Swank on Sports

Mt Gilead Indians High School Athletics

Check this page for

Mt Gilead Indians

Knox/Morrow Athletic Conference news

Mt Gilead High School Athletics news

can also be heard on the SwankonSports 24/7 Listen Line

Mt. Gilead Can’t Hurt Themselves

Click here to listen to an interview with coach Mike Reid

          Mt. Gilead is over at Upper Sandusky for a non-conference game on Friday night.

          They lost (42-19) to Martins Ferry on the opening Friday of the season.

          Coach Mike Reid says they gave Martins Ferry too many opportunities.  “Martins Ferry was really, really good, so I have got to tip my hat to them for sure.  We had some first game jitters and they obviously did not.  So, they're a great football team and I hope they go on to have a great season and I hope we do too. We got back to work this week.  Saturday the guys came in and we looked at film and we saw some of our mistakes we made.  Martins Ferry showed us some of the mistakes we made they exploited every single one of them,” said Reid.

          Reid says they put themselves in bad down and distance situations and they are working on that.  “We hurt ourselves a lot.  We had some very inopportune penalties.  We had a couple false starts and a holding penalty and an illegal block that set us behind the chains quite a bit.  Martins Ferry certainly didn't need that kind of help.  So, that's the thing is not hurting ourselves.  We talked about it last week where we couldn't hurt ourselves.  We have got to take care of ourselves make sure Mt. Gilead doesn't beat Mt Gilead,” he said.

          Upper beat Northmor (30-21) in their first game of the season last Friday.  Rams quarterback Keegan Dunn threw four TD passes and 249 yards on the night.

          Reid says Upper has a pretty dynamic offense they will have to stop.   “Coach (Russell) Hall at Upper Sandusky does a great job with his offense, and defense for that matter, and a lot of respect for the Rams.  They spread the field out.  They throw short passes and as soon as you start jumping those, they'll scratch you deep,” he told Swankonsports.com on Tuesday evening, “They have got a nice running game to go with it.  They're pretty well balanced.  Defensively, they always have presented some problems as well.  They match up pretty well with us, but I'm excited to go in there and see how our guys rebound and get after it.  We've had a good week of preparation so far and so hopefully that translates to a little much stronger showing Friday night.

Published 8/26/26

© Swankonsports.com

“Your First Source for All Things Sports”

“Out of Bounds” airs every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Mt. Gilead Concentrating on Themselves

Click here to listen to an interview with coach Mike Reid

          Mt. Gilead has a home date with Martin’s Ferry on Friday night here on the opening week of the season.

          Last year was a breakthrough year for the Indians as they produced a (9-2) record and a runner-up finish in the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference.

          Coach Mike Reid says Friday night their focus will be on what they do.  “We have good practice this week.  We don't know a lot about Martins Ferry.  We gathered up to film over from last year and their scrimmage tape they exchanged with us from this year, but when it comes down to it back to your original point,” he told Swankonsports.com on Thursday evening, “It's all about us.  It always has been and always will be.  So, we have got to take care of the things that we need to take care of first and foremost.  The first thing is coming together.  The boys have jailed really well together and now we're going to give it all we got (Friday) night.”

          It’s been a long and hot August of camp and Reid says his guys are ready for a game.  “They've been ready to roll.  They played a scrimmage a couple weeks ago and then we played half of a football game last week.  Just when they feel like they are getting things going together we had to stop because it's just a preview.  It's time to turn them loose and see what they do,” he said.

          When it comes to Martin’s Ferry, Reid says they are going to put a lot of athletes on the field.  “They are very good football team.  They have some nice skilled kids, they like to take deep shots, they have got some fast kids, they have got a really nice running back, and they have got a big offensive line.  So, our work is cut out for us, but hey we're up for that challenge.  We like starting out with a with a pretty good football team to see where we're at,” said Reid.

Published 8/21/26

© Swankonsports.com

“Your First Source for All Things Sports”

“Out of Bounds” airs every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Mt. Gilead With Talent to Work With

Click here to listen to an interview with coach Mike Reid

          Mt. Gilead made a big step in the right direction last year and the Indians hope to have another successful season this fall.

          The Indians were (9-2) last season.

          Coach Mike Reid says they have some players back with experience to work with this year.  “We did lose 11 seniors to graduation.  That was a great group last year, but not all of those seniors were starters.  A lot of my guys coming back that are seniors this year were starters last year and if they weren’t starters they got on the field quite bit.  Like any other coach we are trying to develop whatever depth we can at these small schools, so we don’t have a big drop off.  We have some guys coming back that are pretty solid and have been great leaders in the weight room, they have great leaders in the off season, our summer drills, seven on sevens, and such, and I like what I see out of our senior group,” said Reid.

          Reid says he liked a lot of what he saw in their first scrimmage last Saturday.  “I was kind curious to see how we would do in our first scrimmage out.  The guys came out and we made mistakes like most teams do in their first scrimmage.  Everybody makes mistakes now and again anyhow.  What I saw was a very confident team that was confident in their assignments, confident in each other, and we got after it last Saturday.  You never know talent wise as far as matchups, we don’t game plan for those things, but I saw the intangibles that I wanted to see.  One hundred percent we are getting better every day and that’s all we can ask,” he said.

          Mt, Gilead hosts Martins Ferry in their non-conference opener next Friday.  Their first Knox Morrow Athletic Conference game is September 11at home against Loudonville.

          Reid says they will use their second scrimmage this week to get ready for the opener.  “The first scrimmage we want to evaluate a lot of different guys in a lot of different spots.  We still don’t really game plan for this one.  We share with the other coach what we run and that sort of thing to get an idea, but we really don’t game plan, but we do look at probable starters a little bit longer in this one as well as try to develop some depth with the younger kids,” he told Swankonsports.com on Wednesday afternoon, “We gave a lot of personnel different looks last week in our first scrimmage and we probably won’t show as many in this one.  It will be more like a real game.  We are going to treat it like a real game.  At the end we are still all undefeated.”

Published 8/13/26

© Swankonsports.com

“Your First Source for All Things Sports”

“Out of Bounds” airs every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Point of Attack Key for Mt. Gilead

          Mt. Gilead hosts Colonel Crawford in a division VI regional quarterfinal on Friday night.

          The Indians (9-1) were one of the teams around here that earned a first round bye.

          Coach Mike Reid says it allowed them to work on some things.  “Well, I liked it in the sense that we had some guys banged up and they're telling me they feel really good physically right now, but we are creatures of habit and we do get kind of in a routine.  I think the guys really missed playing on a Friday night, but at the same time our same time though it's good to get them healthy and it's good to be able to work on a few timing issues and a couple of technique areas where we got a little bit sloppy in,” said Reid.

          Colonel Crawford (10-1), co-champ of the “N10”, smoked Reedsville Eastern (35-7) in a first round game last week.

          Reid says this is a program that is built for success.  “I see a very good Colonel Crawford football team, which seems to be the case up there traditionally.  Coach (Jake) Bruner taking over there and just continue the great tradition there I'm getting teams with great winning records, conference titles and getting teams in the playoffs.  They are a very solid football team,” he said.

          Reid says the Eagles have both a excellent run game and an outstanding passing game and they stretch a defense.  “They have got two quarterbacks and both of them throw the ball well.  They both have excellent numbers right around 700, 800 hundred yards on the season and they're both effective.  They both make good decisions.  They do spread the field out and make you defend the field.  They're really well balanced.  The (Conner) McMichael kid runs the ball well behind a nice offensive line.  It's what you expect in a playoff football team,” said Reid.

          Conner McMicheal is the second leading rusher in the “N10” with 1,166 yards.  The Eagles passing game totals almost 1,800 yards, which is the top figure in the “N10”.

          Reid says the Crawford defense is also very good.  “Their defense is solid.  They're very disciplined in the secondary.  They don't make mistakes and don't let people get behind them, so the back end of the defense is very disciplined.  They get to the ball really quickly.  Linebackers are solid and that defensive line they roll a lot of guys in on defense,” he told Swankonsports.com on Wednesday afternoon, “They have got a lot of different combinations that they throw at you.  Payne DeGray is a really nice defensive end, but they have got they got some good inside techniques as well.  They move Payne DeGray around a little bit sometimes in the middle, sometimes depending on situation.  I've told my kids it’s a weight room battle this week.  It's going to be a physical game and we have got to be first.  We have got to be fast on the line of scrimmage.”

Published 11/06/25

© Swankonsports.com

Your first source for all things sports

“Out of Bounds” Fridays 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

A Win Does a lot for Mt. Gilead

          Mt. Gilead, with a lot of things on the table, will play at archrival Cardington in the “Battle of Route 42” on Friday night in action in the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference.

          A win would give them a chance to share the league title.  Fredericktown would have to beat Centerburg for that to happen.

          Last week, they held off Loudonville (28-21) in “KMAC” play.

          Coach Mike Reid says they executed pretty well when they had to.  “Well, I was really proud of how our guys came out against Loudonville.  We established our run game early.  We were up to a 14-0 lead and doing a decent job, but give a lot of credit to Loudonville.  They're well coached and they are much improved and they just come coming right back at us.  So, we were never tied or never behind, but that game never felt safe.  Our guys continued to execute.  We rolled up something like 385 rush yards, but like I said they just kept coming right back at us.  So, I'm proud of our guys for finding a way to get out of Loudonville with the win,” he said.

          Mt Gilead (8-1,5-1) plays down at Cardington (3-6,1-5) on Friday night.  The Pirates lost (41-28) to Northmor last week.

          Reid says they are going to be charged with containing the Cardington run game.  “Wyatt Denny will be a four year letterman.  He has been a tremendous ball player for him for four years and he's got a nice supporting cast around him this year too. He's leading the league in rushing and actually I think they're their whole team is leading the league in rushing,” he told Swankonsports.com on Tuesday afternoon, “It's going to be a challenge to get them shut down.  It is the battle of route 42.  It is a long, long time rivalry.  So, both sides will be all hyped up for the game and it should be a great environment down at Cardington.  We’re going to have to get them shut down.  We're going to have to take advantage of all our possessions and execute.  They got big guys up front.  We got big guys up front.  It should be a great evening.”

          Reid says there is a lot to be accomplished with a win.  “It all kind of plays together.  If we do not beat Cardington, we don't have a chance at the at the league title at all.  As it is we need help from Fredericktown, but if we don't take care of our business it doesn't matter.  Plus, the playoffs, with a win we're going to play at home.  I don't know if we get a buy or not, but we'll probably for sure be at home.  If we lose the game, we're not sure where we end up.  We want to get better as we get to the playoffs.  We don't want to slide at all.  At the same time, it would kind of make me a little bit upset in the long winter if I lost to the archrivals,” said Reid.

Published 10/22/25

© Swankonsports.com

Your first source for all things sports

“Out of Bounds” Fridays 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Mt. Gilead Playing Meaningful Games

          Mt. Gilead, a game back in the race in the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference, will play at Loudonville in a conference game this week.

          The Indians (7-1,4-1) and Fredericktown are both a game behind Centerburg.

          Last week, the Indians stuffed a two-point play in the final seconds and hung on to beat Northmor (22-20) in a conference game.

          Coach Mike Reid says they got a big sack when they had to have it.  “The environment was really exciting and I'm sure the game was exciting for the folks and I prefer it not quite be that exciting at the end.  At the same time, it's great to be in those games.  Anytime your guys make a big play when they need to.  I was proud of the way we came out, both offensively and defensively.  We had a decent lead at halftime.  We have got to clean up our penalties a little bit.  We had some penalties in the second half that prolonged some of their drives and it shut down a few of our drives.  They made some plays and we made some big plays when we needed to.  Northmor is a good football team.  Like I said last week, coach (Scott) Armrose has really created a nice winning culture up there.  So, it's good to come away from a game against Northmor with a win,” said Reid.

          Reid says the goal at the beginning of the season was to play games that meant something at the end of the year.  “That's our goal at the very beginning of the year is just to be in games that are really, really meaningful.  Anytime you get to play the game of football it's meaningful, but with playoff implications, we have still got an outside shot of the conference title.  Unfortunately, we don't control our destiny on that one.  We need somebody to help us out with Centerburg,” he said.

          Mt. Gilead is also in second place in its division VI region.

          Loudonville (3-5,1-4) won their first “KMAC” game last week downing Cardington (21-16) on Friday.

          Reid says they are vastly improved.  “Most importantly we have got to win our games.  Loudonville coming up is not an easy one.  Last year, I think they scored 60 points all year and they scored 110 or something like that in their first two games of the season.  Their last three games they beat Cardington, they took Fredericktown to overtime, and Danville had to pull out a win at the very end of the other game with them a couple weeks back,” he told Swankonsports.com, “Loudonville is 3-5, but they're playing good football.  Coach (Ed) Honabarger at Loudonville, his record speaks for itself.  His teams are going to be good.  Loudonville is vastly improved from where they were last year.  So, they're going to give us a lot of challenges.”

Published 10/14/25

© Swankonsports.com

Your first source for all things sports

“Out of Bounds” Fridays 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Mt. Gilead Needs to Get Back on the Beam

          Mt. Gilead, now a game back in the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference, plays at home against Northmor on Friday night.

          They lost their first game of the season last week when Centerburg throttled them (46-0), scoring 32 points in the first quarter.

          Coach Mike Reid says Centerburg just made a lot of plays and they didn’t.  “Last week, first of all credit to Centerburg there were very good football team.  They seem to be a step above the opponents we've seen so far this year.  They are big and strong and fast up front.  They have got a wide range of skill guys.  Defensively, they're fast to the ball and very, very disciplined.  I don't know if we were starstruck or what the case was, but we did not start out well at all.  That combination with their talent certainly didn't make for a favorable night for us.  So, plain and simple we lost the battle up front and we lost the battle on all fronts and all three phases of the game offense, defense and special teams because they were able to execute a quasi squib onside kick and we were down three scores after only having the ball for one possession,” said Reid.

          Reid says they have had a good week preparing for Friday night.  “We had a lot to work on this week and the guys have had a very, very positive growth mindset this week.  So, we've had a good week of practice plain and simple having to get better,” he said.

          Mt. Gilead (6-1,3-1) is at home for Northmor (4-3,2-2) on Friday night.  The Golden Knights drilled (47-13) last week.

          Reid says Northmor lost a lot from last year, but make no mistake they are very good.  “Northmor has just simply reloaded.  While there's a lot of different names in the lineup they have certainly stepped right into where last year’s seniors left off.  What coach (Scott) Armrose has been able to do up there is establish that winning culture and that winning mindset and those guys stepped into those positions with expectations that they're going to do a really good job.  They got a very, very disciplined defense that doesn't hurt itself with some pretty quick linebackers in the Stone kid in the middle and (Carson) Campbell and (Garrett) Deisch are really quick linebackers and they have got (Brooksten) Beck in between is a solid middle linebacker.  They're secondary is very, very disciplined and like I said they don't hurt themselves and up front they're solid,” he told Swankonsports.com on Thursday afternoon, “Offensively, (Tanner) Miley has stepped in and done a tremendous job throwing the football to a lot of receivers.  The one that sticks out right now is (Conner) Stockdale.  He's had a couple of big games for them.  Against East Knox last week, I’m watching film and they have got that running game going.  So, they're a pretty good football team and we're going to, like I said we had to lick our wounds real quick and get back on the on the field and get better.  We can't let the Centerburg game beat us twice because Northmor is a really good ball club coming up here we're going to need to play our “A” game.”

Published 10/10/25

© Swankonsports.com

Follow our scoreboard for

Constant updates on Friday nights

At www.swankonsportshosting247.com

Your first source for all things sports

Indians Must Swarm

          It’s a battle for first place in the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference on Friday night as Mt. Gilead travels to Centerburg for a good one.

          The Indians (6-0,3-0), #4 in the Swankonsports.com football coaches poll in the small school division, hammered East Knox (39-7) on Friday night.

          They gave up a score early, but coach Mike Reid says they made some key adjustments.  “It really was a great effort.  We started kind of slow in that game, but then their quarterback, as we talked about last week, Jaxson Lester passed right through our secondary on that very first drive and they were able to score on us.  Defensively, they played this extremely tough too.  We had to punt on our first possession after just three plays.  So, give them a lot of credit.  I knew they would come out and play hard.  Coach (Andy) Beatty does a great job over there at East Knox.  We were able to settle in and went into the went into halftime with the lead and made some adjustments offensively.  Defensively, we made adjustments within the second quarter and did a much better job of tapping routes and things of that nature.  We were able to shut them down.  They had 57 yards on the first drive ad only had 116 total for the game.  So, I’m really proud of how the guys handled the rough start and they just kind of analyzed the situation we're able to adjust and pull out the victory.”

          Mt. Gilead ran for 264 yards against East Knox.

          Centerburg (5-1,3-0), #5 in our poll, smoked Cardington (47-7) last week in conference play.

          Reid says they are athletic all over the field.  “Great athletes that are very well coached, Coach (Andy) Colella has traditionally done a great job over there.  He's got Jim Stoyle, I actually coached with him a little bit in my career a long time ago.  He's a tremendous offensive mind and coach Weaver on the defensive side.  Well coached guys and just tremendous athletes,” he said.

          Miles Marshall rushed for 195 yards and four scores last week.  He lead the “KMAC” in touchdowns this season with 14.

          Reid says Friday night they have to have great pursuit.  “Anybody with the ball in their hands on their side does a great job.  Miles Marshall, their running back, the quarterback Blane Ball throws well, runs well, he’s a tremendous runner.  They have got an arsenal of receivers over there.  It's not just one guy you can lock on to,” he told Swankonsports.com on Monday afternoon, “Certainly in the open field we have got to get to the football.  A great tackling team is a team that gets 11 hats to the ball and to get those guys on the ground you have got to get to him first.  So, we have got to really work on our approach to the tackle itself and trusting inside out help, vice tackling, and things of that nature.  So, just as much the approach as it is the physical taking them down to the ground.”

Published 9/30/25

© Swankonsports.com

You first source for all things sports

“Out of Bounds” Fridays 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Mt. Gilead Winning Together

          Mt. Gilead will be at home for the East Knox Bulldogs Friday night in play in the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference.

          They destroyed Fredericktown (41-7) last week in a conference game.

          Coach Mike Reid says his team has great leadership and believes it can win.  “It’s 100 percent great senior leadership and good team chemistry.  The kids have really bought in.  When I came to Mt. Gilead the program had been down for a long time, so it was really hard to get that buy in at first, but as time has gone on these young kids are now older.  These guys have been with me four years now and they work extremely hard,” he told Swankonsports.com on Thursday night, “The underclassmen follow suit.  We have got a great group of juniors as well that have bought in and they too are leaders.  So, they’ve started off the season really strong because they worked hard together, they've not panicked when things were kind of difficult the last couple of years.  We competed extremely hard, but we've lost close games and this year we're actually finding the way to win some of those.”

          Fullback Carson Barnum is second in the “KMAC” in rushing yards with 902.  The top four players in tackles for loss in the league are all Indians.

          Reid says they want to be a power run team.  “Everything starts up front.  We want to get people moved and we want to run the football, control the tempo and control time of possession,” he said.

          Mt. Gilead (5-0,2-0), #4 in the Swankonsports.com football coaches poll in the small school division, will host East Knox (1-4,1-1) on Friday night.  Cardington beat the Bulldogs (36-35) last week.

          Reid says East Knox has been a competitive team, lead by quarterback Jax Lester, the “KMAC” leader in passing yards and TD passes.  “I tell you what first of all Andy Beatty is a great coach and he's an even greater human being one of the nicest guys in the business.  His teams always play extremely hard for him.  They are maybe three points I think, maybe two points, away from being 3-2 instead of 1-4 right now.  So, they've really been extremely competitive in their games against tremendous skill folks.  Their quarterback Jaxson Lester is probably one of the best passing quarterbacks in the league, arguably, there's a lot of good ones, but he's certainly stands out.  They have got a nice linebacker on the defensive side Caden Ridenhour.  On both sides of the ball, they they're quick off the ball.  We're going to have to really get after it and get off the ball ourselves,” said Reid.

Published 9/26/25

© Swankonsports.com

Follow our scoreboard for

Constant updates on Friday nights

At www.swankonsportshosting247.com

Your first source for all things sports