Special Thanks to Scott Willen for his pre-game analysis, post-game analysis, and Brian Cunningham for his post game video interviews.
Kings High School senior Zach Hilderbrand has caught 29 passes for 439 yards this season, including five for 100 yards in last week’s 24-0 win over Turpin. See Scott Haye’s article in the Pulse-Journal.
In a rematch of the 2010 Region 8 Championship game, Kings takes on the Trotwood-Madison Rams this Friday night at Dayton’s Welcome Stadium, game time 7:30 pm. The battle of unbeatens features the Division II #1 ranked Rams versus #2 Kings for the right to represent Region 8 in the state tournament.
Pre-Game
Head Coach: Maurice Douglas (75-42, eleventh season @ Trotwood)
2010 Record: 12-3, 4-0, GWOC-North Champion, Division II State Runner-up
2011 Record: 12-0, 4-0, GWOC-North Champion
Trotwood enters the Championship game highly touted and for good reason. The Rams ran the table in 2011, defeating their opponents by an average score of 42-15. According to Coach Douglas the winning game plan is a simple one - “We want to play each and every play the way we’ve played all year. Play fast, play hard and play physical.” It has served them well. The Rams also expect to strike early and often. Over the last four weeks Trotwood has outscored their opponents 82-3 in the first quarter, including a four-touchdown scoring blitz in the first five minutes against Ross. The Rams have delivered under pressure too. Their closest margin of victory came against Piqua, a 26-23 victory, in a game in which Trotwood scored the winning touchdown with just 14 seconds left.
Offense: The Rams opened the season with a few questions on offense due to the graduation of several key skill-position players. Those questions were quickly answered in the form of transfer QB Michael Simpson (3,216 yards and 26 TD’s while attending Chaminade-Julienne) and the emergence of RB Israel Green. In 2011 Simpson has thrown for over 2,000 yards with 25 TD’s and only 6 INT’s. He gets great protection up front with an experienced line led by Jordan Ashe and LJ Mosley that has surrendered just 17 sacks all year. RB Green has rushed for over 1,300 yards with 17 TD’s while averaging nearly 10 yards/carry. His backfield mate, RB Ashton Jackson has racked up over 800 yards with 14 TD’s. When Simpson drops back his favorite targets have been Trai Mobley (45 receptions, 7 TD’s) and Dalin Byrd. When the Rams need a big play though, watch for his big TE, Michael McCray, to get the ball (24 receptions, 9 TD’s). As a team, the Rams average an impressive 450 yards per game in total offense, with a Run/Pass balance of 56/44, the most balanced offense the Knights have faced so far.
Special Teams: Kicker Eric Copsy is 45/59 on X/P’s and 0/1 on FG attempts this year. Trotwood has used a few different punters this year but as a team averages around 31 yards per attempt.
Defense: The Rams bring the GWOC’s number 1-rated defense to the game, surrendering 255 yards per contest. The defense is led by Bam Bradley, a Second-Team All-Ohio selection last season. Bradley leads the team in tackles and has 3 INT’s this year. He’s joined in the secondary by Cameron Burrows and Reon Dawson, each with three interceptions as well. Treyvon Williams-Brown leads the Rams in sacks from his DL position. Trotwood has size, strength, and speed on this side of the ball and uses it effectively, forcing 25 turnovers in 2011. In their 1st round play-off game against Ross the Rams blocked two punts, returning one for a score. Michael McCray recorded two interceptions last week (a third was nullified by penalty) versus Wapakoneta, returning one 75-yards for a touchdown.
Team Comparisons:
The Knights will play Region 8 rival, Trotwood Madison in a rematch of last years Regional Championship Game on Friday November 18th at 7:30 at Welcome Stadium, University of Dayton. Click Welcome Stadium Directions for Google Maps link supplied by the OHSAA.
Pre-sale tickets for the event will go on sale on Wednesday this week. Tickets will be on sale Wednesday and Thursday at the High School Athletic Office from 7am – 5:00 pm each day. Tickets will be on sale on Friday from 7am – 3:30pm. Pre-Sale tickets are $7.00. A portion of the pre-sale money goes directly back to Kings to support the athletic program, so please buy your ticket early! No passes will be accepted. This includes employee badges, Kings Season Passes, FAVC Passes or others.
Playoff T-shirts are also available here at the High School via the spirit shop. Costs of the t-shirts are $10.00.
We look forward to your continued support for the Knights in the Regional Championship on Friday night!
Knight Nation, Thank you for your letters last week. The players and coaches appreciate the community’s overwhelming support this year! Enjoy this video put together by an old friend that shows how you plastered the locker room and hall ways before last Friday’s game.
You can still send words of encouragement to the team via KelceyCook@gmail.com for this weeks game.
Game Summary: Recap
Coach Olds Corner: Timing is Everything
WKNG Radio: Archive
External News Coverage: Pulse-Journal | Pulse-Journal Photo Gallery | Cincinnati Enquirer | Tri State Football
External TV Coverage: Blitz 5 | Fox 19 | Local 12
Photo Gallery: Mindseye Facebook Album | Full Album
Vote Jamire Westbrook: WLWT Fastest Play of the Game
Kings High School senior Andrew Dalton doesn’t get much glory on Friday nights, but his role on scout team defense has earned the respect of his coaches and teammates. Check Out Andrew’s Pulse Journal Article by Scott Hayes.
Knights fans, if you can get to Andrew’s Photo please post on our Facebook page! Thanks!
Game Summary: Recap
Coach Olds Corner: Just Win Baby, Just Win
WKNG Radio: Archive
External News Coverage: Pulse-Journal | Pulse-Journal Photo Gallery | Cincinnati Enquirer | Tri-State Football
External TV Coverage: Blitz 5 | Fox 19 | Local 12
Photo Gallery: Mindseye Facebook Album | Full Album
The ‘second season’ begins this Friday at Kings. The Knights will be hosting the FAVC-Buckeye Champion Harrison Wildcats for an OHSAA quarterfinal play-off game. Pre-sale tickets are $7.00. A portion of the pre-sale money goes directly back to the Kings athletic program, so please buy your ticket early! All tickets are $9.00 at the gate.
Pre-Game
Harrison Wildcats
Division II, Region 8
Head Coach: Kent McCullough (7-3, first season)
2010 Record: 5-6, 1-4, FAVC-Buckeye
2011 Record: 7-3, 5-0, FAVC-Buckeye (Champion)
The 2011 season has been one of two tales for the Wildcats. After starting 0-3, Harrison reeled off seven consecutive wins to earn the #7 seed in Region 8. They defeated Anderson, 24-19, in Week 10 to secure the spot and clinch the FAVC-Buckeye crown. This is the second meeting between Harrison and Kings this season as the Knights defeated the Wildcats in Week 3, 30-14. It’s no coincidence that during their winning streak Harrison developed a running game to compliment their league leading passing attack. Senior RB Jake Tarvin, who ran for a total of 37 yards in the first five games, ended the season with 732 yards and four straight games of 125 or more yards on the ground. This is not the same team the Knights played in September.
Offense: The Wildcat offense is lead by talented athlete and First Team All-Ohio WR/K Kyle Nowlin (5’11”, 203, verbal commit to EKU for baseball), QB Marcus Woelfel (6’1”, 159), RB Jake Tarvin (6’0”, 205), and RB Ryan Long (5’5”, 155). Woelfel, the FAVC’s passing leader, threw for 1,453 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2011. For the season, Nowlin caught 54 passes for 910 yards and ten touchdowns. He does it all for Harrison, scoring 73 points kicking and 133 total points while racking up over 1,100 all-purpose yards. Woelfel’s other target is AJ Glines with 34 receptions for 413 yards and four touchdowns. The RB tandem of Tarvin and Long accounted for over 1,000 yards rushing and ten touchdowns during the regular season. Tarvin averaged over 139 yards per game during the second half of the season. Harrison’s Run/Pass ratio for the 2011 campaign was 68/32.
Special Teams: Nowlin handles all the kicking duties for the Wildcats. He was 12/15 on FG attempts with a long of 47 yards, 37/38 on PAT’s. He also averages slightly over 38 yards per punt.
Defense: On defense, the line is anchored by veterans Jon Schneider (6’4”, 230, Jr.) and Austin Meyer (5’11, 230, Sr.), both capable of making big plays. Perhaps the biggest impact is made by linebacker and defensive leader Tarvin whose performance garnered him Second Team All-District honors as a junior. Defensive back Rob Salatin had another solid season in the secondary. Salatin picked off three passes in 2011 to add to his three interceptions and two fumble recoveries in 2010. Harrison has forced an average of 2.3 turnovers per game (13 FR, 10 INT) while allowing the third fewest points in the conference.
FAVC-Cardinal championship at stake. An undefeated season on the line. Play-off implications. Senior Night. The Red Sea. It’s Turpin Week, and it culminates Friday night at Kings.
Pre-Game
Turpin Spartans
Division II, Region 8
Head Coach: Rob Stoll (80-30, tenth season @ Turpin)
2010 Record: 9-2, 3-1, FAVC-Cardinal
2011 Record: 7-2
This is the last regular season home game for the twenty young men who make up the Class of 2012. It is also a chance to go out as the last FAVC Champion and finish with an undefeated season. The Knights have their work before for them as Turpin comes into the game riding a five game winning streak, having won by an average score of 35-9 during that span.
Offense: Turpin’s offensive engine is powered by junior QB Connor Jansen who accounts for 58% of the team’s offensive production. Jansen has the highest QB Rating in the conference (over 30 attempts) and has thrown for over 1,000 yards. He is also the Spartans 2nd leading rusher, amassing over 500 yards on the ground. The Knights defense will need to contain Jansen so he’s not free to create offense in the open field. Ryan Milliken and Connor Donovan carry the ball out of the backfield. The tandem has rushed for over 1,00 yards this season. When Jansen takes to the air his favorite target has been Millikin out of the backfield though he has spread the ball around as five different receivers have TD receptions to their credit. The Spartans Run/Pass ratio is around 73/27.
Special Teams: Senior Shane Kelly handles the kicking duties for Turpin. Through eight games he was 32/33 on PAT’s and 2/5 on FG’s. He averages about 35 yards per punt and has placed 40% of his punts inside the 20 yard line.
Defense: The Spartan defense rates in the middle of FAVC ratings, giving up 272 yards per game, 172 on the ground, 100 through the air. Turpin boasts an opportunistic defense that forced 27 turnovers in 2010. A quartet of players who intercepted a pair of passes last year are back in the secondary. Six different players have an interception this season with senior Joel Neuhurt leading the team with three picks. Up front, Ben Versoza and Austin Shaffer are relied upon to get into backfields and make tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Throw in Matt Stocker and Thomas Stocker and you have the speed to cause quarterbacks fits.
Game Summary: Recap
Coach Olds Corner: Knights Take Care of Business in Week 9
WKNG Radio: Archive
External Coverage: Pulse-Journal
Photo Gallery: Mindseye Facebook Album | Full Album
Week 9 finds the Knights traveling to Wilmington. Game time 7:30 at Williams Staduim’s Townsend Field (synthetic turf), located on the campus of Wilmington College.
Pre-Game
Wilmington Hurricane
ivision II, Region 8
Head Coach: Robin Vida (44-36, eighth season @ Wilmington)
2010 Record: 7-3, 2-2, FAVC-Cardinal
2011 Record: 6-2
Kings will be traveling into an emotionally charged environment as Wilmington is in a must-win situation to keep any play-off hope alive. This will also be the last home game for the Hurricane Class of 2012.
Offense: Wilmington is a run oriented team, following a large and aggressive offensive line 75% of the time. The Hurricane average 270 yards and 28 points per game. The team is led by QB Cody McCune, who has thrown for over 500 yards and completed 56 % of his pass attempts. His favorite target has been J.T. Lykins with 16 receptions for 153 yards through the first seven games. When rushing, the Hurricane turn primarily to Damain Tomlinson (437 yards, 5 TD’s through seven games). Expect fellow RB’s David Henry (7 TD’s and leading scorer) and Kyle Davis (4 TD’s) to also pick-up carries for Wilmington. For students of the game, look too for the Hurricane to line-up in the Maryland-I, or Stack-I, formation occasionally. The Stack incorporates two FB’s in front of a TB and normally operates with two TE’s and is effective in short-yardage situations.
Special Teams: Kicker Jake Weber has been on target all year, making 5/5 FG’s and 23/25 PAT’s through seven games. Weber has also been clutch for Wilmington, knocking down a 37-yard field goal in overtime to give the Canes a 27-24 victory over Portsmouth in the opener. He followed that up with a 40-yard field goal to extend a Wilmington lead against Miami Trace late in the game. He averages about 34 yards per punt as well.
Defense: Wilmington boasts the FAVC’s 4th rated defense, allowing just 210 yards and 16 points per game. Junior Colt Briggs, 6’1”, 224 lb DL, leads the team in sacks. David Henry and Damain Tomlinson have three each. The Secondary is led by Austen Kessler and Nick Eden, each with four interceptions. As a whole, the defensive unit created 22 turnovers through the first seven games.
