30 | December 4, 2014 | Revue & News | revueandnews.com
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Eagles fall just short against top-ranked Packers Fourth quarter comeback erases 13-point deficit By MIKE BLUM news@appenmediagroup.com MOULTRIE, Ga. – The Milton Eagles gave the state’s top-ranked team all it could handle in the quarterfinals of the Class AAAAAA playoffs last Friday night, losing 42-35 to unbeaten Colquitt County. The Packers scored the winning touchdown with just over 2:30 to play. The Eagles threatened to tie the game in the final minute, but were stopped on downs after reaching the Colquitt 20. “I wanted our last game to be our best game, and it was,” Milton coach Howie DeCristofaro said. “We went toe-to-toe with the best team in the state – they are by far the best team we played –and had a chance to win it at the end.”
The Eagles never led, trailing 28-13 going to the fourth quarter. But Milton scored twice in less than a minute early in the fourth period to tie the game. The two teams swapped touchdowns before the Packers (13-0) scored the game winner following their fourth scoring drive between 60 and 70 yards. Milton (11-2) held the explosive Colquitt offense to 375 yards total offense and forced three turnovers, scoring on an interception return early in the fourth quarter. But the Eagles
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Milton defenders try to corral the Packer’s elusive Marquan Greene (1). got only three points from the other interception and nothing off a fumble recovery in Colquitt territory. The Eagles scored the most points of any Colquitt opponent this season, even though they did not take full advantage of all their scoring opportunities. Ethan Suda, who
kicked field goals of 36 and 41 yards in the second quarter, missed from 36 yards on the last play of the first half, and the Eagles were stopped on fourth down in Colquitt territory in the third quarter after recovering a fumble. DeCristofaro lamented the missed opportunities, and
wasn’t entirely certain that Suda’s missed field goal actually missed. “From a coaching standpoint, there’s some disappointment because we had a chance to win,” he said. “But we’re going to look back on the game with pride. I’m so happy for the kids. They gave it everything they had.” Colquitt scored one minute into the game, returning the opening kickoff to midfield and taking the lead on a 33-yard run by quarterback Chase Parrish. It took the Eagles just over a minute to pull even. Chris Franklin returned the kickoff 51 yards to the Colquitt 45, and Austin McLeod connected with Obe Fortune for 35 yards and the score three plays later. A 23-yard pass by Parrish capped a 63-yard Colquitt drive. The Colquitt quarterback completed 16 of 21 passes for 230 yards and three TDs. The Eagles drove 61 yards on 16 plays, but had to settle for a 36-yard field goal after a quarterback sack. McLeod ran three times for 30 yards on the drive, and Milton converted the first of four fourth-down attempts to extend the drive. Lucas Nedza intercepted a Parrish pass and returned it 10 yards to the Colquitt 42, but the Eagles’ only first down came on a penalty against the Packers. Suda’s 41-yard field goal pulled the Eagles within 14-13 midway through the second quarter. A 51-yard pass from Parrish to Marquan Greene made it 21-13, with Greene finishing with seven catches for 131 yards. The Eagles had a scoring opportunity late in the half after forcing Colquitt to punt for the first time. McLeod completed a 35-yard pass to Jake English, and Chris Turner ran for 20 yards to quickly move Milton to the Colquitt 20.
See EAGLES, Page 37