VERONA — Ortez Lockett stood in the west endzone at Verona High School late last Friday.
Middleton’s senior defensive yelled, he pleaded and he implored. And when Lockett finished, he wiped away tears.
It was, by many accounts, the most impassioned speech a Middleton football player had given in years.
“This is our last year for me as a senior and the other seniors,” Lockett said. “And I just have to get that across the juniors’ heads. Our team, I know it’s the strongest team out there in the conference. We just have to go and prove it.”
Middleton failed to prove that last Friday and suffered a 27-22 defeat to Verona. The Cardinals hurt themselves with inconsistency on offense, defensive breakdowns and a bevy of self-inflicted wounds.
Verona moved into a three-way tie atop the Big Eight Conference at 2-0, while the Cardinals slipped to 1-1. And afterwards, Lockett & Co. vowed not to let it happen again.