Today’s interviewee is Milton coach Adam Clack, whose team defeated USA Today’s No. 12 team, St. Joseph’s Prep, 28-21 on Saturday in Philadelphia. St. Joseph’s had won 18 consecutive games and is the three-time defending champion of Pennsylvania’s highest classification.
Adam Clack, Milton head coach
1. How did the game play out? What did Milton do that allowed you to win? “We knew we were going to be in for a battle against a very talented and well-coached team. SJP runs very comprehensive schemes on both offense and defense, and they are sound on special teams. We had very little film on them and a short week of practice due to weather and travel, so we wanted to make sure we didn’t get away from our identity so the boys could play fast and confident and rely on our ability to make in-game adjustments as the game settled in. The game was back and forth early on, but we seized momentum late in the second quarter with our second touchdown just before half and scored again in our first possession of the second half to make it 21-7. They reclaimed a little momentum by forcing us to punt on the next two possessions before cutting our lead to 21-14. Our offense answered with a fantastic fourth-quarter drive to put us back up by two scores. The drive consisted of 17 plays and four third-down conversions, the biggest coming on a third-and-15 when Devin Farrell scrambled out of the pocket and found Adam Freas up the sideline for a 16-yard gain. The drive ate up over nine minutes. It was capped off by Jordan McDonald’s second rushing touchdown of the game. SJP answered with another touchdown but failed to execute their onside kick when Brooks Bortle made a terrific snag on the recovery.”
2. What was the objective of the trip to Philadelphia, and what were some of the non-football things that the team did? [Milton played in Southern California in 2019.] “We schedule trips like this more for the greater experience and team building. The boys spent nearly 72 hours together. During this time they experienced so many things that will not just help them bond as a team this year but will stick with them for the rest of their lives. Simple things like being on a long bus ride and staying in a hotel together, seeing historic landmarks like the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and the Rocky Steps, eating an authentic Philly Cheese Steak and playing video games together at Dave & Buster’s. And of course competing against a national powerhouse program all work together to create an experience that will be invaluable for the young men as we move forward this year.”
3. What did this victory mean for Milton and for football in the state? And for Milton particularly, did it restore confidence after a tough loss to North Cobb, or was confidence even an issue? “I have a ton of respect and pride for the current state of Georgia football. The talent and coaching in this state are second to none. Period. Anytime we get a chance to represent our state on a national stage, it’s a big deal. I am so grateful that our boys, staff, administration and community all pulled together to make this trip possible. We were equipped with the resources to support the team in a way that allowed us to enjoy a first-class experience and compete at a very high level.
“The non-region schedule is all about preparing your team for region play and the state tournament. In week two, we did not respond well to early adversity, so we went back to work to correct those flaws and improve our game. I was excited to see how the team would respond to so many variables, and we faced similar adversity early in this past game as we did a couple of weeks ago. I was very pleased to see a much different response this time. Seeing growth from one week to the next is encouraging, and we will use those lessons to help us continue to build towards our ultimate goal.”
4. What did you observe that you found interesting or unexpected about your opponent, the atmosphere surrounding the game, Pennsylvania football, etc.? “Good football is good football. Doesn’t matter what part of the country you are in. The biggest thing that we had to prepare for was a different atmosphere. St. Joe’s doesn’t have a home stadium, and this was a noon kickoff on a Saturday. To say that is a little different than a Friday night in Milton would be an understatement. With that said, the boys, coaches and fans – we had a great crowd – provided more than enough energy and excitement to marginalize the stale atmosphere to make it a non-factor.”
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