MIDDLETOWN >> All will return to normal for the Middletown Mustangs in the 2015 season. Tailbacks will line up as tailbacks, wingbacks will be wingbacks. And linemen will have limited contact with the football. Umm, well, mostly.
Wyatt Jones, one of the top linemen for the Mustangs last season, will play some fullback, backing up Ty Chorjel. That’s the exception to the rule.
“Wyatt’s been taking reps there,” said Mustang coach Bill Foltmer. “He’s big and strong and he can block, so I could play him at fullback in case something happens.”
Otherwise, look for senior Coleman Drew to lead the Middletown running attack, which Foltmer anticipates will constitute 65 percent of the Mustang offense. He had a fantastic year as a sophomore on the junior varsity squad and was the star of the team before missing his junior year with an injury.
“But he hasn’t grown much. I’d guess he goes 5-foot-6 or 5-foot-7. He’s 150, 160 pounds. So right now he‘s a little bit of the unknown. But he’s a quick kid and he’s tough,” Foltmer said.
“Coleman was a JV sensation,” Foltmer. “He’s not a power back by any means, but he’s so quick he’ll be a threat to break it.”
The passing segment of the Middletown offense will be in the capable hands of quarterback Connor Armstrong, who comes into the season with high marks from Foltmer, and they are not question marks.
“I like my quarterback,” said Foltmer, who is heading into his 31st season. “He’s one of the best at a small school. He had a good year last year. He’s athletic and has a good passing arm. We run the ball and we pass a little off the run. He’s athletic, he’s smart and he knows what all the other kids need to be doing.”
Armstrong led the county in passing with 1,137 yards, including seven touchdowns and only six interceptions. His 54-percent completion avearge also led the county.
Middletown’s weakness will be depth in its skill positions, both in bodies and knowledge. Its strength is its offensive line, where it is two-deep at every position.
“I’d say their size is OK,” Foltmer said. “They’re not super quick, but not super slow,” said Foltmer. “I’d say average to good size with average quickness.
“We should be fine, but our numbers are way down this year. If someone gets hurt, well, I have my offensive line back, but, yes, I would say we’d be in a little trouble.”
Foltmer is anxious to find out what he has at the skill positions.
What he’s found out so far is that he has a “workhorse” tight end and noseguard in Stephen Amos, the younger and much bigger brother of Middletown’s quarterback of two years ago, Josiah Amos.
“He has been fantastic,” said Foltmer. “He worked real hard in the offseason. He is a leader this year, up in front of everybody in wind sprints.”
Henry Webb also has impressed Foltmer with his work ethic.
“He’s worked real hard in the offseason,” said Foltmer. “I think he’s developing. There’ll be a spot for him also. He’s one of those guys that you hope for success for. You hope they have a good year because they’ve worked so hard.”
Foltmer looks back on an 8-4 2014 season in which key fumbles against St. Helena proved the Mustangs’ undoing. Middletown finished 5-2 in league play, one game behind St. Helena and fellow co-champion Fort Bragg, both at 6-1.
“Fort Bragg is going to be the team to be this year … without a doubt,” he added.
