Milton has a stout defense that believes it can bring home the program’s first championship since 1952.
Micco Brisker scored the winning touchdown on a short run in the fourth quarter, and Milton’s defense forced three turnovers and stymied Alpharetta’s offense in a 17-10 victory Friday at the Raiders’ field.
The Eagles have won seven of eight against their cross-town rivals.
Christian Keeney, Quarte Sapp and Obe Fortune each picked off Alpharetta quarterback Austin King in the first half. Fortune returned his pick 20 yards for a touchdown that put the Eagles up 10-0 early in the second quarter.
“We’re going to try to go undefeated, win our region and see how far we can go,” said Sapp, a playmaking senior linebacker.
With King struggling, Alpharetta turned to the ground game. Miles Smith capped a seven-play, 50-yard drive with a 6-yard touchdown run that cut the Milton lead to 10-7 with 6:52 left in the second quarter.
On the first play of the second half, Alpharetta’s star defensive end Andrew Butcher recovered a Milton fumble at the Eagles’ 18-yard line, but the Raiders were unable to capitalize. Sapp sacked King for a big loss on third down, and Alpharetta ended up having to punt.
The Raiders (0-1) tied it up on 46-yard Ryan Kopec field goal in the third quarter, but were never able to take the lead, spoiling new coach Jacob Nichols’ debut. Nichols, who spent the last four years as an assistant at Alpharetta, replaced Jason Dukes, who departed in the offseason to coach Smiths Station in Alabama.
Trailing 17-10 with seven minutes to play, Alpharetta mounted once last drive and moved down to the Milton 19-yard line. But King's pass on 4th and 5 fell incomplete, giving the ball back to the Eagles, who ran out the clock.
Both teams have high hopes this season. Milton, with its talented defense that returns all 11 starters, is expected to be in the mix a wide-open Region 5-AAAAAA. The Eagles have not won a region title since 1952.
“We want to be in the mix,” said Milton coach Howie DeCristofaro. “But we’re going to have to find a way to get the offense going.”
Alpharetta won Region 6-AAAAAA last season and is the clear-cut favorite again this year. Butcher, a Tennessee commitment, is a force. He sacked Milton quarterback Austin McLeod twice in the first half.
King, who is committed to North Carolina State, finished 17 of 30 for 235 yards with no touchdowns and the three interceptions.
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