50 | October 6, 2016 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com
SPORTS
Milton puts up a fight, falls short against Roswell Hornets win 62nd meeting of rivalry, 17-0 By JOE PARKER news@appenmediagroup.com MILTON, Ga. − Two weeks ago, Roswell head coach John Ford said he knew that Milton would bring the fight to Roswell. Milton looked to spoil the Hornets’ undefeated record, its national ranking and Roswell’s two-game win streak in the series. In what could have been perhaps the biggest win for the Eagles in the past few decades of the series, the Eagles brought the fight, but couldn’t secure the win. Roswell (5-0, 0-0) defeated Milton (2-3, 0-0) by a score of 17-0 in the 62nd meeting between the two teams since 1950 last Friday in a defensive battle. “We knew they would give us their best shot, so we just said we would give them our best shot and see what happens,” said Roswell head coach John Ford. Roswell’s defense entered the game having allowed just 16 points in its prior four games This was Roswell’s second consecutive shutout. The Hornets held Milton’s offense to
just 60 total yards, shutting down the running game so effectively the Eagles finished with negative 33 yards rushing. Milton was held to 0-8 on third down conversions. “I’m proud of the defense,” said Roswell head coach John Ford. “We didn’t play that well on offense, and I have to coach better on offense, but the defense came to play, and for that I’m thankful.” Though Milton’s offense struggled, its defense held Roswell in check for most of the game. Milton kept the Hornets from any big strikes, but Roswell’s offense still managed an impressive 399 total yards. Malik Willis, who was hurried by Milton’s defense throughout the game, threw for 175 yards and added 87 yards rushing. Sheldon Evans ran for 141 yards on 28 carries and scored the Hornets’ two touchdowns on rushes of 4 and 3 yards. Milton quarterback Jordan Yates threw 7-19 for 93 yards with two interceptions. With an electric atmosphere expected of such a long-standing rivalry, both Roswell and Milton were unable to score in the first half, as each defense traded blows.
McGinnis: Continued from Page 4 Black said he would answer all the questions he could, but some of the information is just not there yet because the plan is still in its early days. First, Black noted while Forsyth County is “the lead” in dealing with GDOT, Johns Creek has as much say as anyone affected by the project. Fulton County has no frontage on the road, so it has no position. The project is to some degree dependent on the passage of the Transportation SPLOST, although Forsyth County has already passed its own version in an
HATCHER HURD/HERALD
Johns Creek Public Works Director Tom Black and Seven Oaks resident Annette Bulick field questions from residents.
Milton had a chance to take the lead when Roswell’s defensive secondary missed an assignment, allowing Milton’s Cameron Adams to find himself all alone on a pass from Yates. However, Adams would drop the pass, which likely would have gone for a touchdown as there was no defender within striking distance. Adams would redeem himself on the next play by hauling in a 42-yard pass. But, Milton’s drive was stalled just a few plays later. Roswell then had a chance to strike the scoreboard first, but Turner Barckhoff missed a long field goal on the final play of the second quarter. After both teams went three-and-out to open the third quarter, an exciting sequence of events nearly put Milton on top. Barckhoff attempted a punt on Roswell’s 30-yard line and a low snap allowed Milton time to penetrate and block. Milton’s Joseph Charleston
earlier referendum. “Forsyth is already widening Ga. 400 on its borders and it is helping to pay for a McGinnis exit at Ga. 400,” Black said. So the die is cast as far as widening McGinnis Ferry. Forsyth is already moving ahead with plans to four-lane Brookwood Road (which becomes Jones Bridge Road at McGinnis). Black said there are some 50 new subdivisions on the books for development in southwest Forsyth County. “The people who will buy those homes won’t work in Forsyth County. That means they will use McGinnis Ferry to access Ga. 400 or I-85,” Black said. Forsyth’s bond issue is to fast-forward the project. It is also part of Johns Creek’s T-SPLOST project list. When asked why Johns Creek is not fighting the project, Black said the city has more say about it by being on the inside rather than the outside. In other words, Forsyth and GDOT will have their way, and for Johns Creek and Alpharetta to have a seat at the table, they must contribute as well. “The worst thing you can do is fight with the abutting government. And we would get the worst of it,” he said. “East-west capacity will have to be increased to ease the gridlock. That means McGinnis as the arterial road will be widened.” McGinnis already exists, so this is the road that GDOT will use. Black dismissed the idea of using Sargent Road as an alternative. He said it would not work, and all of the subdivisions would be locked out of Sargent during rush hour. “It was designed to be a collector road, and McGinnis is the arterial,” he said. It is also too early to tell residents just how af-
would recover the blocked punt and return it to Roswell’s 2-yard line with Xavier McKinney making a touchdown-saving tackle from behind. On the next play, Yates would keep the ball on a quarterback sneak but fumbled at the goal line. Roswell’s Jesse Bridgman came up with the recovery, dashing Milton’s hopes of striking first. Starting the drive on their own 1-yard line, Roswell drove to Milton’s 11-yard line but was stopped on third down and settled for a Barckhoff field goal to take a 3-0 lead. Roswell’s defense continued to shut down Milton, and Roswell managed two touchdown drives, both capped off by Evans touchdown rushes, late in the third and midway through the fourth quarter. After a stretch of five games against talented non-region opponents, Roswell will face perhaps its toughest region opponent this Friday as they take on the undefeated Lassiter Trojans at home. Coach Ford said his team will continue to prepare as usual against the talented Trojans, but he added they would need to play better on offense. Milton will open its region schedule this week against West Forsyth.
The worst thing you can do is fight with the abutting government. And we would get the worst of it. ” TOM BLACK Johns Creek Public Works Director fected individual property owners will be. Some will be “asked” to give up land for temporary easements while the road is under construction. Others may have to give up part of their backyards permanently under seizure by eminent domain if necessary. Any easements or seizures would be a negotiation with the individual property owner. “Johns Creek would conduct any property negotiations within the city limits. But in the 10-year history of the city, Johns Creek has never condemned any private property,” Black said. If it is agreed to buy out the homeowner, the law calls for three appraisals of the property with highest price quoted being the price paid. For property owners who are worried about their property line after the widening, Black said the city will handle that as well. “However, when it comes to landscaping and putting up sound barriers, we do it differently in Johns Creek. If it’s not pretty, we don’t do it,” he said. Black said more meetings will be held as the project moves along. It is 18 months to 2 years from beginning.