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Mingo, big plays lift Tigers

By NICK WILLIAMS

nwilliams@tampatrib.com

Published: September 18, 2009

TAMPA - Since Monday, Middleton senior defensive back and running back Earnest Mingo has been battling a fever.

His 102.9 temperature kept him out of practice Monday and Tuesday. He was able to go through a team walk-through on Wednesday.

On Thursday night, Mingo played through his illness and earned game MVP honors with 88 yards rushing and two touchdowns to give his Tigers a 26-14 victory over Blake in front of nearly 1,000 fans at Raymond James Stadium.

It was Middleton's fifth consecutive win against its longtime rival in the revived series.

"I had to play," Mingo said. "I didn't play a lot my freshman year and beating our rival the last three years, and to play against my old coach, it felt good."

Mingo was one of five Middleton players dealing with illnesses this week. First-year Middleton coach Jason Stokes said Mingo refused to stay out of the game.

"He kept putting himself back in the game," he said. "He got hurt and put himself back in the game. That kid is a football player. You can put him on the offensive line and he'll still make a play."

First-year Blake coach Harry Hubbard, who was fired after seven years at Middleton earlier this year, said the loss was bitter-sweet. After the game, he hugged and chatted with several Middleton players.

"We were special," he said. "We knew we had something. I appreciate them remembering me and I'm sure they appreciate me remembering them."

While Middleton produced one big play after another, Blake's inability to move the ball without committing a penalty proved critical.

On Middleton's first possession of the game, Mingo rushed for a 32-yard score. On its next possession, junior quarterback Willie Clay capped a six-play drive with a 35-yard touchdown pass to senior Justin Sanders to give the Tigers (1-1) a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.

Middleton senior running back Vasty Paul added 82 yards rushing with one touchdown run while Clay finished the game with 85 yards passing.

"We have some weapons," Stokes said. "We came so close last week and this feels good. I want to keep this going."

Sophomore Darrean Telfair was named Blake's MVP after recording a handful of tackles and scoring on a 13-yard interception return to put Blake on the scoreboard in the second quarter.