t score for the rest of the game in their 42-7 loss.
MHS senior defensive end, Rick Leonard,blew by the Linganore standout EJ Donahue, and disrupted the Linganore passing attack.
MHS senior Logan Casey led the way with seven tackles, and fellow senior Frankie Meighan leads the team with 40 tackles this season.
This week the Knights face an inferior team to last week- the Oakdale Bears.
The Knights have all but secured the number one seed in the 2A West region. They come into this game looking solely to become only the sixth undefeated team in MHS history, and get the victory on senior night.
In the past the Knights have always had a little extra in them on senior night, and last year they beat Tuscarora 44-7.
“It would mean a lot to us seniors to get a victory tonight,” said Rinehart. “It’s a special night, but we are going to go out there and treat just like any other game.”
Oakdale will have plenty of motivation themselves, and with a win they will secure the fourth and final playoff spot in the 2A west region. The only other possible scenario the Bears could enter the playoffs for the first time in school history would be if Poolesville (6-3) loses on the road to Rockville (5-4).
Oakdale lost by only two points to Urbana; whom many consider to be the second best team in Frederick County. The Bears come into the game boasting a 6-3 record and sitting in fourth place in the MVAL Piedmont standings.
“Getting a win on senior night is part of the team’s culture,” said Lynott. “It’s part of what we want to do.”
