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| WHS pushes Milan to the limit |
By: Sara Reid — Special to the Weakley County Pres
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Posted: Tuesday, November 18, 2008 5:08 pm
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Through the raindrops — Westview defenders including Joseph Hicks (50) and Bradley Hahn (63) race through the raindrops to chase down a Milan ballcarrier on Friday night. Milan used a late field goal to edge Westview 17-14.
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Just two weeks after meeting in the last game of the regular season, Region 8-2A foes Westview Chargers and Milan Bulldogs met up again in the second round of the TSSAA Class 2A playoffs this past Friday night in Milan, but this time an uninvited guest showed up as well — heavy rain.
In a game dictated by soggy weather, the undefeated Bulldogs turned the ball over four times and gave the Chargers the hope of an upset throughout the contest, but a crucial fumbled snap on a punt in the last quarter led to a 31-yard field goal and a 17-14 win for Milan.
The close outcome was in stark contrast to the first meeting this season when Westview turnovers led directly to an easy 45-14 Milan win.
Milan will next play host to Jackson Christian School, a 21-14 winner over Huntingdon, in the Class AA quarterfinals at 7 on Friday night.
The Bulldogs (12-0) started the game on offense and went to Jobronski Gilbert on the ground for a 9-yard pickup. A pass from Justin Coleman to J.W. Williams netted 6 yards and a first down and three straight runs from Gilbert totaled 8 yards and presented the Bulldogs with an early fourth-down situation. Coleman kept the ball for 4 yards and a first down and followed the big play with an even bigger play by finding Williams in the end zone on a 38-yard pass for the touchdown. Rick Moody added the extra point kick and with 8:44 left in the first quarter, Milan took the 7-0 lead.
Westview (7-5) took over on offense and immediately went to the running tandem of J.C. Griggs and Demarcus Williams. Picking up short yardage on the ground, the Chargers soon faced fourth-and-two. Williams was stopped just short of the first down and Milan took over.
Coleman’s first pass missed its mark and the quarterback picked up 4 yards on a carry on second down, but his third-down pass was tipped and intercepted by Westview’s Chris Gardner and the Chargers took over on offense.
Forced to punt after a quick three-and-out, Westview freshman punter Zeick Hicks pinned the Bulldogs on their own 27. A long pass from Coleman to Beau Vandiver with the addition of a personal foul penalty on the Chargers advanced Milan deep into Westview territory. Coleman picked up 2 yards on a carry, Gilbert gained 3 more yards and then nearly found the end zone on an 18-yard run that came up just short. He scored the touchdown on a 2-yard carry with 14.3 seconds left in the first quarter. Moody’s extra point gave the home team a two-touchdown lead, 14-0, at the end of one quarter.
The rain picked up in the second quarter and so did the Westview offense. The Chargers were forced to punt on their first try at offense, but the defense intercepted another Coleman pass and gave the visitors good field position at the Milan 49. Griggs picked up 12 yards on his first carry and Williams found a hole in the Bulldog “D” and gained 32 yards down to the Milan 5-yard line. Williams was wrapped up on first and goal and picked up three tough yards before Griggs gained a yard and on fourth down, using a second and third effort, rolled around the pile and into the end zone for the Chargers’ first score. Hyeontae Kim added the extra point and with 6:55 left before the break, the Chargers cut the lead in half, 14-7. Hyeontae Kim booted the extra point and with 6:55 left before the break, the Chargers cut the Milan lead in half, 14-7.
Back on offense, the Bulldogs looked to be headed back to the end zone, but Gilbert coughed up the ball on the Westview 15-yard line. The Chargers recovered, but gained nothing on the ground and went into the break trailing by only a touchdown.
With both teams trading punts in the third quarter, Westview took the last stab on offense with good field position as the Bulldogs fumbled a punt. On the Milan 26, Griggs and Williams picked up short yardage to run out the quarter and Griggs opened the final frame by bulldozing his way through the Milan line for the 3-yard touchdown run. Kim’s kick tied the score, 14-14, with 11:16 left in the game.
Milan took over on its own 28 and quickly moved into Charger territory behind Gilbert carries. Pushed back by penalties, however, the Bulldogs were forced to punt.
Starting on their own 2-yard line, the Chargers picked up a first down on a West keeper. Griggs gained 2 and 3 yards on carries and when West came up a yard short on third-and-six, Westview elected to punt. Hicks fumbled the long snap and Milan fell on the ball on the Charger 17.
Gilbert was pulled down for a loss of 4 on first down. He picked up 5 yards, but was stopped on third down setting the scene for a Moody 31-yard field goal attempt. The junior’s kick was good and with 54 seconds left in the game, Milan took a 17-14 lead.
With one more chance to take the game, Westview charged into Bulldog territory when West completed a 43-yard pass through the rain to Seth Waterfield. Griggs gained nothing on first down, but West’s next pass attempt was snatched away by Vandiver and the Milan win was sealed.
Gilbert finished with 121 yards and one touchdown. Griggs had 78 yards and two scores for Westview.
The loss ends the high school football career of seven Westview seniors — Alex Hazlewood, J.C. Griggs, Joseph Hicks, Hunter Scott, Shane Hibbard, Chris Gardner and Hyeontae Kim.
Westview-Milan, Stats
Westview 0 7 0 7—14
Milan 14 0 0 3—17
First Quarter
MHS — J.W. Williams 38-yard pass from Justin Coleman, (Rick Moody kick), 8:44.
MHS — Jobronski Gilbert 2-yard run, (Moody kick), 00:14.
Second Quarter
WHS — J.C. Griggs 1-yard run, (Hyeontae Kim kick), 6:55.
Fourth Quarter
WHS — Griggs 3-yard run, (Kim kick), 11:16.
MHS — Moody 31-yard field goal, 00:54.
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WHS MHS
First Downs 9 12
Rushes-yards 45-139 43-200
Passing yards 43 71
Comp-Att-Int 1-3-1 2-7-2
Punts 3-30 1-28
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 3-2
Penalties-yards 2-25 4-25
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Individual Statistics
Rushing — Westview, J.C. Griggs 20-78, Demarcus Williams 18-65, Brian West 7-(-4); Milan, Jobronski Gilbert 25-121, Justin Coleman 10-48, Avery Williamson 6-25, Tim Adkisson 2-6.
Passing — Westview, ; West 1-3-1 — 43 Milan, Coleman 2-7-2 — 71.
Receiving — Westview, Seth Waterfield 1-43; Milan, J.W. Williams 1-38, Beau Vandiver 1-33.
Records — Westview 7-5, Milan 12-0.
Next Game — Westview's season comes to an end, while Milan will host Jackson Christian School with kickoff at 7 on Friday night. |
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