by Jeremy Benson, GrandRiverConference.com
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When Trenton's Mason Rongey intercepted a Hunter Reed pass with 2:38 left in the game, the chances of a Milan Wildcat victory on homecoming night looked bleak. They were down 27-20, and all that Trenton had to do was probably get a first down or two and hold on to the ball. And since Milan had not stopped Trenton on their other three drives of the half, it looked like Trenton was heading toward a sure victory.
However, on the next play, Ethan Bennett forced a Trenton Bulldog fumble at midfield. Milan still had to drive half the length of the field in just a little over two minutes to have a shot. Eddy Garcia, who had missed some of the second half with cramps, ran 32 yards to the 18-yard line. The Wildcats had 3rd and 6 at the 19-yard line with about a minute left when Reed found Keaton Weter at the 6-yard line for a first down. Eddy Garcia ran up the middle to the 4 on the next play. A Bulldog player grabbed his facemask on the run, which moved the ball to the 2-yard line.
A couple plays later, with time winding down, Garcia found the end zone. It was Trenton 27, Milan 26 with 5 seconds left in the game. Milan coach Mark Cole had the decision whether to kick for a game-tying field goal or go for the win. For Coach Cole, he said, "It was a no-brainer. We were going for two." Milan gave it to Eddy Garcia, who ran it to the right side for a touchdown. Milan had a 28-27 lead with 5 seconds left. "The two-point conversion was a little wrinkle to some stuff we've been doing on other conversions. We caught them by surprise. It was perfect execution on my kid's part."
After the kickoff, Trenton had the ball at their 36-yard line with 1 second left. They ran a play, but there were offsetting penalties, so they had another shot. However, Milan was able to stop them to secure a 28-27 victory.
Coach Cole said, "We just kept believing. I have tough kids. There were times they wanted to throw in the towel, but I just wouldn't let them."
Milan took a 14-7 lead into the half, but Trenton took control in the 2nd half with a drive that took over six minutes off the clock. Cooper Houser finished the drive with a 5-yard touchdown run, and Gonzalo Mascarro added the PAT. After Milan turned it over on downs, Trenton took the lead on another Houser touchdown from 13 yards out. A Mascarro PAT made it 21-14 with 28 seconds left in the 3rd quarter.
With just over seven minutes left in the game, Milan was facing a 4th and goal from the Trenton two-yard line. Trenton had stopped several Milan runs, but Milan QB Reed would find Weter on the left side for a touchdown to cut the Trenton lead to 21-20. However, the PAT from Aziel Alcantara never got in the air, and Trenton was holding on to a slim lead.
Trenton immediately marched down the field, extending the lead with a Mason Rongey two-yard touchdown. It had appeared that they had gone up 28-20 when Mascarro's PAT went through the uprights. However, Milan was offside. The refs said it was a dead-ball foul, and Trenton could not decline the penalty. Trenton decided to re-kick and missed the PAT, leaving the score 27-20 with 4:25 left in the game. That would be the score until Milan won it on Garcia's touchdown and two-point conversion with 5 seconds left.
The two teams traded touchdowns in the first quarter. Weter made a one-handed catch and ran down the sidelines for a 47-yard touchdown reception to put the Wildcats up 7-0 after an Alcantara PAT. Trenton tied the game when Aiden Weyer ran it in from 14 yards. Mascarro kicked the PAT.
Milan had the only score of the second quarter on a 17-yard run from Garcia. Garcia escaped a crowd of Trenton defenders at about the 15-yard line to score. The Alcantara PAT put Milan up 14-7, where they would lead at the half.
Garcia had two of Milan's touchdowns, along with the deciding conversion. Coach Cole said, "Eddy's a warrior. He's a tough kid. I'm so happy for him because he's had to live in (Carlos) Cotto's shadow his whole career. And now that Cotto's gone, he gets a chance to shine. He gets one year, and he's worked very hard in the weight room all off-season. He's got his body in position to have a great year. Tonight was a great example of being the guy that we pounded away with. For as small and mighty as he is, he made some awesome plays at the end."
Milan is 4-2 overall and 3-2 in the GRC. They will face Gallatin next week. Trenton is 1-5 overall and in the GRC. They will face Maysville next week.
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