In a game befitting a backyard rivalry, Milton survived several self-inflicted wounds and rode its power running game to outlast Cambridge, 28-21, at Milton's Eagle's Nest.
Running back Cam Adams' 36 -yard touchdown run on fourth-and-three with 2:18 left in regulation was the difference. The senior finished with 227 yards rushing and three touchdowns.
Milton (2-1) led 14-0 and 21-7 in the first half but couldn't put the Bears away. Cambridge (0-2) behind the strong play of senior quarterback Reid Martin on offense and senior linebacker Tyler Werth on defense hung around and eventually tied the game at 21 late in the third quarter on a 2-yard run by Kaelin Byrd. The score was set up by big passing plays from Martin to Cameron Moore and to Darren Wilson. Reid also caught a pass from Wilson on a reverse quarterback throwback play that moved the ball inside the Milton 10.
Martin's scrambling gave Milton problems all night, as he finished with 282 yards passing (21-of-48), one touchdown and one interception.
"We're so young. We've got mostly sophomores and juniors, and we just haven't learned how to put teams away," Milton head coach Howie Decristofaro said.
Milton appeared to have retaken the lead with a little over a minute to play in the quarter when the Eagles took possession at their 5-yard line and Adams dashed through a crease on the left side and went 95 yards for a touchdown. But the play was nullified because Decristofaro was too close to the field. He had been warned earlier about staying off the sideline while the ball was in play.
But his players picked him up by putting together a six minute drive that resulted in Adams' third touchdown run of the night. It was out of the Eagles' signature two-tight end power set, same as the 95-yard run that was called back.
"At the end of the day, that's what we're about. Power football, " Decristofaro said. "We're big up front, and we're going to try to push you around."
But Cambridge still wouldn't give in. The Bears took possession after a touchback and moved the ball inside the Eagle 10-yard line. But Milton linebacker George Coyle batted down Martin's fourth down pass to preserve the win.
"That's one thing I knew about our team. We were not going to give in," Cambridge head coach Craig Bennett said. "We know we're going to be outmanned in almost every game we play. We're not the biggest or the fastest, but our kids will never quit."
Cambridge 0 14 7 0 21
Milton 14 7 0 7 28
M - Cam Adams 30 run (Nick Aguello kick)
M - Jordan Yates 55 run (Aguello kick)
C - Kaelin Byrd 20 pass from Reid Martin (Victor Valentine kick)
M - Adams 3 run (Aguello kick)
C - Byrd 6 run (Valentine kick)
C - Byrd 2 run (Valentine kick)
M - Adams 36 run (Aguello kick)
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