Like last year’s game against Thrall, the Milano Eagles pulled off a one-point victory 14-13 in a matchup that kept the crowd on the edge of their seats for over 20 minutes.
In 2017, the Eagles beat the Tigers 7-6. The biggest difference in Friday’s game was Milano’s ability to dominate on possession in the second half.
“I felt like we controlled the game,” said Chad Lagrone, Milano High School head football coach. “We were able to control the clock very well, but we had penalties and turnovers that kept the game close.”
The Eagles had six penalties for 45 yards and two fumbles during the game.
Both teams defensive line held the others offense scoreless until late in the second quarter, when Thrall running back Braeden West broke away from Milano’s defense for an 84-yard touchdown and a John Alcalar extra point.
On the next play, Milano wide receiver Christian Thurman turned a bobbled kickoff return into a 70-yard touchdown and Kevin Garcia made the extra point to tie the game at 7-7.
With less than a minute to play in the half, Thrall quarterback Caden Leschber threw a Hail Mary pass halfway down the field. The ball tipped off the fingertips of Alcalar, but he caught the ball before it hit the ground. On the next play, Leschber completed a 12-yard pass to wide receiver Isaiah Cage. Alcalar missed the extra point with a far left kick. At halftime, Thrall led 13-7.
Milano bounced back early in the third quarter, when wide receiver Devonte Jones caught a 58-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kath-en Funburg. Garcia made the extra point to put the Eagles ahead 14-13.
“I was happy that when they scored we would answer. Thrall is a well coached and good team,” Lagrone said. “Special teams was the key to victory, Kevin Garcia was huge.”
For the rest of the game, the Milano defense kept Thrall away from the end zone. They forced four fumbles, and recovered two of them. Linebacker Danny Cloud forced two fumbles for the Eagles and recovered one of them, and Thurman had an interception to go with his touchdown.
The Milano Eagles have an open week and will be back in action on Friday, Oct. 12 for their first home district game against the Hearne Eagles.
Hearne is picked to place first in district 13-2A DI, and are the number one dark horse in all of class 2A, according to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Magazine.
Although the Eagles from Robertson County are 0-4, they’ve played a tough schedule with losses to Groesbeck, Franklin, and a district loss to Holland, who made it to the regional semi-finals last season.
Hearne has a well-balanced offense with wide receiver Javareyon Bailey, who opens up the field for the Eagles and had 402 yards and six touchdowns last season. Running back Anquan Boxley had 592 yards and five touchdowns. Kickoff will be at 7:30 p.m.
DNP MHS 14, THS 13
MHS THS
30 9 -76 DNP First Rushing Downs 28-136 8 11-18-1 Passing 8-18-1 131 Passing yards 94 207 Total yards 233 2-1 Fumbles 4-2 4-43.7 Punts 5-38.2 6-45 Penalities 5-40
Score by quarters
MHS 0 7 7 0 — 14 THS 0 13 0 0 — 13
Scoring summary
Second quarter
Thrall-Braeden West 84 run (John Alcalar kick) 4:10
Milano-Christian Thurman 70 kickoff return (Kevin Garcia kick) 3:53
Thrall-Isaiah Cage 12 pass from Caden Leschber (kick failed) 0:01
Third quarter
Milano-Devonte Jones 58 pass from Kathen Funburg (Garcia kick) 11:35
RHS individual leaders
Rushing: Funburg 15-33; Kameron Funburg 5-31; Thurman 5-14; Jones 1-4; Noah Benavides 1--3;
Passing: Kathen Funburg 10-17-1, 112 yards, 1 TD; Thurman 1-1-0, 19 yards. Receiving: Jones 7-84, 1 TD; Kath-en Funburg 1-19; Thurman 2-16; Drew Demerrit 1-12.
Tackles: Danny Cloud 8; Darius West 7, Kameron Funburg 7; Ben King 5; Kathen Funburg 5; Alec Hernandez 4; Kevin Garcia 5; Noah Benavides 3; Jeremy Reyes 2; Brett Czajikowski 1; Hayden Heckler 1, Marquise Jones 1; Colt Reagan 1.
Sacks: Hernandez 3, West 2, Cloud 1, Reyes 1, Garcia 1, Czajikoski 1.
Interception: Thurman 1.
13-2A-1 STANDINGS
Team Season District
W-L W-L Thorndale 3-0 1-0
Holland 4-1 1-0
Milano 2-2 1-0
Thrall 1-4 0-1
Rosebud-Lott 1-5 0-1
Hearne 0-4 0-1
Marlin 0-4 0-0
Last week: Holland 40, Hearne 32; and Thorndale 40, Rosebud-Lott 7.
This week: Rosebud-Lott at Marlin; Thrall at Hearne; Holland at Thorndale.
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