DaytonDailyNews.com

KETTERING — Alter High School football player Holley Mangold is doing an effective job covering the media blitz this season.

The New York Times put her photo on the front page last Sunday and included a story in the sports section. The NFL Network crew showed up at an Alter practice, and ESPN has a feature in the works.

What's next for the 5-foot-9, 300-pound guard?

"I'd throw all the notoriety out the door for a state championship ring," Mangold said Thursday. "That's what I really want to achieve, and we're all working hard for it. That would be the ultimate — the ring and bragging rights for a lifetime."

The unbeaten Knights play Sandusky Perkins in a Division III playoff opener at 7 p.m. today at Roush Stadium in Kettering. Mangold is slightly embarrassed by all the attention. She is the younger sister of New York Jets center Nick Mangold, who starred at Ohio State.

"The focus now should be on this team's drive in the playoffs and less the cameras on me," Holley Mangold said. "I was very pleased with how she (writer Karen Crouse) portrayed me in the New York Times. I did it to help Nick with his new team."

Coaches and teammates said all the national attention hasn't changed Holley Mangold's helmet size.

"Oh, we call her 'Superstar' instead of 'Holleywood,' " smiled lineman Andrew Crisler. "Holley is all right with it. She's even working harder since all this attention. With all the scrutiny, there's even more pressure on her."

Said offensive line coach Tim Edwards: "Holley wants to make it on her football ability alone. She's a student of the game and doesn't expect anything given to her."

Alter head coach Ed Domsitz said Holley Mangold, a junior, is on track to earn a varsity letter as a special teams player and backup offensive lineman.