PREP FOOTBALL Leigh, Hall lead Rams to 2-0 start

Mineral Ridge will be on the road Friday at United.
By JOHN BASSETTI
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
MINERAL RIDGE -- When Shawn Brown was an assistant at Southington High, his football team faced Mineral Ridge in 1998 when the Rams had running back Joel Cardona.
The Rams went to the playoffs that year.
Since then, Brown joined Mineral Ridge's staff and last year became its head coach.
Levi Leigh was a junior running back for the Rams, rushing for almost 1,100 yards in 2003, as the Rams barely missed making the playoffs.
Brown has Leigh on his side again as one of the 12 seniors determined to make the playoffs.
"He's one of the better ones we've had in a while," Brown said of the 6-foot-1, 195-pound tailback who was the 110-meter hurdles state champion in Division III last spring.
"He's our hardest worker and best athlete."
Veteran backfield
Leigh lines up with junior fullback Micah Hall and junior quarterback Vance Kiersey in Mineral Ridge's multiple offense.
Leigh's role is almost the same this year, except that he and Hall are interchangeable.
In addition, he's being asked to catch more passes.
"We'll utilize both because they can flip-flop," Brown said of the runner who started as a sophomore when he rushed for 500 yards.
Good receiver
"But Levi probably has the best hands on the team, so, more than likely, he'll line up as a receiver," he added.
When Leigh missed a few weeks of practice last season, Hall started two games; then they rotated.
So far, Leigh has rushed 40 times for 192 yards and has one catch for 29 yards.
"He's determined and works hard at what he does," Brown said of the runner whose speed is about 4.8 in the 40-yard dash.
Entering Friday's game at United, Mineral Ridge has wins over Leetonia (23-7) and Columbiana (30-21).
Leigh was held to 50 yards against Columbiana, but Hall had almost 200.
"That's OK with Levi," Brown said, "because he knows he'll get his, too."
Doubles on defense
As the safety, Leigh is the team's third-best tackler and he has one interception.
Leigh, tackle Nick Menichini and guard Steve Mathews are three starters back on an offensive unit that graduated five. Mathews was the center last year.
Defensively, Mineral Ridge lost four players.
Leigh and Menichini and Mathews, both ends, are in a group of seven returning; the others are linebacker Mike Austin, tackle Mike Mousie and corners Brad Ward and Dave Gillie.
When the postseason arrived last year, Mineral Ridge was left out -- one spot behind No. 8 Lisbon.
"They asked the coaches to discipline them and make sure they're in shape," Brown said of this year's seniors.
"We have and they are a good crew."
bassetti@vindy.com