Middletown football pairs film study with physicality for dominant win over Bristol Eastern
· Yahoo Sports
MIDDLETOWN - One look at Middletown High School's offensive and defensive lines makes it clear that the Blue Dragons know their way around the weight room. But there's also a cerebral aspect to their bruising style of play.
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Before Thursday's 36-0 win over visiting Bristol Eastern, two-way senior starting lineman Juel Ocasio was one of the players breaking down game film to get every possible edge.
That extra studying certainly paid off. Ocasio had three of Middletown's 10 tackles for loss and was one of the offensive linemen who helped the Blue Dragons rush for more than 250 yards.
"It was just a lot of film watching," said Ocasio, who led Middletown with six tackles. "I was watching film all day. I knew what they were going to do, who they were going to block and who they weren't. I like the physicality because we never give up."
It took just six plays for Middletown to take the lead. Junior running back Nick Cyril scored on a 14-yard run. He added a 51-yard run to extend Middletown's lead to 14 before the end of the first quarter.
Cyril added a 61-yard touchdown scamper in the second half. He finished with 148 rushing yards and three tackles on defense.
"We work in practice and we try to make a statement every play, that is what we work for," Cyril said. "It is just how hard we work and we are trying to make a statement for the season."
Middletown's Matteo Fletcher connected with Juan Albrincoles on a touchdown pass early in the second quarter to give the Blue Dragons a 20-0 lead.
Fletcher, who ran for 58 yards and threw for 108 more, added a 30-yard TD run one play after a jarring hit by Albrincoles forced Middletown's second takeaway.
Cyril's 61-yard run capped the scoring.
Bristol Eastern tried to match Middletown's physicality, but an early interception, a blocked punt and a lost fumble made the job all the more difficult.
"We are not small either so we thought it was a good matchup, a good measuring stick for us," Bristol Eastern coach Anthony Julius said. "Obviously, that is Middletown's game. They are a very physical football team, they showcased it tonight. We did a good job of bottling up their offense, hitting them in the backfield and doing some really good things. I know the scoreboard doesn't show that, but I am happy with our effort."
Mario Walker led Bristol Eastern with 56 rushing yards, and he added three receptions and six tackles. Anthony Alvarez led the Lancers with seven tackles.
However, it was Middletown's defense that stole the show.
Mar'ion Wynn intercepted a pass on Bristol Eastern's first offensive play. Victor Bonet added five tackles.
"We leaned into (our players) being physical and not only being big, but also being able to move the way they do and keep that tenacity all game," Middletown coach Dario Highsmith said. "I am definitely proud of how they showed up today."
Player of the game
Juel Ocasio, Middletown: The senior OL/DE had six tackles, three tackles for loss and helped Middletown rush for more than 250 yards.
Quotable
"All the kids have hours of film watching via HUDL and that helps. They bought into a lot of things that we taught them this year. Honestly, just take the team on their own, take ownership. I tell them, it is their team as much as it is mine, if not more." - Middletown coach Dario Highsmith.
Middletown 36, Bristol Eastern 0
BRISTOL EASTERN 0 0 0 0- 0
MIDDLETOWN 14 6 0 16-36
M-Nick Cyril 14 run (run failed)
M-Cyril 51 run (Victor Bonet run)
M-Juan Albrincoles 13 pass from Matteo Fletcher (run failed)
M-Fletcher 30 run (Cyril run)
M-Cyril 61 run (Cyril run)
Team records: M 4-0; BE 0-4.
This article originally published at Middletown football pairs film study with physicality for dominant win over Bristol Eastern.