Northmont quarterback Cameron Belton is starting to heat up. He’s thrown for 1,099 yards and nine touchdowns. Just as important, the Thunderbolts defense must come up big like it did in last week’s 22-13 defeat of Beavercreek.
Here’s what else we know heading into Week 7:
Making the cut: At least seven area players have made the ESPN 300 top football recruits for the Class of 2013. Players were ranked by position and given a numerical value compared to other nationally ranked players.
Chosen, in order, were: Cam Burrows, Trotwood-Madison, No. 4 cornerback (verbally committed to Ohio State); Jalin Marshall, Middletown, No. 9 athlete (OSU); Mike McCray, Trotwood, No. 9 outside linebacker (Michigan); Evan Lisle, Centerville, No. 11 offensive tackle; Malik Zaire, Alter, No. 5 quarterback (Notre Dame); Darrien Howard, Chaminade Julienne, No. 9 inside linebacker (West Virginia); and Sean Welsh, Springboro, No. 30 offensive guard (Iowa).
Burrows was the top-ranked player from Ohio.
He's a star: Lisle will receive his official invitation to the 2013 U.S. Army All-American Bowl on Tuesday at Centerville High School. He's among 90 players throughout the country who have been chosen for the East and West teams.
The game will be played Saturday, Jan. 5 at the Alamodome at San Antonio and will be carried live on NBC.
Season on the brink: "Disappointing" probably doesn't capture the mounting frustration at Middletown. The Middies (2-4) were No. 1 in the preseason Prep Power Football Ratings. They also seemed to be locks to contend for a Greater Miami Conference title and another postseason.
Instead, “they are very content soaking in the postseason accolades and living on the accomplishments of past classes,” reflected head coach Troy Everhart this week.
The Middies have a chance to reinvent themselves today at unbeaten Colerain (6-0).
John Cummings contributed to this report.
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