What happened at Middletown in 2025 was like watching an awe inspiring Disney underdog movie play itself out in real time. As recently as two seasons ago the Middies were the team that the other GMC squads loved to pad their stats against. Those days are now over as Middletown rose from the ashes, had its first winning campaign since 2011 and captured the first regional title in school history this past fall. Those feats saw the Middies be named the 2025 TriState Football Dayton Team of the Year as TSF paid tribute to the area’s finest from Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, Dayton and Southeast Indiana at the TriState Football Year in Review Show on Monday night, in front of a packed house at the Holy Grail in downtown Cincinnati.
Defense wins championships and that certainly rang true for Middletown (11-3). It was their identity as they allowed just 9.0 points per game and held 12 of 14 opponents to 14 points or less including four shutouts. The Middies recorded 134.5 tackles for losses and had five players with 10.0 or more TFLs. They also registered 43.5 sacks. Derrick Singletary led the team in both categories with 19.0 sacks and 30.0 TFLs. Five players had at least two interceptions including a team best five by Virgil Coleman. C.J. Bryant led the GMC with 144 tackles (86 solo).
This was also a disciplined, detailed-oriented, well-prepared Middletown team. The Middies went 4-1 in games decided by eight points or less. One area where those intangibles were very prevalent was yardage on returns. Hidden yardage played a huge role in Middletown’s success as they amassed 1,104 return yards (501 KRs, 382 PRs, 321 IRs) amounting to 78.8 return yards per game. That also led to a pair of punt and kickoff returns for touchdowns by Jordan Vann and three pick sixes by the defense.
In the eight years before head coach Kali Jones arrived (2016-’23) Middletown went a combined 12-66 (.153 winning%) including a dismal 7-53 mark in GMC games (.117 winning%). Jones is now 16-9 overall and 11-7 in GMC play in two years at the helm for the surging Middies.
HONORS (OPSMA All-Ohio, OPSMA All-Southwest District and All-TSF)
Derrick Singletary, Sr, DL – OPSMA Division I First Team All-Ohio, First Team All-TSFand TSF Dayton Defensive Player of the Year.
C.J. Bryant, Sr, LB – OPSMA Division I Honorable Mention All-Ohio, Third Team All-TSF and TSF Dayton Defensive Player of the Year Finalist.
Jordan Vann, Sr, ATH – OPSMA Division I First Team All-Ohio (DB) and First Team All-TSF (RS)
Virgil Coleman, Sr, DB – OPSMA Division I Second Team All-Southwest District
Ace Cooper, Sr, WR – OPSMA Division I Honorable Mention All-Southwest District
Laaren Cornwall, Sr, DB – OPSMA Division I Honorable Mention All-Southwest District
Zymir Reed, Sr, WR – OPSMA Division I Honorable Mention All-Southwest District
COLLEGE COMMITMENTS
Derrick Singletary, DL – Rice; Jordan Vann, DB – Louisville; Laaren Cornwall, DB – Central Michigan; Ace Cooper, WR – Ball State; Zymir Reed, WR – Kent State; C.J. Bryant, LB – Charleston (W.V.); Wyman Carr, LB – Charleston (W.V.); Cordae Davis, DL – Wheeling (W.V.); Joseph Ward, ATH – Fairmont State; Juvonte Pendleton, OL – West Liberty
This is the 17th year of this award and the first time that Middletown has been named the TriState Football Dayton Team of the Year.
TSF Dayton Teams of the Year
2025 – Middletown
2024 – Centerville
2023 – Valley View
2022 – Springfield
2021 – Springfield
2020 – Springfield
2019 – Springfield
2018 – Alter
2017 – Trotwood-Madison
2016 – Wayne
2015 – Wayne
2014 – Wayne
2013 – Clinton-Massie
2012 – Clinton-Massie
2011 – Trotwood-Madison
2010 – Wayne
2009 – Alter
