“I just do my job,” said MHS Senior Bradley Rinehart.
But sometimes a player does more than his job, goes above and beyond.
That is exactly what Rinehart did Friday night against the Knights bitter rival, the Lions. Rinehart had three interceptions, one of which he took back for a touchdown, and three touchdown rushes.
Middletown took down Walkersville 42-0 to continue its dominance in the series, in which Walkersville has not won a game since 2004.
Coming into the season Walkersville had only lost four games over the last two years, all of which came against Middletown.
Driven by the emotion of the game, and the energy in the air the Knights got off to a hot start stopping Walkersville on its first two drives and then scoring on three of its first four.
Rinehart ran for a three yard touchdown on the first drive, which was just the beginning of what was to come.
“This may be the last time we play them,” said MHS senior Mitch Sgrignoli. “So we really wanted to go out there and put it to ‘em.”
MHS Junior Patrick Moore ran for a touchdown two possessions later.
Rinehart then took his first interception of the game back to the Lions 9 yard line, and finished off the drive with his second touchdown run of the game.
In the second quarter, Rinehart took his second interception back for a touchdown, and then dove near the sideline for his third.
“I just read the quarterback,” said Rinehart. “I was just in the right place at the right time.”
MHS junior Nick Welch had a 65 yard kickoff return to give the Knights great field position and set up Rinehart for his third rush touchdown of the game, and the Knights fourth touchdown.
MHS senior quarterback Tim Pirrone threw three huge completions on third and long, one to Sgrignoli, and another on third and 22 to none other than Rinehart, which put Pirrone in a position to run three yards for a first down on fourth down.
If there could be one knock against the Knights it would be the penalties.
Rinehart had an 85 yard touchdown run that was brought back due to an illegal block in the back, and the Knights got lucky that Pirrone was able to bail them out so many times on third and long.
“All the physical effort was there,” said Sgrignoli. “We just needed to clean up the mental side.”
The Knights are on the road next week to take on Tuscarora. Tuscarora trounced Frederick 37-6 Friday night.
“We enjoyed tonight,” said Sgrignoli. “But it’s back to business tomorrow.”
