REID TO LEAD COMETS IN 2013

Led Comets in 2011 Playoffs

Long-time semi-pro veteran Duane Reid has been selected as the newest head coach of the Kings Comets.

Reid takes over for Derrick Davidson, who stepped down after leading the Comets to a 10-2 record and a spot in the HFL South Conference Championship Game in 2012.

Reid’s association with the Comets began when he served as a color commentator for Comets games on ICRC TV during the 2004 season. After a short stint as an assistant with the Kentucky Stallions, Reid joined the Comets as an assistant coach for the 2011 season. Reid took over as coach of the Comets in the playoffs that season after head coach Brian Wells stepped down following the regular season, guiding Kings to a 20-13 win against the Northern Kentucky Bulldogs and a near-upset of the top-seeded Mt.Carmel Fire, 39-41.

Reid’s semi-pro experience dates back to the late 70’s when he played for the Price Hill Warriors and Maple Leaf Tavern. He also has experience coaching and playing with the Pinhaus Strikers, Kennedy’s Goodtimers, and Tri-City Yacht Club, but is best known for his 10-year stint running the Northern Kentucky Raiders.

Reid helped guide the Raiders to six Ohio Valley Football League titles and two Ohio state championships. He also guided the Raiders to a 21-0 upset of Team USA. Reid was named to the Cincinnati Semi-Pro Football Hall of Fame for his work with the Raiders.

Reid will be joined by Carlos Davis, an all-Heartland Football League offensive lineman the past two seasons, who will serve as assistant head coach. Gary Crum is slated to return to the coaching staff for the second straight season. Dennis Strayhorn, who has played more games as a Comet that any other player, will serve as the Director of Football Operations.

The Comets season begins May 18 with a contest at the Columbus War Eagles. Kings home opener will be June 1 against the Lima Warriors.

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FIRE CLOSE OUT COMETS

Kings can’t recover from two early TDs in 27-12 South Conference Championship

The Kings Comets were held to a season-low 223 yard of offense in falling to the Columbus Fire, 27-12, in the HFL South Conference Championship Game Saturday night in Columbus.

The loss concludes the Comets HFL season with a record of 10-2, with both losses coming to the Fire.

The Comets found themselves down, 14-0, just 2:12 into the game on two touchdowns by Columbus’s Mike Tatum.

Tatum caught a pass on the game’s second play from scrimmage for a 68-yard touchdown despite an early snap that quarterback Antwaun Gibbs had trouble handling.

After Kings was held without a first down on its first possession, Tatum returned a punt 55 yards for a score to give Columbus the quick two-touchdown lead.

Cedric Holmes pulled the Comets to within eight when he intercepted a Joe Hayes pass and returned is 75 yards for a touchdown later in the first quarter, but the Fire added 10 points to their lead in the second quarter.

Seth Buckhalter made a 30-yard field goal after his 35-yard miss was negated by a running into the kicker penalty, and former Pittsburgh Steeler running back Gary Russell scored from one yard out following James Wells’ fumble return to the Comets 3.

Both teams finished the game with four turnovers, and were flagged for a combined 32 penalties for 300 yards.

The Comets pulled to within 12, 24-12, when Antwoine Higgins hauled in a 53-yard touchdown pass from Antonio Davis with 4:04 remaining in the third quarter, but the Comets never made it inside the Columbus 30-yard line the rest of the game.

Buckhalter completed the scoring with a 38-yard field goal with 2:09 left in the game.

Davis completed 11 of 29 passes for 197 yards, with Higgins catching three passes for 84 yards.

Nez Mincy had four catches for 73 yards and also intercepted a pass on defense. Rickey Staley also had an interception, while Holmes recovered a fumble in addition to his pick-six. Terrill Byrd and James Frazier each had a sack.

The Fire move on to play the Lima Warriors in the HFL Championship Game September 8 at Grove City Christian School in Columbus.

Click here for game stats
Check back for more details

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14 COMETS NAMED ALL STARS

Five make HFL First Team

Fourteen members of the Kings Comets have been named to Heartland Football League South Conference All-Stars, led by five players who were named First Team.

Kings record-setting passing game is represented on the First Team by quarterback Antonio Davis and receivers Mike Brown and Dyshaun Edwards. Linemen Rico Middlebrooks and Demetrius Blasingame represent the defense on the First Team.

Davis has breezed past previous Comet records with 3,025 yards and 33 yards on 165-of-262 passing in nine games. Brown also set franchise records with 46 receptions for 801 yards, scoring nine touchdowns. Edwards finished second on the team with eight touchdowns and 615 yards on 32 catches.

Middlebrooks leads the Comets with 10 sacks among his 23 tackles. Blasingame is second on the teams with eight sacks among 23 tackles, with two fumble recoveries.

First Team members will be eligible for an all-star game the HFL is planning against the Northern Frontier Football League (NFFL).

Linebacker Keilan Woods, the Comets leader with 34 tackles, was named to the Second Team along with Carlos Davis, Richard Stokes, and Antwoine Higgins from the offense.

At tackle, Davis has anchored an offensive line that has allowed only five sacks all season, including none since June 23. Stokes leads the Comets with 332 rushing yards, matching a franchise record with eight rushing touchdowns. Higgins is second on the team in receptions with 33, picking up 561 yards and scoring six touchdowns.

Offensive tackle Kevin Thomas and four members of the defense, Brandon Martin, Tyrone Berry, Tim Johnson, and Cedric Holmes, made the Third Team.

Martin shares the team lead in interceptions with three, while Johnson ranks second in tackles with 28, Berry third with 24, and Holmes is third on the team with six sacks in as many games.

The Columbus Fire led the South Conference with 20 all-stars, including 19 players who were named First Team.

The Comets face the Fire for the South Conference championship this Saturday night at Grandview High School (1587 West Third Avenue) in Columbus. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

For a complete list of All-Stars, click here

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COMETS ADVANCE TO CONFERNCE FINALS

Kings uses second-half surge to defeat Bulldogs, 37-14

The Kings Comets (10-1) scored three straight third-quarter touchdowns to pull away from the Northern Kentucky Bulldogs (6-6) for a 37-14 win in the South Conference semifinals of the Heartland Football League (HFL) playoffs.

The Comets advance to play the Columbus Fire (14-0) in next weekend’s South Conference Championship Game in Columbus.

The Bulldogs took advantage of the first of four Comet turnovers to take a 7-0 just over a minute into the game on a 17-yard halfback pass from Bullitt Jones to Cordale Savage.

The Comets rebounded by scoring when Nez Mincy toed the sideline for a 28-yard touchdown pass from Antonio Davis.

Davis surpassed the 3,000-yard mark on the season, completing 18 of 24 passes for 346 yards and three touchdowns.

Davis second touchdown was a 48-yard strike to Mike Brown, who shook two defenders at the goal line on the final play of the first quarter.

Kings also scored late when the second quarter when Keith Brooks capped an 11-play, 8:22 drive with a two-yard touchdown 15 seconds before halftime to put the Comets ahead, 18-7.

Northern Kentucky pulled to within four, 18-14, by scoring on a 20-yard pass from Kyle James to Glenn Robinson on the opening drive of the second half.

Kings immediately responded when Mack Ogletree took the kickoff that followed 80 yards for a touchdown, putting the Comets ahead 24-14.

While the Comets defense held Northern Kentucky without a first down on either of its next two drives, the offense scored, first on a 41-yard pass from Davis to Mincy, and later on a 3-yard run by Brooks that put Kings ahead, 37-14, with 2:01 left in the third quarter.

Davis completed passes to eight different receivers, led by Antwoine Higgins's five catches for 100 yards. Mike Brown added three grabs for 74 yards and a score.

The Comets also picked up 109 yards on the ground, while their defense held Northern Kentucky to 13 yards on nine carries.

Tyler Lemmel led the defense with seven tackles, with James Frazier, Demetrius Blasingame, and Dereck West each recording a sack. Jason Smith and Tim Johnson each helped the Comets end drives with turnovers in the end zone, with Smith picking off a pass in the second quarter and Johnson recovering a fumble in the fourth quarter.

Click here for a full recap and stats

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MARDY GILYARD UPDATE

Former Kings Comet Mardy Gilyard caught an 8-yard pass, the pass thrown his way, early in the third quarter of the Philadelphia Eagles 27-10 win against the Cleveland Browns Friday night in Cleveland.

Gilyard's catch on the second offensive play of the second half helped set up a touchdown that put the Eagles ahead, 24-3.

Gilyard also made a tackle on a kickoff in the fourth quarter.

The Eagles complete the preseason Thursday at home against the New York Jets.

Click here to watch Mardy's touchdown catch against the Steelers in the Eagles first pre-season game

See pictures of Mardy against the Lions in 2010:
Kick return      
Click here to watch Mardy's first NFL reception in the Rams 30-16 win against Washington, Sept. 26, 2010