Skip to main content

Milan knocks off Maysville in Coach Cole's return to his alma mater

by Jeremy Benson, GrandRiverConference.com

Milan Coach Mark Cole was returning to his alma mater and former team for the first time as an opposing coach since he left Maysville.  But nostalgia was not the only thing that was important in this game for Milan and Maysville.  Coming into the game, both teams were 4-4 overall and 3-3 in GRC.  The winner would finish the season with a winning record and finish in the upper half of the conference.  Additionally, both were fighting for district standings.  Most likely the #3 spot in districts was on the line.  At a minimum, the winner was expected to be at home next week with the loser playing a road game.  Therefore, the importance of this game could not be understated.

As close as this game was on paper, it ended up to be that way on the scoreboard.  Milan won a hard fought 34-26 game.  Milan started the game with good field position at the Maysville 45-yard line after an Alex Marquina 35-yard kickoff return.  After Ahmet Niasse connected with Jeremy Bennett for a 32-yard pass down the sideline to put the Wildcats on the 1-yard line, Niasse ran the ball in from the 1.  Christian Chaparro's PAT was blocked.  Milan was up 6-0. 
 
Maysville got the ball back, and it was the Kaleb Jestes show.  Jestes ran the ball on the first 5 plays moving the ball from their own 30-yard line to the Milan 21.  Kris Gabbard would complete the drive with QB keeper from 1-yard out to tie it up at 6.  Jestes had 53 yards on the drive.

Milan would get another TD early in the 2nd quarter when Niasse hit Greyson Smith from 9 yards on a fade pattern.  Milan led 12-6 after the 2-pt failed.  On Milan's next posession, Niasse fumbled and Konner Watkins returned the fumble 35 yards for a touchdown to tie it at 12.

Niasse would redeem on the next play when he ran for 80 yards for a touchdown to put Milan up 19-12.  But the redemption would not last long when Niasse would fumble again.  This time, Garrett Bray would be the one to return the fumble for a touchdown, this time from 20 yards out.  Maysville would go up 20-19 after the 2-pt conversion by Gabbard.

Milan would end the scoring with 34 seconds left in the half when Chaparro connected in a 33-yard field goal to go up 22-20.

Maysville took the opening kick of the 2nd half, but fumbled.  Milan would immediately capitalize on the second play when Carlos Cotto scored from 41 yards out.  Milan was up 28-20 after the PAT was missed.  After a 3 and out by Maysville, Milan would score again when Niasse would run it in from 7 yards.  Another Missed PAT would make it 34-20 Milan.

Maysville would not go away.  They drove 80 yards (helped by two 15 yard Milan penalties).  Kris Gabbard scored from a yard out.  After the 2-pt failed, Milan led 34-26.  

Maysville would threaten late in the game.  A Spencer Pliley run got the Wolverines down to the Milan 32-yard line with about 4 minutes left.  But the next two plays were bad snaps, and Maysville lost 17 yards.  They were not able to overcome 3rd and 27.  Milan took over with 2 minutes left and was able to get 2 first downs and run out the clock, winning 34-26.

I talked with both coaches after the game.



Here is video of Maysville's player introductions:

Stats (Unofficial)
Milan
Passing
Ahmet Niasse, 4-7, 90 yards, 1 TD

Rushing
Ahmet Niasse, 166 yards, 3 TD
Carlos Cotto, 110 yards, 1 TD

Receiving
Jeremy Bennett, 55 yards
Greyson Smith, 35 yards

Total Yards 366, Rushing 276 yards, Receiving 90 yards

Maysville
Passing
Kris Gabbard, 3-8, 18 yards
Kaleb Jestes, 1-1, 15 yards

Rushing
Kaleb Jestes, 109 yards
Spencer Pliley, 61 yards
Kris Gabbard, -22 yards, 2 TD

Receiving
Dillon Willis, 15 yards
Kaleb Jestes, 10 yards
Kobyn Metzger, 8 yards

Konnor Watkins, TD - Fumble Return
Garrett Bray, TD - Fumble Return

Total Yards 181, Rushing 148 yards, Receiving 33 yards

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

2024 Grand River Conference 11-Man Football Preview

by Jeremy Benson, GrandRiverConference.com Sponsored by *Please cite Jeremy Benson, GrandRiverConference.com if you use the Coaches' Poll in other media 2024 is poised to be a year of significant change for the Grand River Conference. Adding Brookfield and Marceline as full members, who are competing for the football championship for the first time, marks a significant transition. These new members bring a new level of competition to the conference, adding another layer of anticipation. Gallatin and Maysville, with their new coaches, also contribute to the excitement. Despite the turnover, stability remains a crucial factor for the top teams, with the top five in the coaches poll all retaining their quarterback this season. The coaches poll was very close, with four teams receiving a first-place vote. Milan emerged with the most first-place votes at four. Despite receiving three first-place votes, Trenton accumulated the most points and is the overall pick to win the Grand River ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Bell Game Rivalry joins the GRC

by Jeremy Benson, GrandRiverConference.com It's a mere 12 miles that separate Brookfield High School and Marceline High School, as per Google Maps.  But what's truly remarkable is the 54-year hiatus since these two schools last clashed in a conference football game. Brookfield and Marceline were both in the North Central Missouri Conference (NCMC) in 1970.  In 1970, the NCMC decided to fold.  A new conference with the same name would be organized,  Brookfield remained in a revamped NCMC from 1971 to 1975 before going independent until 1986, when they joined the Tri-Rivers Conference.  They jumped to the Clarence Cannon Conference (CCC) in 2010. Marceline was in the Northern Missouri Conference from 1971 to 1974 before joining the Lewis & Clark Conference in 1975, where they would be members for almost 50 years. However, the history between these two teams goes back much further. They played against each other for the first time in 1909. Brookfield won the fi...
Post a Comment
Read more

1000-point and other Milestones

Sponsored by As GRC and GRC West players surpass the 1000-point (and other milestones) this season, this blog will share photos of their milestones. Tyler New, Worth County (1500 points) Tyler New passed the 1500-point milestone during districts Annabelle Ball, Gallatin Annabelle Ball passed the 1000-point milestone on February 15, 2024 against Stanberry Chloe Burnham, St. Joseph Christian (1500 points) Chloe Burnham passed the 1500-point milestone on February 9, 2024 against North Andrew. Mirena King, Trenton Mirena King passed the 1000-point milestone on February 9, 2024 against Milan. Katelyn Jones, Pattonsburg Katelyn Jones passed the 1000-point milestone on February 2, 2024 against King City. Maverick Gentry, Polo Maverick Gentry passed the 1000-point milestone on February 2, 2024 against Braymer. I will post pictures of him when I get them. Talan Holt, Princeton (1500 points) Talan Holt passed the 1500-point milestone on January 30, 2024 against Stanberry. Ah...
Post a Comment
Read more