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Middleton Runs Away From Blake To Win At RJS

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By SCOTT PURKS

Tribune correspondent

Published: October 4, 2008

Updated: 10/04/2008 12:37 am

TAMPA - The bright lights of Raymond James Stadium shined on the Middleton-Blake football game Friday night, where maybe 2,000 watched the historical matchup.

What the fans saw - besides rousing performances by the schools' bands - was a dominant performance by Middleton's football team, which ran away in the fourth quarter for a 38-8 victory.

Things weren't quite so lopsided at halftime, however, and Middleton coach Harry Hubbard was a bit concerned as his team held a 12-8 lead.

"I told the guys if you let a team hang around long enough some bad things can happen," Hubbard said. "Thankfully, things got a little better there in the second half."

Behind the running of sophomore back Maurice Campbell (18 carries, 94 yards, two touchdowns) and junior back Rodney Johnson (12 carries, 71 yards, one touchdown), Middleton stayed steady enough on offense to keep Hubbard confident. It was the defense, however, that ultimately made him breathe easier.

In the fourth quarter, Middleton's defense collected two fumbles and intercepted two passes. One interception was returned 29 yards by Ernest Mingo for a touchdown. A few minutes after that, a fumble was returned 26 yards for a touchdown by Campbell, and another was recovered at Blake's 1-yard line, before getting punched in by Johnson.

Ultimately, Hubbard said, it was a victory the Tigers (2-3) desperately needed, particularly after losing the three previous games, including a 20-17 heartbreaker last week to Hillsborough.

"The losing was really starting to bother me," Hubbard said. "Losing is not my forte."

The only good thing to come out of last week's loss, he said, was that, "it made us better for tonight."

Particularly in the running game, which Hubbard said his coaches emphasized because of his young quarterback and receivers.

"We have a good offensive line and some guys who can run the ball," Hubbard said. "It just made sense to use that to our advantage."

Blake (0-5) struggled in nearly every department, except for a 71-yard drive just before the half.

The brightest light for Blake was defensive end Montrey Pride, who had four tackles for a loss, punted five times for a 38-yard average, booted two kickoffs to the goal line and received a trophy as Blake's Most Valuable Player.

"I had a great time," Pride said. "It's been frustrating losing the way we have, but I've kept my spirits up. When I step on the field I'm just going to give it everything I have. That's just the way I look at it. I'm going to go and tell the rest of the guys to keep their heads up."

As for the Blake-Middleton Classic - which used to draw more than 10,000 fans before the schools were closed to integration in 1971 - this possibly could be the last played at Raymond James Stadium for a while, the result of low turnout the past couple of years (after the schools were reopened and renewed the rivalry in 2002).

M-Anderson recovered blocked punt in end zone (kick failed)

B-McFarland 1 run (McFarland run)

M-Windham 1 run (kick failed)

M-Mingo 29 interception return (Wehr kick)

M-Johnson 1 run (kick failed)

M-Campbell 26 fumble return (Wehr kick)

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