Football Fridays in Georgia.

Presented by the Governor's Office of Highway Safety, reminding you to park your phone while you're driving.

It saves lives as we welcome you to the Eagles Nest in Milton, Georgia for a huge region.

Seven 5-A showdown.

As the fourth ranked Gainesville Red Elephants have come to town to take on the third ranked Milton Eagles.

And good evening, I'm Matt Stewart, joined by former Auburn Tigers All-American NFL first round draft pick in 15 year pro Wayne Gandy and Wayne.

Tonight's game is not for the region championship, although the winner of tonight's game might end up winning the region championship.

But after visiting with Josh Niblett and Ben Reeves this week, you get the feeling this game is much bigger than a region championship.

It's one of them kind of games.

There, Matt.

Between two heavyweights.

When you look at this Gainesville team, they came here to beat Milton.

They feel like they demand and they want to be the man.

And you know what has to happen.

They have to go out and win it on the field.

Well, like Josh Niblett said, Milton is the class of the class.

They've won back to back state championships in 2023 and 2024.

They've won 40-2 consecutive region games dating back to 2017.

The problem is most of those players are long gone.

Graduated 17 starters off last year's team, including their four star quarterback Luke Nichol, who's now at Miami.

And they've gone through three different quarterbacks this year after Derek Baker, their star quarterback, got hurt in the opener, and Ben Halevy, the sophomore, is now running the show and doing a good job.

A Levy, a young man who missed the first two weeks of this season for Milton but has stepped in and done an efficient job.

He's blue collar, he's efficient, he's confident, gritty.

His coach likens him to Johnny Manziel.

Seven touchdowns, zero interceptions.

And that's what they need from him tonight.

And four.

Zero as the starting quarterback.

Defensive side of the ball.

Middle school phenom Christian Hunter, now a junior is coming into his own.

It's his defensive line now.

Christian Pancake Hunter, the big fella six feet, 280 junior inside this young man can get off the the block.

He can make sacks out of the pocket.

He can run.

He's athletic.

They need him to dominate tonight.

Now the story on Gainesville like Milton.

They are 6-1 overall.

3-0 in the region.

Trying to bounce back from last year's disappointment when they got knocked out in the first round of the playoffs.

And they're led by their four star junior quarterback Kareem Hughley, who's committed to Clemson.

This dynamic dual threat, this young man can move around in the pocket.

He has all the throws in his bag.

He's the alpha of this offense.

He's just an RPO dangerous runner.

When he decides to tuck the ball and run they need him to have a big game.

Can he recognize the pressure of Milton when they like to come off the edge?

If he can and make big plays, they have a chance of winning.

When we saw him last year, he had one offer from Georgia Southern.

Now he's rated as high as the number four dual threat quarterback in the entire country for 2027.

On the defensive side of the ball, led by the five star Xavier Griffin rated as high as the number 1 linebacker in the country.

Committed to Alabama.

He's 64, 215.

He's a lethal pass rusher off the edge.

He's physical in the box.

He's the best prospect in Georgia and we get the pleasure of watching him tonight.

Gainesville and Milton should be a heck of a ball game here tonight.

In mid October.

We're really looking forward to it.

Third member of our team is John Nelson.

He's down on the sideline.

Good evening Matt.

Good evening.

Wayne.

We're in the middle of the rush here with Milton.

We're going to get through this as best we can.

Thanks for accessing us.

However you are doing so large device or small, there is no doubt that Josh Niblett has turned things around at Gainesville five of the six years previous to their tenure that started back in the 22 season.

They were below 500.

They've gone double digit wins.

You had the unceremonious loss to finish up the season with only seven last time, and they also know that if they're going to own up to what they did in the first two seasons, they got to equally own up to what happened last year.

They also have to win games like this as a team under Josh Niblett, hanging around 500 against ranked opponents.

And if they're going to take that next step and be thought of heavily across the state, across the region, across the country as one of the teams to be reckoned with, guys, they have to win a night like tonight.

Go ahead and light a candle from the Eagles.

I think it's going to be a good one.

It's going to be a long one and you got players that are getting ready to go.

So I'm going to get out of their way.

We're just going to go ahead and start.

I'll see you in a sec.

All right Nelly this is going to be a fun one.

We are moments away from the opening kickoff.

Please go to the QR code right there.

Pick the winner of tonight's game between the Gainesville Red Elephants and the Milton Eagles.

It's the sixth all time meeting last year.

Milton a 42 24 winner there in Gainesville.

It was the first time they had played since 1985.

So the previous four meetings prior to last year at all come 19 80-19 85.

So playing again against each other now that they are reclassified and in the same region, at least for now, because reclassification is right around the corner again.

Josh Niblett, in his fourth season as the Red Elephants head coach, you saw his record 37 or 39 and seven, and Ben Reeves, in his fourth season as the Eagles head coach, 44 and seven overall with two state championships.

Milton won the opening toss.

They have deferred until the second half, so that means we're going to see the Gainesville Red Elephants on offense to start this game.

And the opening kickoff is brought to you by Heads Up, Georgia.

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Got it teed up and ready to go.

Alex Ambrose, the junior going to kick it off for Milton.

They're all in black tonight with the white helmets and Gainesville all in white, trimmed in red.

And the opening kick is going to come down at the five yard line and taken there by Wilmont and Wilmont on the return up across the 30.

And a spin move and Wilmont all the way up to the 37 yard line.

Great return by Legend Wilmont.

And that's where the red Elephants Wayne will start on offense.

Good job right there.

By the return unit.

Good blocking.

Big hole there for Wilmont to run inside and pick up and put his team near midfield here to start this game.

And now we get a chance to watch this high powered offense of Gainesville led by Kareem Hughley.

There he is number 9.

He has grown since we saw him a year ago.

Six foot one, 95.

Junior has passed for over 1,400 yards, 18 touchdowns, just four interceptions for the second year starter as the ball is at the 42.

And that's where Gainesville is going to start.

Wants to go to the air on the first play, chased by Weivoda eludes the rush.

They're going to run with it and up the sideline, stepping out of bounds beyond the 45 yard line.

Great job there by Weivoda getting inside the left tackle here.

Tyler Ford watch as he works underneath.

And then the speed to close on the quarterback.

But this is the aspect of Hughley that he brings to the field.

The elusiveness, the athleticism to be able to make something out of nothing.

So second down ball sitting at the 46.

To the air again and dropped out there on the edge by Philip Williams.

Wayne, let's take a look at your Breda Pest Management impact players.

When the Red elephants have the.

Ball Nigel Newkirk the speedster home run hitter Krew Moledor the center.

It all starts with him.

The physicality that he brings on defense for Milton.

Billy Weivoda already has made an impact.

And Tristan Lester for Milton.

Maybe the best defensive player they have this year.

And Moledor the 63, 290 junior center, is committed to Louisville to the air again.

Hughley going to run it again across the 50.

Has the first down and he's down across the 45 yard line.

The corner Christian Edwards coming up to make the tackle.

That's a first down run for Hughley.

Great job here.

Just not comfortable with what he read down the field.

And then watch the explosion.

The speed right there went to that next level of speed and the physicality there.

Finishing that run, running into Christian Edwards.

You know Wayne Hughley does not have big running numbers yet this season, but most of their games have been blowouts.

You would expect in a tight game like this, you might see him run the ball more.

Yeah, that's the season it gets colder, the games get bigger.

Watch for that aspect.

That's Lewis on the carry.

Dwight PJ Lewis with the run pick.

Yard picks up 2 yards on the play.

Let's take a look at tonight's starting lineup delivered by Johnny's New York style pizza.

Your original neighborhood pizzeria.

It's Ford Hurt Moledor Benijamin and Studivant up front, the running back is Newkirk.

Although Lewis got the first carry of the game, Porterfield, Williams and Wilmont are the wide receivers and James, who's committed to Furman, is the tight end.

So second down line to gain is the 33.

Good drive so far for Gainesville here on their opening possession.

Hughley to the air again.

It's caught by the tight end.

Cam James just mentioned his name.

And that's going to be a first down at the 32.

A little late pressure right there in the face of Hughley.

But nice route here by Cam James.

You can see good connection between these two.

Cam James headed to Furman the X factor as his coach calls him a guy that they asked to line up in various places on the field and make an impact.

Good job right there.

Getting open.

Yeah.

Coach Niblett compared him to his son Sky, who played for him at Hoover, said Cam James, their tight end, 62, 205 senior.

A lot like him.

The X factor as you mentioned, first and ten for Gainesville.

Another first down for the Red elephants.

Handoff goes to Lewis and Lewis gets stopped by Weivoda and a host of Milton Eagles including Roman Tumminia.

Nice job working inside White Voda.

Just a guy that knows how to get off plays and make plays.

Johnny's New York style pizza.

Starting lineup Lawrence Hunter and Tamina up front on that second level.

You go Lester Battaglia, Schmidt and Weivoda.

And on that back line, Wansley who just got an offer from Tennessee this week, Estes, Williams and Edwards.

Second down Hughley to the air again across the middle.

Tipped.

That's a dangerous play.

Whenever the ball gets tipped on that crossing route, it's going to be third down.

Late dog there by inside backer Drue Smith right into the face, forcing that pass a little high.

Trying to work the middle of the field as Hughley.

Brings up third down and ten.

See right there, just a little high, still catchable ball there.

Just a little high to the receiver.

Big third down here to keep this drive alive.

A very patient drive kind of taking what the defense is giving them so far is Gainesville.

Nigel Newkirk their home run hitting running back with 30-2 offers is now in the game, lined up next to Hughley.

He's going to get the hand off and Newkirk is going to get stonewalled right there at the line by Battaglia.

Blaise Battaglia, the 61, 215 junior.

And it's going to be fourth down.

Interesting call right there on a third and ten situation.

You can see Hughley in the offense in that kind of dead zone.

A little too far to try a field goal.

So they're going to dial it up here.

At least line up and show that they're going to go for it on fourth down.

So it's going to be fourth down.

Line to gain is the 22.

So it's fourth down and eight.

Already showed you the legs.

Dangerous situation to run the ball here for Hughley.

Drop back clean pocket.

Now rush and Hughley had to step up in there.

And incomplete ball goes over on downs.

So Milton gets the stop on defense.

Nice drive by Gainesville but it runs out of gas at the 30 yard line.

Milton on offense when we get back.

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Heads up Georgia.

Welcome back to Milton.

Time to catch up with our friends from Milton and present the donation from our friends from Cigna $1,500.

Hanging out here with the athletic director, Corey Keys.

Corey, thanks as always for being a great partner with us all season long and a great partner to Football Fridays all year long.

Man, I'm glad to have you guys back.

It's been a minute, right?

Yeah, I'm glad you guys are here.

It's awesome.

We got senior night.

Look at all these senior cheerleaders.

It's,.

I mean, this is what it's all about, right?

I mean, this is why we enjoy doing what we do is for these moments, for these kids and these these events.

This is it.

It doesn't get any better than this.

Absolutely true.

Thanks to our friends from Cigna.

To our friends from Milton, we're going to catch up with Corey at the half.

Matt, the rest of the quarter is yours.

All right.

Thank you Nelly.

Exciting night.

Senior night.

They went through the Senior night festivities while we were down on the field.

So not only the football players but the cheerleaders and the band and the drill team.

Everybody.

Everybody who's a senior got recognized tonight.

Took a long time there.

About an hour.

But great environment fans are totally engaged and Senior Night always brings out family.

So the handoff goes to Etchison.

Or actually that's going to be Hickman Bentley, Hickman getting the first carry of the game.

And he gets a nice carry up to the 35.5 yard line.

Two big bags.

Atchison and Hickman both around 200 pounds.

Physical run right there by Hickman.

Atchison was dinged up.

Did not play last week in their win against Lanier and Hickman went for 153.

In his absence.

Eagles got our first penalty of the night.

Penalty still second down.

Make it second and eight.

Right there.

Just movement on that offensive line trying to get off the ball.

Big task for this o line tonight against the 435 stars that they have on that defensive front seven of Gainesville.

And Wayne what's interesting about this Milton offensive line is their two stars are a freshman at left tackle who may end up being the best offensive lineman in the country, and a sophomore at right tackle.

Quick pass comes out here on the edge to Williams.

Aiden Williams gets driven out of bounds at the 36 yard line.

Nice pickup again as we take a look at the Breda Pest Management impact players.

When the Eagles on offense.

Breda Pest Management official pest control of high school football.

Jordan Pasquariello the speedy deep threat for this offense Landon G. As you reference could be one of the top prospects at left tackle.

Only a freshman Jamarion Matthews makes big plays in the middle and Darryn Williams just a tackling machine at linebacker.

So third down and two line to gain is the 39.

That's Williams in motion comes set here on the near side.

And the handoff goes to Hickman.

Hickman gets stonewalled at the line of scrimmage.

But second effort will pick up the first down at the 40.

It's a downhill physical run there by Hickman.

511210 physical down blocking by the right tackle.

Look at him finish this run right there to give himself a chance and pick up that first down first.

First down of the night for the Eagles Bentley Hickman 511210 senior.

Ball sitting at the 40.

First possession of the night for the Eagles.

They're averaging 30.4 points per game which is low for what we're accustomed to with this.

Eagles team.

They've gone through a lot of injuries this year.

Handoff goes to Hickman.

Slashes through the line and Hickman up to the 45 yard line.

Another thing that's a little bit unusual Wayne.

From what we're used to is the fact they run the ball so much more than they have in the past.

As far as their run and pass differential.

You take a look at the Eagles.

It's brought to you by Johnny's New York style pizza G Sutton, Stewart Munez and Evans.

Up front, Munez is a power lifter going to compete in the Pan American Games.

Believe that or not.

Atchison, the starting running back although he wasn't tonight, Hickman was Carrasquillo Williams, the wide receivers and Haviland is rated the number 1 wide receiver wide receiver in the country.

Pass complete to Carrasquillo.

And that's a first down across the 45 down to the 42.

Nice.

Fine there by Olivia out on the edge Carlos Willow, the young junior here good protection.

Good set up there by Olivia.

And then just finishing the play right there.

That's what you expect from Carrasquillo, the young junior who's really jumped on the scene.

The three star.

He's got four offers, football offers, but he's committed to play lacrosse at Ohio State.

Keep making plays like that.

He might change his mind.

So first and ten.

Olivia in the pocket steps up now eludes the rush from Matthews and slides down at the 34 yard line with Xavier Griffin closing in on him.

Fast.

Nice job keeping the play alive.

Surveying the field.

Didn't like what he saw.

Pressure off the edge right there by Leonard and then improvising by Olivia, making them pay by using his legs.

I thought it was interesting, Ben Reeves said.

He's got some Johnny football in him and totally unprompted, Josh Niblett said the same thing.

Said he's like Johnny Manziel.

Hand off and Griffin's going to drag him down shy of the stick.

Xavier Griffin number 8.

The five star headed to Alabama.

Top rated prospect here in the state of Georgia.

Number eight.

You're not going to be able to run away from an elite speed.

This young man has be interesting when he gets to Alabama.

How they play him with that kind of height and length that he has.

Won't be surprised to see his hand in the dirt.

Like to see him and Tyler Atkinson have a tackle off.

Just have a battle to get the most tackles.

If we're going to get another false start here.

The snap.

I have a false start offense.

Repeat third down.

Just can't have those kind of plays.

Motion man.

This offense is built around being efficient.

Brian Baugus is our referee tonight.

Making the call right there.

And it's going to be third down.

So a third down and one now becomes a third down.

And six line to gain is the 32.

So going back to Xavier Griffin he's rated as high as the number 1 linebacker in the country.

Well Tyler Atkinson of Grayson is also rated as high as the number 1 linebacker in the country.

There's four major recruiting services and so they sometimes have different rankings.

But regardless to say both of those guys are great linebackers up top.

Halevy going for Carrasquillo and threw it to the other side and a flag out.

Looks like we're going to have a DP on Gainesville.

Just airing it out.

Big play receiver with speed Harris, Willow double covered right there.

Zach Ingram 21 as he tries to find this ball ball hanging in the air a long time.

You can see right there just running into the receiver as he tries to find the ball.

Easy call there for the official.

Wayne, have you ever tried to run full speed and look behind you?

It's not an easy thing to do.

Now is it?

No pass interference defense.

That pin is going to be declined.

We have personal foul, roughing the passer.

That penalty will be 15 yards automatic.

First down.

That's a big one.

Trying to get the Oliver.

15 yard penalty right there.

Now we do know if it was Sunday they would have taken the personal foul.

I mean the pass interference.

Yeah.

Because the ball would have been.

In the five.

It's been on the five yard line.

But here taking the 15 getting it close to that red zone area is Milton.

So first and ten.

Now for the Eagles at the 23 yard line.

Both these teams have had nice drives on their opening possession.

Although Gainesville turned it over on downs at the Milton 30.

Handoff goes to Atchison.

Atchison gets dragged down from behind.

Jamarion Matthews the tackle inside 632 55 also headed to Tuscaloosa and Alabama.

The four star just a game wrecker.

Their great penetration almost taking the handoff right there, tying up Hickman before he could get going.

So Josh Niblett was an all state quarterback at Alabama in Alabama during his high school days.

He played at Alabama.

Pipeline and now two of their best players are going Alabama.

So second down Oliver to the air and throws short at the 15 yard line trying to get the ball to Mainzer that time.

So we take a look at the starters delivered by Johnny's New York style pizza.

Your original neighborhood pizzeria.

Gainesville on defense Leonard Matthews Cain.

Who's going to Duke and Fossung who's committed to Tulsa?

There's Griffin, Williams and Watson playing that star position.

And on that back line you got Bailey, Holder, Sims and Ingram.

So now it's third down.

So Gainesville defense trying to do what the Milton defense did to the Gainesville offense.

And that's hold them on downs here.

Levy looks to the far side complete to Carrasquillo looking for a place to run.

And Carrasquillo is going to get dropped at the 20 yard line.

It's going to be fourth down.

Nice tackle there in the secondary.

Darryn Williams dropping back, playing underneath the young junior kind of hybrid is Williams six feet 190.

Kind of safety right there.

Coming up and making that play.

Forcing a fourth down here as Milton keeps the offense similar to Gainesville on the field.

Interesting because this is certainly in the field goal range for Logan Gallery for Logan Gailey their kicker.

So interesting that they,.

Got him out there.

They don't have him out there.

Pardon me.

That would have been Alex Ambrose, their kicker.

But either way, he's not out on the field.

It's fourth down and a time-out has been called by Milton.

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So back coming out of this time-out.

It's fourth down, and it sounds like.

Now.

Jalen Nelly reporting from down on the sideline.

Looks like they're going to bring on the field goal unit here and give the aforementioned Logan Gailey a chance to kick a field goal here.

This is certainly within his range.

It would be about a 40 yard kick I think.

Rix Ambrose I'm sorry I keep keep looking at the Gainesville side because they're I got them colored in red.

I'm used to Milton being in the red.

They're called black here tonight.

So Alex Ambrose going to take the field goal here.

And this is going to be a 36 yarder with Chris Hatfield holding.

Kick is on its way.

And the kick is going to be good.

Just got it over the crossbar.

Just enough to count.

But that's all that matters right there.

As you can see his team celebrating Milton och Stevie Jackson not happy with what they saw.

They call a time-out and decided to get on the board.

Nice operation right there.

And that's all you need is just to get it by to get those three points.

So a 40 1 yard field goal by Alex Ambrose, the 59, 160 junior.

And Milton on the board.

Nice.

Go ahead.

Nice drive right there by Milton.

Very patient.

Similar to Gainesville.

Kind of taking what the defense getting the ball out quick.

Going up top trying to test the secondary with Olivia to swallow.

Got the penalty.

But two efficient drives but Milton able to punch some points on the board.

So actually a 36 yard field goal by Ambrose to make it 3-0 And Ben Reeves told us this might be one of those nights.

And one of those take the points kind of nights.

And that's what he ultimately decides to do at the end of his first drive.

And so Milton with the 3-0 lead as Ambrose kicks it off again.

Return by Wilmont and Wilmont.

Another nice return up across the 35 and Wilmont close to the 40.

Nice job once again by the return team.

Really in these returns so far.

Legend Wilmont not even having to negotiate a cover man until he gets about the 25 yard line right there.

Then a couple of cuts, break a tackle right there on the edge, giving his team great field position again.

So that ends up being an 11 play, 52 yard drive to get the three points.

Nearly 5.5 minutes off the clock.

And that scoring drive is brought to you by DBHDD.

And the new red ribbon.

365 curriculum.

So first and ten ball at the 40 yard line for Gainesville second possession of the night.

Hughley to the air and it's complete out on the edge to Williams and Philip Williams gets thrown back by Lawson.

Estes you get the feel that both of these defenses are just going to keep things in front of them.

Make these offenses be efficient and drive the ball.

You can see both linebacker secondary playing off coming up, doing a good job right there by Estes making that tackle.

Estes is committed to Samford.

He is a second year starter.

His dad's on the coaching staff.

And Ben Reese says it's hard to believe he's been around Lawson since he was an elementary school, and he's now a senior, went through senior night here tonight.

Handoff goes to Lewis.

Gaping hole for Lewis, and Lewis has the first down at the 42 and a touchdown saving tackle by Wansley.

The Thunder of the Lightning and Thunder package here.

Young sophomore 205.

Big hole right there on that right side Benjamin Studivant nice blocking up front by the O-line.

So first and ten for the red Elephants high snap.

And Lewis gets it again.

This time he gets met in the hole by Battaglia who drives him sideways into the ground.

The tackler.

What a warrior he is.

The young junior, the leading tackler on this defense so far this season.

Both reference him as an American gladiator type guy, just fearless.

He's going to come up and right there.

The physicality to drive back a guy like Lewis.

Second down, Hughley in the pocket across the middle to Lewis.

Lewis going to pick up the first down.

Got away from Battaglia.

Slips another tackle down the sideline inside the ten and still on his feet.

And Lewis all the way down to the goal line.

Touchdown touchdown Gainesville!

There's so many brilliant parts of this play right here to Dwight Lewis.

What an amazing run after the catch on this screen.

Middle screen gets to the outside.

One tackle missed two right there.

The balance to stay in bounds right there.

Why voter missing right there Tristan Lester is missing.

And falling into the end zone.

There is Dwight Lewis for the touchdown.

So Gailey the left footed kicker on for the P-a-t for Gainesville.

Silas Ingram is the holder.

Kick is up and the kick is good.

And Gainesville has jumped on top 73.

Just a middle screen right here.

Easy O-line doing a good job with the timing.

Look at the blockers in front right there and then just the vision and power right there to evade the balance.

The speed, the good blocking there by his teammate Porterfield and then just powering himself.

He's going to get his own touchdown.

Never want to leave it up to the coach to leave you in the game.

You better get it when you can.

Great.

Run on that screen play and a good call there.

By Tad Niblett the OC.

And he's supposed to be the Thunder.

He was.

I can't wait to see the lightning out of this.

The storm.

Nigel Newkirk.

All we hear right now is the thunder.

We haven't seen the lightning yet.

So that was pretty impressive right there.

As that went 41 yards for the score.

And Gainesville has a 73 lead.

So now Gailey going to kick.

And Williams will take it in the end zone.

Nonreturnable.

So the ball will come out to the 20 yard line Georgia Educators GPB is your partner in the classroom.

Access free, standards aligned lessons, videos and training for every grade and subject at gpb.org slash education.

So great first quarter here.

Fast moving first quarter.

Both offenses have had some moments and so have the defenses and Gainesville right now leads this 173.

Feels like they're throwing body blows right there.

Both teams trying to feel each other out.

Power punches and intense environment.

The fans are out for both teams.

As you look over Gainesville very well represented.

So first and ten, another flag out again.

Milton I think had movement on that offensive line.

Offense.

Five yard penalty still first down.

Third false start penalty by the offensive line.

And just this first quarter a lot of young guys up there G the freshman Evans the sophomore inside with Jones and Sutton can't start off against this kind of defense in the hole.

Got to stay ahead of the chains.

The DBHDD and the new red ribbon curriculum 365 scoring drive four plays 60 yards for the red Elephants.

Carry.

Short game by Hickman right there.

Hickman the 511210 senior.

You have to enjoy the physicality and the approach that Milton is taking.

They're running right after Cain and Matthews inside.

Two high prospects.

Cain headed to Duke Matthews as we spoke about headed to Alabama.

They're getting right down hill with Hickman is Milton.

Second down and ten Carrasquillo in motion behind the line.

Handoff goes to Hickman again and Hickman gets stuck right there at the line of scrimmage.

No running room.

That's Aidan Cain, the Duke commit coming up with the tackle.

Nice job there.

Getting off the block.

Aidan Cain 62, 275.

Physical nose tackle as you can see right there, just late getting off the block, getting into the legs of Hickman, creating this third and long with these pass rushers like Griffin and Leonard can come off the ball and test these two young tackles.

Cain committed to Duke over 14 other offers, including Georgia Tech, so now third down and seven.

A levy heavy rush being chased by Matthews eludes the rush.

Little fake right there on Griffin.

And look at him weave through the defense and pick up the first down at the 33 yard line.

There's your Johnny Football for you.

There is Johnny Football Texas m m A&M, Johnny Football right there.

The Wiggle, the excitement that he brings.

The fake, the total package.

I was trying to figure out is it Johnny Manziel or Baker Mayfield?

One of them right there.

Beautiful decision.

Great improvising by Levy.

Tremendous run right there to pick up the first down on the final play of the first quarter.

We have played 12 minutes here at Milton.

It's Gainesville on top on the 41 yard catch and run by PJ Lewis ten to the second.

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As we head to the second quarter in Gainesville leading Milton 73, Matt Stewart, along with Wayne Gandy and John Nelson.

And how about this run by Ben Halevy at the end of the first quarter.

Levi here, looking at the pressure Matthews in his face here.

He's running.

He tucks the ball away.

He fakes making guys miss.

And that's that aspect, that grittiness right there.

He's going to do.

Even as a young sophomore, all he can to willed this team to victory.

Good start to the game here.

He was not the starting quarterback.

In fact he was not even on the roster when they opened the season at Buford.

More on that as we go throughout the night.

Explain what happened here with the quarterback situation at Milton as we start the second quarter and the handoff goes to Atchison and Atchison with a nice run up to the 43.

This offensive line so far is handling its business.

Running the ball.

You can see the commitment Coach reads this offense.

Offensive coordinator Stevie Jackson.

They're committed to run the ball.

Take some time off the clock and be physical up front in the O line.

Second down and short handoff goes to Atchison again.

And Atchison is going to have the first down at the 49.

Atchison 510 200 pound junior elite vision.

As his coach says, can cut on a dime right here just getting downhill.

Big hole.

And then these backs are just finishing the run at the end.

Nice job running behind his pads.

Eagles replacing TJ Lester in their running game.

He had been a mainstay with the Eagles over the last couple of years.

He's now a freshman at West Georgia.

So first and ten ball is at the 49 for Milton.

It's Williams in motion and he's going to get the handoff Hayden Williams coming this way.

Ball is out.

It is recovered by Gainesville.

And Aidan Cain got on top of it at the 45 yard line.

Big hit right there.

Jamarcus Sims coming up a little trickery right here.

As you can see.

Getting it out on the edge.

And then just a big hit right there on Williams Aiden Williams trying to get to the edge.

Watch 20 come and put that helmet right on the ball.

That's just what they teach you as a defender to get that helmet on the ball.

Knocking it out there as Sims.

So a big time play by this Gainesville defense is now the red Elephants go back on offense now at the Milton 45 and set up with good field position leading this game 73.

Hughley three of six passing for 56 yards through the first quarter of play.

Also a couple of carries for 15 yards and Newkirk.

Now they're going to fake it and throw the ball instead as Williams gets to the 41.

Picks up four on the play.

4.5 on the play.

Nice execution right there.

High snap.

Having to go up.

Bring the ball in.

Is Hughley getting it out on the edge to Williams there.

Energizer Bunny playing out of that slot position.

581 65 Senior Williams.

He has been offered by Murray State Hughley in there at quarterback and Newkirk is the running back now and Newkirk no keeper by Hughley on the RPO.

Dances outside has the first down and more all the way down inside the 30.

Steps out of bounds at the 28.

Great job pulling the ball in down.

Quarterback has to have the ability to pull this ball.

As you can see on the RPO game, catching with a little fake there.

Getting Tristan Lester to buy down inside and then getting outside of Jordan Williams.

Nice fake there.

Nice move by Hughley.

And we got to give Kareem his flowers on his fake to.

So first and ten.

Hughley in the pocket.

Clean pocket going deep across the middle.

Contact.

And there's going to be a flag at the goal line.

We're gonna have a DP coming up on Milton.

Cam James the tight end was the target and he was bracket coverage.

And someone tangled him up.

Might have been Wansley.

Wansley Aziz back.

Just trying to fit that ball in.

As Hughley as he moved over Wansley to the ball here.

You can.

See pass interference defense.

That'll be a half the distance to the goal.

Penalty.

First down.

Yeah.

Wansley gets called for the DPI.

Josh Niblett 17 state championships at Alabama, six of them with Hoover, including a 2013 national championship with Hoover when he decided to move to the state of Georgia and leave his native state and take over this Gainesville program.

So many times, Gainesville have been a bridesmaid, eight times they've been state runners up.

They've only got one state championship, though.

That's when Deshaun Watson led them to the title in 2012.

So first and ten ball is at the 14 yard line.

On the sweep goes Newkirk got blockers Newkirk down the sideline and stepped out of bounds at the Ford.

Tyler Ford Bryson Hurt leading the way here out on the edge.

Good job.

Good vision here.

By Newkirk.

Watch the guard pull around 71.

No one really to hit right there.

Just getting that big body in the way and then trying to walk the tightrope.

Just 1 ft 1 " out of bounds there for Newkirk.

Big 71 Bryson Hurt didn't leave him enough space on the sideline, but it's first and goal to go now for Gainesville.

Newkirk dives in the pile and he's down to the one.

Newkirk see him right there on that dive.

Newkirk kind of felt like he was a little closer to the goal line, and he was.

But falling over the pile, picking up a yard and a half to put his team down on the 1 yard line.

Nigel Newkirk three star rated as high as the number 27 running back in 2027.

Hughley has produced 88 yards of offense so far in this game.

Still keeping Newkirk the lightning in the game.

The power of Dwight Lewis PJ Lewis surprised he's not in this situation.

High snap ball goes to Newkirk Newkirk into the end zone for the touchdown.

Gainesville takes a 13-3 lead.

Get the ball to Newkirk.

Your three star running behind your three star center.

Moledor headed to Louisville right there, paving the way.

And we do have a Milton player down on the turf.

Hunter is up now and running off.

Watch right here in the middle.

Just bodies, white jerseys.

That's what you want to do as an offensive lineman.

You want to find yourself in the end zone.

That means that there's a way for the back right there and that middle.

Just pushing a wave of white into the end zone.

Logan Gailey on for the P.a.t.

Silas Ingram is the Holder and Cam James is the snapper.

Kick is up and the kick is good, and a 14-3 lead for Gainesville.

Turn the fumble into points.

2.5 minutes into the second, Gainesville leads by 11.

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14 three Gainesville with the lead on Milton here at the Eagle's Nest.

2 minutes and 20s into the second quarter.

That big fumble forced fumble by Jamarcus Sims recovery by Aidan Cain turns into a touchdown drive for Gainesville.

They've got 11 point lead on the Milton Eagles here.

Josh.

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It was five plays and 45 yards.

Done quickly.

And when you want to win a big game Gainesville coming in here trying to take down Milton.

You have to capitalize when you get the short field defense.

Complementary football offense, get the ball, go down and score.

So Gailey has it teed up and ready to kick off.

Line.

Drive.

Kick.

That's going to go all the way back to Williams at the two yard line Aiden Williams on the return and Williams dancing around.

He's not going to get to the 15.

Going to get stopped at the 14.

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Matt Stewart.

Wayne Gandy.

Jon Nelson with you and a little bit of the energy being sucked out of the building after that touchdown by Gainesville to put him up by 11 points.

Let's see what Milton does to respond here.

Offensively, they've moved the ball well.

But in a game like this, you can't afford to have turnovers.

This offense is going to have to get back to just taking what the defense gives, continue to stay physical, running the ball downhill.

But you got to punch some of these and get some points on the board.

Hickman now in there running back.

And Halevy is going to throw from inside the ten.

He's dancing around back there.

He's being chased.

He's in trouble at the goal line.

Heaves it up to the other side of the field.

Possible intentional grounding right here.

As you can see, officials looking for a receiver in the area still in the pocket.

You could hear the coaches for Gainesville in the booth next to us screaming for a safety, which would be the call if you intentionally ground the ball out of the end zone.

Right here.

Filling pressure, trying to scramble.

Couldn't outrun the defensive Kadin Farzad and then just throw the ball.

Not really sure.

Didn't see a black jersey in the area right there.

So second down and ten ball sitting at the 15.

Scrimmage.

Another play.

Second down and ten.

Milton Halevy showed a little bit of his sophomore ness right there.

Hickman gets the handoff and Hickman a couple of yards on the play as they crash in on top of him.

Griffin there to make the tackle at the line of scrimmage.

Good job once again by this offensive line inside Stewart Sutton just running right downhill at some very talented defensive players.

When you look at Matthews and Cain, that that middle is what they're attacking and they're getting 4-5 yards a clip when they run inside.

Third down and seven, the line to gain is the 25.

Halevy in the pocket heaves it out of there.

Up top it goes for Carrasquillo who makes the catch at the 42 Carrasquillo finally dragged down inside the 25 yard line.

Just trusting that Carrasquillo will be there for him.

Stepping into the throw, launching the ball down the field is alive.

Trying to get back into the play there.

Zach Ingram and what concentration and hands by Cal right there to be able to catch that ball for his team.

So first and ten for Milton at the 22.

Hickman gets the handoff and Hickman goes straight forward through the line of scrimmage.

Jamarion Matthews making the tackle but a nice gain by Hickman after the long pass to Carrasquillo.

Coach Reeves talked about his O line.

Must not back down.

They must accept this challenge and so far as I said, they're running right downhill with the physicality of hitting in this offensive line and they're able to get four or five yards right in the middle of this defense.

Halevy in the pocket.

Going to.

Sling it.

Sidearm out here to Mintzer and Mintzer.

Tackled at the 13 yard line.

And it's going to be close to a first down.

And right in route right there by Meitzler.

Good find.

You can see initially Navy felt like he was going to have to scramble out of the pocket, kept his head up, delivered it downfield to his receiver to shut up this third and one third.

Down and one.

When are you four down territory here?

Yeah, definitely try to keep pace with this Gainesville offense.

Hickman got the first down down to the 11 yard line.

Bentley Hickman with the first down run for the Eagles.

Right here.

That right side.

Look at that hole right there.

Nice job by the offensive line.

Good job seeing that hole by Hickman and falling forward.

And good news for the Eagles Matthews helmet came off.

He's got to come off the field.

You need to take advantage of the fact that he's not on the field right now.

First and ten.

Hand off goes to Atchison, and Atchison gets tackled at the eight.

That was Kadin Fossung who committed to Tulsa a couple of weeks ago, making the tackle for Gainesville, going to play for Trey Lamb, the former Calhoun quarterback.

Of course, the famous lamb family coaching family.

Hal and Bobby here in the state of Georgia.

Hal now retired the ad of Calhoun schools second down handoff goes to Atchison and maybe got a yard on the play to the seven.

Good job grinding it out right there.

Running it from behind by the defense.

Good job for sun playing down the line making that play.

Still have to feel like in this situation 143 or still early in the game in the first half here you got to be aggressive.

You got to try to figure out how to get in the end zone.

Can pick up a first down.

A levy fires in the middle.

Ball got tipped right there at the goal line by Gainesville.

So it's going to be fourth down.

Let's see what they do.

Great job Aaron Williams playing center field right there.

Breaking on that ball already three interceptions on the season.

Watch how he watches the quarterback.

Eyes right there.

Lucky not a pick six right there.

No one with his speed is going to catch him.

If he catches that ball and takes off.

So they do bring Ambrose out.

He already kicked a 36 yard field goal.

This is going to be a 24 yard field goal attempt from the right hash.

And remember Ben Reeves said this is one of those nights where you take the points.

You don't gamble.

Perhaps so they want to get the points right here.

They get the snap down, it's blocked scoop opportunity for Gainesville and down at the 33 and blocked and Gainesville stops another scoring opportunity right there Elijah Watson tried to scoop it and run and lost his balance.

He would have easily scored but Gainesville gets the ball.

Big pressure right there.

Just a little fumbling of the snap.

Ball hit the ground, able to try to tee it up, but too late.

Pressure off the edge.

Nothing but green grass in front of Watson.

Kind of stumbled as he bent down to pick up the ball.

You can see the frustration.

He knew he had a touchdown.

If he could keep his feet.

Yeah, it looked like the snap was a little bit low.

Didn't get all the way back to the Holder.

That kind of led to the kick being blocked.

And so it stays 14-3 And Gainesville's got the ball back at their own 32.

Newkirk on the run.

Lester making the tackle after Newkirk picks up about three on the play to the 36.

And now you see this Gainesville offensive line.

A lot of talent on it up front.

Big bodies Carter Mathis in there.

67, 290 at right tackle.

Young junior, three star.. And he's a backup right?

He's the backup.

Just getting a couple of snaps in with that kind of size.

And he is massive.

Look at him lined up here on the near side of the offensive line.

Hughley goes to the air to James.

And James has the first down up at the 45 yard line.

Tristan Lester, who's committed to Marshall making that tackle.

Gainesville playing with some tempo here.

Good pocket, no pressure.

Just pitch and catch on the outside.

Cam James the big target 62 205.

Tight end.

First and ten as we go under 5 minutes to play here in the first half.

That's Wilcox in motion behind the line.

Handoff goes Newkirk right into the teeth of that defense.

Not much running room right there.

Both teams kind of just running that old fashioned right down at you.

There's no jet sweeps and all that.

There's no kind of trickery.

They're just willing to with these big offensive lines to run right at you.

Good job inside by Hurt.

And Benjamin at those guard positions.

Second down ball sitting on the 50.

Hughley on the sprint out throws.

And it's caught.

And that's going to be a first down at the 35 yard line.

Really dealing the ball spreading the wealth as it goes to Wilmont that time.

Here's a flag down.

Back.

He knowledgeable man downfield offense.

That'd be a five yard penalty from the previous spot.

Repeat second down.

Lost on the play.

So wipes out the first down catch and run by Wilmont.

Gainesville has been pretty good tonight with penalties, especially offensively right there.

They have a nice play off the board, but continuing to play with tempo that Niblett the offensive coordinator getting the plays in and out.

This offensive line.

These backs Newkirk Lewis running hard.

Next level sports.

So they're trying to get the chains situated over there on the far sideline.

Get the ball spotted at the 45.

It's going to bring up second down and 12.

Don't want to get away from being able to run the ball.

Find yourself behind the sticks.

You want to stay on schedule.

Hughley throws complete to Williams over here.

One man to beat and can't do it.

Got held up by Jordan Williams until his partner Tristan Lester can come and finish him off.

Great job there by Jordan Williams coming up forcing Williams back inside to Lester.

You can see quick screen out on the edge 17 forcing him back in.

Still on the play.

Then the big hit there by Tristan Lester.

So third down and long.

Hughley dumps it off complete to Williams trying to set up a screen.

Got a block right there in the middle.

And a flag out.

This might be a penalty on Gainesville.

Colin Potterfield outside.

Back against the offense.

Hey you want the penalty?

You can see seven right here.

Comes into your screen right there.

Easy call block in the back on Edwards.

Collin Porterfield the 62, 63.

200 pound junior.

Against the offense.

That'll be a ten yard penalty from the spot of the foul.

It'll still be third down.

Right there Matt.

If you're Porterfield you just want to kind of get in the way.

You've lost him.

Let Williams bring the defender to you and just let him run into you right there.

Easy call for the official to make with the block in the back.

So Gainesville going in reverse since they got that blocked field goal.

And so they're almost right back to where they recovered the blocked field goal and fell down.

So ball all the way back at the 34 yard line.

Now.

And the line to gain is on the other side of the 50 at the 43.

Third and forever.

Really don't have a play to sign for third and 23 here.

Got to be careful with this ball.

Newkirk on the handoff trying to bounce it outside and does get some of it back.

Gets back to the original line of scrimmage.

But it's going to be fourth down for Gainesville.

Just keeping it on the ground, keeping safe.

You don't want to throw the ball.

Have a turnover.

Playing with some momentum.

Your defense is playing good.

Getting off the field.

Yard gain on the play.

So Francisco Johnson is on to punt for Gainesville and Aidan Williams is going to drop back deep to field this punt.

Snap gets back play.

Got blown dead.

Prior to the snap.

I have a false start offense.

Five yard penalty.

Still fourth down.

Wayne I blame you.

Ever since you said Gainesville has been pretty good on penalties.

They've done nothing but commit penalties.

And penalties there.

Milton the return team showing pressure, stepped up into the gaps and just moving too early.

Right there as Gainesville.

Milton here.

You want a good secure.

This ball gets you a good return.

If you're Aiden Williams he's been hurt early in the season.

Is Williams back playing more three way player receiver corner and return.

Man.

Gets it out of there.

High kick Williams going to let it hit and bounce and takes a big Gainesville bounce.

That thing still rolling.

And finally down at the 7.5 Williams should have come up to play that ball.

He didn't.

And it cost him a lot of yards.

Milton back on offense.

When we get back.

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Welcome back to the nest 155 to go here in the half.

Coming up, halftime show, we're going to take the tour.

Let you know what's going on.

Some ranked teams are putting up some markers tonight, and there's one game in the western frontier that we might have score on.

Also, heads up Georgia.

You save it.

Player student athlete of the week.

All the stuff that you get to know about coming up at the half.

Let's go back up to Matt and Wayne for the final.

Buck 55 here in the first.

All right Nelly.

So Milton going back on offense Ben Halevy five of eight passing for 88 yards.

Couple of carries for 20.

Done a pretty good job.

Put the ball out there in harm's way once and was fortunate not to get a penalty.

Called on him.

And he brings the offense back out.

Derrick Baker was their starting quarterback at the beginning of the year, a move in from St.

Thomas Aquinas down in South Florida.

He got hurt against Buford.

They expect to maybe get him back in the playoffs.

Halevy going to air it out and incomplete trying to get the ball.

To Williams at the 45 yard line.

Trying to go over the top of the defense.

Good coverage there by Chase Walker.

Never letting Williams get behind him.

Trying to air it out.

Interesting call in this situation inside the ten at this position in the game.

Imagine they were trying to get a drive going to make sure that Gainesville doesn't get this ball back.

So second down and ten Halevy going to throw it over here to Carrasquillo got a block and Carrasquillo up across the 15 close to the 20.

Really like how Jordan Willow runs after the catch.

Very physical.

62, 180 as you said, already committed to Ohio State for lacrosse right here, showing you those lacrosse moves out here in the open.

Just receiver screen out on the edge.

Physicality to finish the play.

I think he's won two state titles here at Milton in lacrosse.

But he doesn't have bragging rights in his own household.

His sisters have won six total.

So third down and two.

Halevy got hit as he throws and incomplete.

Make sure he's okay.

He nearly got cut in two by a pass rush.

Clean hit there by Marshall Leonard off the edge as Levi rolls out of the pocket, rolls towards the line there.

Jump to throw that ball and just got a big hit by Levin.

Clean hit right there.

Didn't try to slam the quarterback to the ground.

A three and out for this defense of Gainesville.

Yeah, Gainesville is going to get the ball back with three time-outs remaining and plenty of time on the clock.

They've already blocked one kick here tonight.

That was the field goal attempt a few moments ago.

Kieran Keenum on the punt standing at the two.

And he's going to.

Milton.

We can hear the conversation clearly from the Gainesville coaches who are right next door to us.

They believe that Milton is going to fake it.

I don't think that Milton is going to fake it at their 16 yard line.

I don't think.

And this is why three throw passes in a row for Milton right there.

Really no time off the clock.

They got the ball with 1-55 on it.

Tried to go over top.

They went with the screen and right here good field position.

You imagine the Gainesville.

They're kind of quarterback.

They have.

They're going to stay aggressive and try to put some more points on the board.

Milton is ranked number 20 in the nation in the USA Today Super 25.

They've won seven straight region titles, 42 consecutive region games dating back to 2017.

So take a look at the Milton resume.

Three state championships 2018, 2023, 2024.

And believe it or not, this program once had a 37 game losing streak.

They've had five seasons where they never even won a game.

What a dramatic turnaround for the Milton Eagles program here in the last decade plus.

Keenum gets it out of there.

Line drive kick that Williams has to go back and get it 40 Williams couple of dance moves and gets knocked down sideways at the 46 yard line.

That's where Gainesville goes on offense 123 left on the clock three time-outs.

They got plenty of time to work with here.

Good return there by Williams.

Get the ball.

Don't want to waste a lot of time running around the field getting the ball.

Get upfield and get the offense out here.

Greene Hughley.

And this offense big play potential down the field.

But his ability to scramble and use his legs may show up here in this last minute.

23.

So first and ten for Gainesville ball sitting at the 46 Hughley seven of ten passing 69 yards and 28 yards rushing.

Hughley scans the field now going to run it gets to the 50 and no more than that as Williams the safety comes up to make the tackle and the clock will continue to run.

Gainesville has not used a time-out here.

Get up to the line of scrimmage.

You want to get another play off if you can, without having to use a time-out.

Second down and six.

Williams in motion behind the line.

Clean pocket for Hughley.

Now he's forced out of the pocket.

Fires on the run and incomplete at the 25 yard line.

Trying to squeeze it in a tight space to the freshman wide receiver Trent Wilcox.

They like this kid a lot.

Right there.

Had that back.

He had Cam Jones right there standing on the sideline.

No defender was on him.

They're just good job improvising.

Getting out the pocket to give himself a chance.

Is Hughley.

So third down and six.

Now you got to be a little bit careful here too because you have not eaten a lot of time off the clock.

If you fail to convert right here on a passing play, Milton gets the ball back and they got some time.

At least a chance to try to block your punt, something they have done a couple of times this year.

This Milton punt team.

They blocked five punts this year.

Ball is complete.

That's a first down as the ball goes to Lewis Dwight Lewis.

You've heard us call him P.J.

They call him P.J.

He's Dwight on the roster.

But P.J.

In their hearts.

And P.J.

Picks up the first down.

Just a little wheel route out of the backfield.

Late coverage there by Battaglia and a big pickup there for Gainesville.

And they quickly exercise that time-out.

I believe because the clock is stopped.

They're huddled up on their side.

So somebody called the time-out.

And no, it wasn't Milton.

So they've got it first and ten at the 39 yard line.

Gainesville was the one to call time-out.

That leaves them with two.

As we take a look at the Gainesville resume.

State champions in 2022.

As I mentioned before, a guy named Deshaun Watson led them to the title.

But eight times they've been state runners up, most recently in 2022, which was coach Josh Niblett first season, 33 region titles.

Two of them have come under Niblett Milton series.

As we mentioned, not a lot of games played this just sixth all time.

Last year was the first time they played since 1985, and Milton won it.

And this is the 112th season of Red Elephant Football going back to 1905.

Coach Niblett Gainesville.

They feel like Milton in the last couple of years has kind of set the standard, and this is their chance to kind of announce that they have arrived and start building championships again.

Yeah.

When Gainesville won those region titles, they were not in the same region or classification with Milton.

39.

So first and ten ball at the 39 yard line.

Going to pitch it a double pitch has the ball comes to Wilmont and Wilmont running here to the near side inside the 30 and Wilmont finally knocked out of bounds at the 20 and then a late tackle by Lester.

And he's lucky that no flag was thrown there.

Now the flag comes.

Out.

Lester kind of body slammed him after he was out of bounds.

I thought.

So this could easily be a personal foul on Milton.

So we have two fouls on the play as well, but definitely a late hit there as he finished the play as Tristan Lester.

One two.

Double reverse.

They're getting the ball out on the edge to Wilmont.

We've seen him turn some kicks.

Nice job of getting out of that tackle by Williams.

And as you can see.

I'm holding against the offense.

That'd be a spot foul.

Then I have a dead ball personal foul against the offense.

Both penalties will be enforced.

Here we go.

Wow.

So the spot foul on a holding.

Did you not think that Lester was a late tackle?

That was definitely a late hit as he slammed him to the ground as he was already out of bounds.

Looks like they missed that one because they called two penalties on Gainesville, did they not?

They're going to mark him back.

That's to around the original line.

I'm not sure he caught another personal foul against Gainesville.

I wonder if they would call the shove right there of Lester once Wilmont got up, he shoved.

Somehow they missed the fact that Lester, after the runner, was already out of bounds, and I think the whistle had blown.

I can't hear the whistle right here.

Look, he's out of.

Bounds, and.

He just.

Slams him down.

Which I thought was a little extracurricular, but no flag.

And the officials are right there.

And this is what they call the penalty.

They called it on the offensive player who was upset that he got body slammed.

So tough luck for Gainesville right there.

That was not a good call.

My honest opinion.

Hand off goes to Newkirk.

Newkirk knocks him down at the 49 yard line.

And that's going to be the end of the first half.

Impressive.

First half of the Gainesville red Elephants as they try to snap the Milton Eagles 42 game region winning streak, they have an 11 point lead as the teams head to the locker room.

Over.

Good job.

Gainesville responding.

We saw Milton kind of take control once they got the ball, drove the ball down the field and put three in Gainesville responding with two big touchdowns.

Coach's interview is brought to you by Johnny's New York style pizza.

Your original neighborhood pizzeria.

Thank you very much.

Matt here with Coach Niblett honest assessment of that first 20:04 would be what?

Yeah.

Well, I mean, we should have have two more scores on the on the board for penalties.

You know, we talked about all week about playing within the rules of the game.

You know, it's okay to play with emotion, but you can't be emotional.

And then we got to have to keep our hands inside.

Don't get called for holding penalties I mean we're doing it to ourselves.

We're playing good enough to be up by two more scores, but we're shooting ourselves in the foot.

We're playing a really good football team, so we got to get that stuff cleaned up in the second half.

But to God be the glory and we got opportunity to be out here and compete.

We're going to play better in the second half, I can promise you that.

Thanks for your time.

Josh Niblett, head coach at Gainesville.

He's up by 11.

When we come back around the corner, it is the halftime show.

We'll take a tour of the state.

Find out what's going on with our friends at Cigna.

Heads up, Georgia and you save it.

143 Red Elephants on the board.

More coming up on the great GPB.

This program comes from Northside Hospital Orthopedics, a proud sponsor of Georgia High school football from physicians and athletic trainers to physical therapists and performance nutritionists, Northside Hospital provides holistic sports medicine care to student athletes across Georgia.

At Northside, we're committed to caring for Georgia's student athletes and their families on and off the field.

Northside Hospital orthopedics.

Because Georgia moves us and we keep Georgia moving.

Football Fridays in Georgia is presented by the Governor's Office of Highway Safety, reminding you to park your phone while driving.

Saves lives.

Heads up, Georgia.

Syr.

You wouldn't take a call during the big game.

Oh, hey what's up man?

You wouldn't be texting while cheering on your team.

Jacket., and you definitely wouldn't want to watch a video while marching with the band.

So why would you drive a car while distracted driving isn't a game when you lose on the road, it could lead to a crash.

So when you get behind the wheel, put the distractions aside, drive hands free, and save lives.

Heads up Georgia.

Welcome back to Milton.

It is halftime Gainesville.

The visitors have an 11 point lead at 14:03.

Time to take the tour of the state.

Welcome to halftime here on Football Fridays in Georgia.

Let's take the tour.

We've got our scores on the board, and there are some folks that are putting up some markers right now asserting their dominance and making sure that they want to be those one seeds coming up just around the corner.

Page one.

We go to region one 6-A Valdosta and Richmond Hill.

Richmond Hill needs this one to get to 3-0 right now Valdosta leading 13.

Nothing.

That one's in the first North Cobb in Marietta.

We can update that one.

That one's tied in the second at 14 Mill Creek.

Got a score in the first.

That's all we've seen so far 7-0 Mill Creek that one's in the second.

Statesboro leading Brunswick.

That's a bit of a shock.

Brunswick a top ten team in the class.

They're down 14-7 Second quarter.

And at the break Woodward leading Dunwoody by the score of 28-13 Page two.

Just underway it is Sprayberry and River Ridge.

North Oconee leading east side by the score of 14-0 That one's in the second quarter.

Also on the board.

Calhoun, we talking about putting up a marker.

We can update this 120 7-0 Second quarter Calhoun over northwest.

Whitfield we mentioned scoring game.

I don't think we've ever had a 2-0 score.

We've got one for the inside track for the region title.

Carver Columbus leading Sumter County in Americus that one second quarter in our web game.

Cody Chaffins on the call.

St.

Pius leading Marist by the score of 143.

That one is in the second quarter.

Time to catch up with our friends from Cigna and find out about our signature moment.

This time around, it's talking about social media and the crossovers that we have with our friends from Cigna.

On average, teens spend 4 hours daily on social media, which can affect their mental health.

Matt Evelyn, senior new business manager at Cigna Healthcare, is here to share some valuable tips for parents.

Matt, what are some of the signs that social media might be negatively impacting your child?

You know, social media isn't all bad.

It's a great place for teens to connect with their friends, to learn new things and access information.

Of course, they can also be exposed to cyberbullying, misinformation, and peer pressure that could lead to depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem.

We also want to make sure our teens aren't on their phones too close to bedtime.

It's going to be really hard to fall asleep if they're checking their phones throughout the night.

It can disrupt their sleep cycles.

Yeah, getting that phone away from teens at night is really important.

What are some signs that social media might be negatively impacting your child?

Well, keep an eye if they're spending excessive time online.

If they're withdrawing from family and friends, or if they're showing lack of interest in hobbies, your spidey sense should really go up.

If they show negative emotions or if they're starting to display harmful behavior.

That could have learned on one of these platforms.

How can parents guide their child into using social media in a positive way?

Because there are a lot of positives.

There are.

But just like anything, set clear boundaries.

Probably monitor screen time.

But if there are, if they break the rules, there need to be consequences.

Have open and honest conversation with your kids about the benefits and risks of social media, but engage with them just like anything they're interested in.

If you're interested in social media and might help boost their self-esteem.

For hours on average is a lot of time.

So we need to get that number down.

Matt, thank you so much for being here.

Yeah.

If you would like to learn more about social media and your teen, please visit cigna.com.

Thanks to our friends from Cigna.

As always for the signature moments that you see here every single week on Football Fridays.

Let's turn the page and catch up with our friends at the Governor's Office of Highway Safety and the heads up Georgia Campaign.

And we know they're in the car.

We know they're right there next to us.

We find out this time about the downsides and the dangers of visual distraction.

Here's a look.

Heads up.

Georgia has teamed up with Shepherd center to teach you about the dangers of distracted driving.

53% of vehicle crashes are related to a type of distraction.

One kind of distraction would be visual distractions.

The biggest, of course, being the cell phones.

But also your console, which are now in a lot of vehicles, is like a computer screen.

Your radio, your speedometer, your dials, your switches, and your passenger.

And someone like me having a baby in the back seat.

I'm often looking up at the mirror or turning around to look.

And those are visual distractions that can take our eyes off the road just long enough to get us in trouble.

So when you get in the car, you need to make sure to put away all the visual distractions that might take your eyes off the road while you're driving to keep yourself and other drivers safe.

Tune in next week for more helpful tips from the Shepherd center to help keep you from driving distracted.

The Heads Up Georgia Student Video Contest is back!

If you're a Georgia high school student, we need your help to spread the message.

Make a 32nd PSA about the dangers of distracted driving, and you could win a MacBook Pro.

Thanks, as always to our friends at the Governor's Office of Highway Safety and the heads up, Georgia Campaign.

Remember, go to GPB.

Org and you.

Yes, you.

And I'm using my index finger.

Yes.

You or someone you know.

You once again you cut that PSA for us.

If you're a student here in the state of Georgia and you get to win, cool stuff come the championships, go to GPB.

Org and find out more information about our Heads Up Georgia campaign and cutting a PSA that will make us all proud.

That is it for the A-block we come back, we catch up with our friends from you.

Save it or you save it.

Student athlete of the week Georgia's EMCs.

And we get to get our index fingers ready and point at the screen for make that kid an offer.

All coming up around the corner here on the halftime show.

We are at Milton, we are at the break.

And this is the great GPB.

Cigna Healthcare is a proud partner of Georgia Public Broadcasting and Football Fridays.

Cigna Healthcare mission is to improve the health and vitality of those we serve.

Visit cigna.com to learn how you can support your physical and emotional well-being.

With boots on the ground and suspended mid-air.

Our line workers are everywhere.

Behind every turn switch are those who put it all on the line to illuminate lives down the line.

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Welcome back to Milton.

We are at the interval Gainesville leading 14-3 We'll catch up with Ben Reaves coming up at the end of halftime.

We'll find out what adjustments they've made to try to correct that 11 point deficit.

Welcome back here.

It's time to catch up with our friends at you save it.

And we go to Zebulon where there's a storm that is in Pike County.

And it's a good kind of storm because this is about a two sport star.

Who's are you save it.

Student athlete of the week.

He's coachable.

You tell him something he's got.

He's the kid that you want everybody else to be.

He comes to work.

Perfect attitude every single day.

I think the wrestling and football kind of complement each other.

You know, mental toughness is a real ingredient in both.

Combined, his athleticism along with his relentless effort.

That just makes a really, really talented football player.

He's a worker and on the defensive side of the ball, you've got to have that relentless effort.

He's not the kid that makes the same mistakes over and over again.

He corrects things and that's huge.

I don't care what sport you're playing.

Tyler Nichols, Landon, Henderson, thanks once again to our friends at You.

Save it for being a great partner here with us at GPB all season long.

Told you it's a good storm.

Pike County Pirates and Zebulon, a two sport star with our friend Maddox Storm.

Now it's time to catch up with our friends at Georgia EMC and the Cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship Award.

This time we take a tour to Middle Georgia and find out what's going on at Northside.

Here's our interaction with them.

Flint energies in 35 other participating Georgia Electric membership cooperatives.

Congratulate Northside High on winning the GHSA Cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship Award.

This award honors schools that exhibit exemplary sportsmanship during competitive events.

Said it's.

Only one school in each region.

In each classification is chosen to receive this annual award.

The GHSA takes into consideration all aspects of sportsmanship, making the award a tribute to the entire community.

Flint energy is proud to present the Cooperative Spirit and Sportsmanship Award to Northside High School of Warner Robins, an award which recognizes something deeper than just talents or wins.

It's for athletes who lift up others, the ones who lead by example, encourage their teammates, respect their opponents, and remind us that success is about more than stats.

It's about how we treat one another like a true cooperative.

They bring energy, connection and care to everything that they do.

They don't just play hard, they play fair, and they make everyone around them better.

It is with great pride that Flint Energy presents this award to Northside High School.

Introduced in 2006, this award reinforces the GHSA philosophy that everyone associated with high school activities, from athletes to spectators, should adhere to the fundamental values it represents.

In every sport, not just football, basketball, track, volleyball.

You want to respect the games, and I think that's one of the biggest things that I know.

I try to instill in all our players, and I know the other coaches in the school, in the building, the same thing.

They always want everybody to understand that the importance of the integrity of the sport, because when we come to different situations, I always try to remind my guys, hey, let's keep it classy, let's keep it classy.

Up, down.

It don't matter.

Character goes a long way and all that stuff plays in with sportsmanship.

Georgia EMC in the 36 participating Georgia Electric membership cooperatives are proud to sponsor the Cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship Award.

Congratulations to the Northside Eagles community.

Fun time that we had at Northside.

Great audience, great school and it was great to catch up with them down there in Middle Georgia with the Cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship Award and our friends at Georgia's EMCs.

When we come back, it's time to get your stretching done.

Get your pointing ready, we'll take a tour.

Go make that kid an offer coming up, and we'll also find out what's going on here at Milton.

Corey Keyes, the athletic director.

He's got the keys to the Palace tonight.

We'll get all the Intel when we come back.

You are at halftime here on Football Fridays in Georgia on the great GPB.

You wouldn't take a call during the big game.

Oh hey what's up man?

You wouldn't be texting while cheering on your team.

Jacket.

And you definitely wouldn't want to watch a video while marching with the band.

So why would you drive a car while distracted?

Driving isn't a game when you lose on the road, it could lead to a crash.

So when you get behind the wheel, put the distractions aside, drive hands free, and save lives.

Heads up Georgia.

All right, what do you think, Jasper?

Honestly, I think that polyester shirts affecting your game.

What?

I think cotton would have been a better choice.

Cotton?

Yeah, it's come a long way.

You know, nowadays, cotton breeze and wicks moisture.

Great.

But buying cotton means supporting Georgia farmers.

I think that's wonderful.

Okay, sure.

But what do you think about the putt?

Oh, it's really hadn't thought about it.

Take a peek at the redcoats.

They are in full display here on Senior night.

Milton high band letting us know what's going on.

Hitting all the right notes here in the great GPB at halftime.

We'll find out what else is going on here at Milton.

Coming up in just a sec, but it's that time.

You know what you got to do.

You got to get your stretching in, get your finger pointing ready and make sure that you all sit there and go and point to the screen, because it's that time to showcase the state and sit there and go make that kid an offer.

We start make that kid an offer this weekend.

Alamo, where we remember Alvin Ricks at running back for Wheeler County, 59, 215.

Junior year, 24 TDs and just under 950 rushing yards.

Class A first team all state region player of the year this year, just under 1,000 yards and 13 scores won his weight class at the Southern Weightlifting Championships.

Benched 335.

Squat 560.

Power clean 295 point guard runs, track 3-0 GPA.

Has some D2 offers, make AJ Ricks an offer.

Safety Chris Kitchen, St.

Pius, six foot one, 90 standout safety and special teamer described as a player, great communication, high football IQ and the drive to do well on the field.

Blocked multiple field goals, made crucial tackles.

Had a lot of Pbus several special teams player of the week awards.

Plays varsity soccer for the Golden Lions.

Make Chris Kitchen an offer.

Philip Bonacci.

Special teams Collins Hill kicker, punter, 511, 173 year varsity starter, 4.5 stars.

Kohl's kicking ranked high as number 36 in the country.

Has two thirds of his kicks on touchbacks, just under 2,100 yards in kickoff average, 61 yards on average 75, twice 7-21 Coffin kicks 37.7 average along a 53 career, 13 of 17 field goals, 11 tackles, several awards and accolades.

Region team.

Second team.

Kicker.

Punter.

Player of the game.

Number 3 kicker in Georgia ITG next 3.8 GPA.

Salt FCA play soccer, make Philip Bonacci an offer and southwest DeKalb Aaron Barber 510, 250 up front, defensive tackle explosive off the line, quick hands, swift tackler, sacker forced fumbles.

Ultimately stopping offenses.

Three year varsity starter, 35 GPA, all region make Aaron Barber an offer.

That's it for this week.

Another great list for make that kid an offer.

In addition to those that were there, you can focus also on Prince Amari Aminu at Langston Hughes.

We saw him a couple weeks ago Brady Wagner, the inside linebacker at Buford, CJ Davis, the linebacker to have central.

And if you've got someone you want to nominate for, make that kid an offer.

GPB sports at GPB.

Org.

Reach out to me.

Reach out to all of us.

Let us know about the rest of the state.

Corey, come on in time to catch up with Corey.

Casey.

Guys got keys to the Kingdom.

How many times do you hear that joke?

Once or 1,000.

Okay, there you go.

That's.

I figured.

I'd bust it out for you.

What else is going on here that folks need to know about?

First off, it's always class facilities.

Class acts here, and it's great to always come back.

What else is going on here folks need to know about.

Well, we try to be.

And the great thing about Milton High School is there's so many talented people here and so many talented kids, far more talented than I could ever dream of being.

There's no doubt about that.

Right?

We and we won our first Director's Cup last year for the first time in school history.

And we're a school that's over 100 years old.

And it's been such a great last, you know, 12 months, 24 months you know, and it really starts with our with our students, our teachers, we I mean, I'm, I'm stumped for our teachers every day of the week.

Right.

Our entire staff is amazing.

And all of that feeds into what we do athletically.

What we do, fine arts, all of that.

So with this school, I always tell people there's always something going on.

There's always something for you to get involved in.

I like to tell people when everything's cool.

I'm sure you've heard that before, but that's kind of.

I kind of lean into that.

But, you know, I wouldn't want to do this job anywhere else.

You know, it's such a great place.

So like I said, anytime there's something going on here, we're always trying to compete at the highest level, and we got kids, and we've got coaches who want to do that as well.

And, they do it pretty well so far.

So you you talk about its arts, academics and athletics.

We see the athletics here on Friday nights with the Director's Cup that you end up getting.

I mean, that's another thing that you can put in that trophy case.

That means that it's more than just that one dimension.

It's three dimensions here at Milton.

Oh, there's no doubt about it.

You know, you don't.

None of us would tell you we do this job for the awards or the accolades.

That's not why we do it.

But it's nice to see that these kids across the board, you know, about our football program won back to back state titles.

Our esports team League of Legends, went to the state championship last year.

That was a wild experience for me.

I'd never seen that before.

Girls tennis, plenty of our sports.

And you know about our girls lacrosse program.

But, you know, we have an excellent theater program.

We have a Cirque program here, too.

And you saw our marching band earlier.

And it's such a it's such a rewarding experience for me to be to go here.

My father went here.

My uncle went here.

I, you know, and to be back here working and seeing these kids and be able to pour into them.

I mean, it's not a whole lot better for me.

The legacy lets us know about everything that's going on here at Milton.

Once again, thanks.

We can't thank you.

And everybody here enough for being great hosts with us here.

Good to see you, my friend.

We'll see you in the second half.

Yep.

Thank you.

That's the lowdown here at Milton.

When we come back we'll have highlights.

We'll catch up with Ben Reeves and see how Milton is going to attack this 11 point deficit.

Halftime show is done.

Second half coming up here on the great GPB Football Fridays in Georgia Gainesville leading Milton by the score of 143.

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Back at Milton, where fourth ranked Gainesville leads, third ranked Milton 143 here at halftime, Matt Stewart and Wayne Gandy with you upstairs and and before we go to the highlights, let's send it back down to the field.

And the coach's interview brought to you by Johnny's New York style pizza, your original neighborhood pizzeria.

All right.

It's time to catch up with Coach Reeves here.

As halftime is winding down, we were serenaded here to this particular point.

Great performance by the band so far.

When you look at the first 20:04 minutes, I know there were mistakes that you want to correct, especially with hanging on to the football and such and making sure that you can break contain to get to those speed on the outside.

What else did you talk about?

Yeah, I mean, you know, we just played the worst half of football that we've played all season.

And we're 11 points down about to get the ball back.

This team is built on adversity.

We're not panicking.

We just got to play cleaner and harder.

And that's what we've done all year.

So we're going to we signed up for a 48 minute fight.

You know anybody can come out and fight for 24 minutes.

I know we can fight for 48 minutes because I've seen us do it every single game.

We're going to find out if they can.

Thanks for your time.

Thank you.

That's the lowdown here on the field when it comes to Ben Reeves and Milton.

As they try to wipe out that 11 point deficit.

Matt Wayne, what happened in the first half?

Yeah, Nelly, thanks for that.

Now let's get to the highlights.

Wayne.

It started with Gainesville after a field goal by Milton put together a 60 yard drive and 41 of it came on this catch and run by Dwight PJ Lewis.

DJ Lewis beautiful run.

After the catch, teammates blocking for him to get his team on the board 73.

Then came the fumble.

Great play here by Sims to put his helmet on the ball.

Cain picked it up 40-5 yards later.

Newkirk dives in from the one.

Nigel Newkirk and that offensive line establishing their dominance in the first half.

A little bit of a bad snap back and that turns into a blocked kick.

Gainesville thwarts a three point opportunity there for Milton did not score off of it, but we're standing here at 14 three.

Take a look at the stats.

They're pretty even.

Nothing really in my mind jumps off the page.

How about you?

Really nothing.

Penalties for both teams and bad situation.

It wasn't.

You know, it is a lot of penalties for both, but it really was just in key pickups that they seemed to happen.

But really just the the block punt.

Field goal.

Excuse me, is really in the turnovers that really helped Gainesville take this lead.

Yeah.

The one turnover proved to be costly.

That's really the difference in the game right now.

You subtract that.

We might still be 73 instead of 143.

And as you heard Ben Reeves say the Eagles are going to get the ball to start the second half.

What do you anticipate from them offensively as they come out here in the third quarter?

I think they have to show patience right now and not panic.

As Coach Reeves talked about.

Be patient as they were in those first couple of drives.

They had just takes what the defense gives.

Try to keep out of third and long so that Olivia can make some plays.

I think that's just key to to stay within yourself while the score is still 14-3 And how about Josh Niblett and his team over there 143.

And you heard him talk to Nelly as they were going to the locker room.

And he felt like they could have had two more scores on the board.

Yeah, I feel like it was a heavy, heavy tongue lashing going on in that locker room.

By Coach Niblett.

As he said, he's going to demand a better performance.

Feels like they left some points out there in this game.

Should be a little easier.

They're just shooting themselves in the foot.

So what's riding on this game?

Well, not the region championship, at least not tonight.

But the inside track to the region championship.

Perhaps both of these teams still have to play Roswell for their seasons over at the end of the month.

And Roswell right now is also undefeated in region seven.

5-A.

So a lot of football still to go here.

That's what we have going on here.

Part of the Senior Day festivities.

I think.

I do know that Grant Haviland, who's going to play in the Under Armor All-American game, was going to be presented with his jersey tonight.

But this is not what this is.

And they that was supposed to happen at halftime.

I did not see that happen.

But there's Haviland right there.

Number 88.

They have not been able to get him the ball so far tonight.

Very interesting that you said that, Matt.

I was just about to say a piece of the puzzle that has not got going really this season.

He's doing an excellent, great job blocking, but they just haven't been throwing him the ball.

What a time to let him out of the gate.

652 34 star junior.

So going back to the region picture.

So even if whoever ends up losing the game tonight is not eliminated from the region, picture would be more difficult for certain.

But with Roswell still out there, undefeated and Gainesville will close their season against Roswell in Gainesville.

Actually, yeah, they will on the 24th.

That'll be their regular season finale.

Then Milton will close their season at Roswell on the 31st, so Gainesville actually wraps up their regular season a week earlier than most everybody else.

So they'll get a double bye before the playoffs start, so to speak.

So that'll be interesting to see what happens in this region.

A lot of football left to be played, even though we're getting late in the region schedule.

So Milton will get the ball first here to start the third quarter.

And the third quarter kickoff is brought to you by Heads Up Georgia.

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Instead, to begin the second half of play.

So Gainesville going to kick it off.

Elephants number 92.

Francisco Johnson.

And Aiden Williams, the three star athlete who has six offers, is standing deep for Milton at the five yard line.

And this will be nonreturnable as he goes into the end zone.

So Milton is going to bring the ball out to the 20 yard line to begin the third quarter.

Establish the line of scrimmage again.

If you're Milton, get the running the ball positive.

Stay ahead of the chains.

They struggle when they find themselves in those third and long situations, and the defense know they're going to pass the ball.

But we've seen them excel at those four or five yard first down runs.

And that's when the offense kind of takes control.

Here's the numbers on Ben Oliver.

Six of 11 passing.

116 total yards 96 in the air.

And first and ten.

Halevy goes to the air and it's thrown and caught by Carrasquillo sliding.

Making the catch for a first down at the 35 yard line.

Great job there by Levy sitting in the pocket taking the hit there.

Jamarion Matthews the tackle here.

Little game inside.

Big hit right there on the quarterback delivering the ball though.

The.

Give Levy a lot of credit there standing there and take that punishment from Matthews who's committed to Alabama.

Hand off goes to Hickman and Hickman is going to pick up 4 yards up to the 40 yard line.

Have to keep this defense off balance right there.

Good run.

And Hickman has been getting three or 4 yards each.

And every time he touches the ball.

Big physical back five 11-10 And those are the kind of first down runs you need.

Ten carries 37 yards.

Now for Hickman going to get the rock again.

And this tough sledding there picks up one yard at the 41.

Not a lot of running room right there at the line of scrimmage.

Nice job Aiden Cain kind of gets lost.

He's headed to Duke.

He's a player inside as well as 622 75.

Physical, very athletic.

As Coach Niblett talked about, sheds, blocks.

So third down line to gain is the 46.

So third down and five a levy heavy rush.

And they got him.

And Leonard gets the quarterback sacked or at least part of it.

Marshall Leonard the senior really having a excellent senior season for years in the program has been around.

Came into the game with two sacks here.

Just working against Josh Evans, a rip move underneath, able to get a hand on the jersey and pull him down.

Nice job.

Speed off the edge.

And as we talked about this team kind of pass rushers.

When you get in those third and long situation they have guys that can go hunting.

So meaning on the punt for Milton standing at his 20.

Gets it out of there.

Fair catch is called and made at the 32 by Williams.

And that's where Gainesville will go on offense after a quick possession by Milton to start the third quarter.

First and ten.

Let's see how Gainesville addressed the penalties as we as you said, I jinxed him.

There.

They were playing so well and then they had a period, a drive where they had about four or five penalties in a row.

Yeah.

Just kind of fell apart.

When you said that they had one penalty for 15 yards.

And then after that they had five more penalties for 45 yards.

Coach Niblett I'm sorry.

I'm sorry for bringing that up.

Hughley eight of 12 passing 80 yards in the air.

Also had 32 on the ground.

Three yard gain up to the 35 yard line.

And that was Newkirk on the carry.

Newkirk eight carries, 42 yards and a touchdown in that first half.

Nice job Christian Hunter inside.

Good to see him back in the game.

Dealing with a shoulder injury in that first half.

And then Blaze Battaglia right there combining on that tackle.

So second down play gets blown dead.

Kind of a motion penalty here on Gainesville.. Snap I have false start offense five yard penalty.

Still second down.

Once again a false start on that offensive line.

Really felt like maybe the snap was a little late there by Moledor.

As you can see, Hughley was calling for the ball.

So second down and 12 ball back at the 30 yard line.

Handoff goes to Newkirk.

Hit the hole hard, gets tackled by Schmidt.

Number 34 Drue Schmidt.

A lot of personnel switching in and out for Gainesville.

This offense really has done more damage when the plays come in and out, they play a little more tempo, taking a long operation to get these plays going.

Third down.

Got to get to the 42.

Hughley fires out here on the edge and complete to Lewis and he gets knocked down at the 35 yard line.

Ball's going to go over on downs.

Drue Schmidt the inside linebacker back to back.

Big time plays.

And now Gainesville is going to have to punt.

To many with the pressure right here 40 pressuring right there on Hughley.

Great job there by Battaglia forcing that back into Smith right there for the tackle.

But a good job there by Battaglia getting out on the edge forcing Lewis back inside to his linebacker Matt Smith.

So 92 we have 90 Francisco Johnson as our punter.

We don't have a 92 on the roster.

So we're going with Francisco Johnson wearing 92 tonight at the 22 yard line to punt.

Yeah.

Milton has blocked five punts and returned four of them for touchdowns this season.

See if they come after this.

One man breaks in there gets close and got a piece of it.

Or either the pressure just forced him to kick it badly.

I don't know that he touched it.

I think the pressure just got to him and he kicked it badly.

And the ball is going to be in great field position for Milton when we get back and they go on offense.

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I said I never joined.

Never knew strong I was.

Joining the Navy.

Sounds crazy.

Saying never actually is.

He's coachable.

You tell him something.

He's got it.

He's the kid that you want everybody else to be.

He comes to work.

Perfect attitude.

Every single day.

I think the wrestling and football kind of complement each other.

You know, mental toughness is a real ingredient in both.

Combine his athleticism along with his relentless effort.

That just makes a really, really talented football player.

He's a worker and on the defensive side of the ball, you've got to have that relentless effort.

He's not the kid that makes the same mistakes over and over again.

He corrects things and that's huge.

I don't care what sport you're playing.

143 Gainesville on top of Milton's got the ball at the Gainesville 39 yard line.

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So first and ten.

I think Johnson just shanked that punt.

The pressure got to him, but it was not touched by the Milton defender.

So just a bad punt gives Milton the ball at the Gainesville 39 yard line.

And the special teams for the Eagles, led by coach Vinny Silvestri, have been really special for Milton this season.

Handoff goes to Hickman.

He gets hit by Cain right away and a host of Gainesville defenders, including Kadin Fossung.

Fossung, Cain Leonard right there working down the line.

Good job.

By Aiden Cain right there working little T stunt falling into it.

Leonard Marshall making some Marshall Leonard.

Excuse me, making some plays tonight off of that edge right now.

It just seems that Gainesville is playing at a different tempo defensively than Milton is.

They have to match that physicality and that tempo.

Well.

We played two and a half quarters now 30 minutes of football and Milton still hasn't gotten in the end zone.

Great job by this Gainesville defense tonight.

Second down.

Play action.

Heavy rush.

Ball is oh incomplete.

Halevy had to get rid of it in a hurry because the rush was in his face.

But Atchison was wide open downfield.

Good play.

Fake felt the pressure off the edge.

Floated it out, hoping to connect with Atchison.

Right here as a tailback, you just gotta slow down and catch the ball.

As you can see, you're still trying to run.

The ball hasn't gotten there.

You got to come back to that ball.

If you're Atchison.

So third down ball at the 39 and still third and ten.

They haven't moved it an inch yet.

A levy to the far side and overthrows Mintzer.

His target at the 35.

Now it's fourth down.

Do you punt it here or do you go for it.

Right here?

I feel like you got to take advantage and pin him down deep.

Can't give them the ball in this positive area right here.

And I think that's what Coach Reeves is going to go.

Just punt this ball away.

You can tell Gainesville very aware of the punt fake by Milton.

And it's going to bounce out of bounds.

Let's see where they spot this.

Going to spot it at the 15.

On.

So not a bad punt.

But they were probably hoping for better.

15.

So Gainesville will be at the 15 yard line as they go back out there on offense.

And we've eaten up half the quarter 6:06 to play here in the third.

Gainesville can you get back to running the ball?

Had some success.

Dwight Lewis early in the game and if you're Milton, be alert for that screen game.

You have a play like Dwight Lewis had for that touchdown.

You imagine offensive coordinator Tad Niblett is going to dial up something like that again in this game.

Still taking their time getting out on the field.

So first and ten Gainesville at the 15 yard line 1413143 Gainesville up by 11.

It's been that way for a while now.

Handoff goes to Lewis and Lewis.

No running room gets driven back.

Battaglia leading the way.

Battaglia.

Nice job there by Tristan Lester a hybrid safety linebacker.

That's 12 playing off the edge.

You can see working eyes in the backfield coming in sticking that helmet in there.

And Smith and Battaglia helping clean that up.

You hit the nail on the head earlier in this game when you said Blaze Battaglia I immediately go to that old American gladiator show.

Right where they wore the spandex and had the long hair.

612 15 tackling machine coach Reid says he tries to make every tackle.

And movement on the line for Gainesville, that was Williamson, the tight end who jumped.

That false start offense.

Five yard penalty.

Still second down.

And as I continue to say this, Gainesville offense just seems to be a little sluggish as far as their operation.

Getting to the line, getting the play in and getting it called.

We've seen false starts.

Sometimes that's just a function of sitting too long for those offensive linemen and tight ends.

But you got to be and keep your head focused in this game.

Approaching 5 minutes to play here in the third quarter, second down and 12 for Gainesville.

They've yet to get their offense going here in the second half.

Keeper by Hughley and Hughley dives forward to the 21 quarterback.

Nice job there.

By Hughley working that RPO game off the edge.

Reading Roman to many.

Right here as 40 goes down just a little with the speed and athleticism that he has out on the edge.

And really just like how Hughley finishes those those quarterback runs whenever he gets in that secondary, he's okay delivering a blow pick.

The Clemson Tigers over 16 other offers, including Georgia and Auburn.

It's third down ball is winged out here.

Incomplete to Williams.

And that'll be a first down at the 30 yard line 31.

Great protection here for Hughley long developing play this a while for Philip Williams to run this deep out route showing you the arm skill right there to be able to get that ball way out on the edge.

Good job of Williams on that route.

That was a really long throw by Hughley who's now nine of 13 for 81 yards or was nine of 13 for 81 before that throw.

So puts him up over 90 yards passing in this game with 32 on the ground.

120 plus total yards tonight hasn't been a night for a lot of offense.

It's been the defenses that have been on center stage.

Lobs it out here to the tight end James got a block James got the first down at the 42.

Nice job there by Philip Williams.

Trying to get Cam James out in the flat.

Watch Williams number 2.

Walking in the slot.

Able to execute this block without holding.

Good job right there on Jordan Williams.

So ball sitting on the 42.

First and ten Gainesville has moved it from their 15.

Handoff goes to Lewis.

Battaglia sticks his nose in there.

Makes the tackle after a one yard.

Game playing downhill.

Blaze Battaglia setting the tempo.

A machine as his coach said, his operation is just robotic.

It's the same way each and every play.

All out effort to make the play.

Another in a long line of great inside linebackers for this Milton program.

They graduated two really good ones out of the program last year.

After their second straight state championship, Hayden Timoney and A.J.

Benton.

Benton's now a freshman at Campbell.

Ball is called out there on the edge, and that's going to be another first down.

This swing route by Nigel Newkirk out on the edge.

Nice throwing catch free release out of the backfield right there.

Nice find.

Open space.

Making a move on Smith to pick up another four or 5 yards there as Newkirk.

Ware Gainesville putting together a nice drive here.

If they get a touchdown.

Really going to put things make it tough for Milton in the fourth quarter.

Newkirk breaks through the line.

There he goes.

House call Nigel Newkirk touchdown!

Gainesville!

Touchdown!

Nigel Newkirk the lightning of this combination, him and Lewis Dwight Lewis that coach called him Thunder and Lightning right there showing you the blazing speed.

Good blocking.

Find the cut lane and then just turn on the burners.

Right there is Newkirk.

So a 20-3 lead as Gailey is on for the P.a.t.

And a 21-3 lead for Gainesville with 2-16 to play in the quarter.

A 40 1 yard burst by Nigel Newkirk Gainesville in command here at the Eagle's Nest.

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You wouldn't be texting while cheering on your team.

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Curriculum scoring drive seven plays, 85 yards.

Wayne.

The last 41 yards covered by Nigel Newkirk.

Starting to dominate in that offense of line.

Right there.

Right down at you.

Downhill with the speed of Newkirk.

Good job inside there by Hertz.

Studivant at that right guard Moledor.

He's back Newkirk and Lewis.

We knew as a combination it just wear on you as the game goes along with this big offensive line, especially in the middle, averaging about 300 pounds.

Middleton's got to make something happen now as they are running out of time now.

Just 14 plus minutes left on the game clock.

Hayden Williams on the return.

Going to get stopped at the 22.

That's where Milton goes on offense.

Let's check in with Nellie.

Let's talk about a couple of teams in trouble Matt, as we're taking a tour of what's going on at 30:04 point Underdog at East Side right now down 14-13 to North Oconee once again 11:28 to go in that one.

Kamari Brooks a big absence.

One of the super elevens here in the AJC.

Also on the board.

Raven County down 15 points to Oglethorpe County on the road.

So you could have two ranked teams taking it on the chin if things continue the way they are.

Matt.

Yeah.

Wayne.

We hated to see Kamari Brooks get lost for the season with a hip injury.

Of course, we saw him last year in the 4-A state championship game and really just a spectacular player in the state.

He'll of course start his college football career at Georgia next year.

Oliver heavy rush gets it out of there and incomplete.

Ingram had a chance to intercept it and didn't really see the ball coming in his direction.

Not sure why.

No one broke on the ball to intercept it, just floating it out there.

Receiver not even getting his head around here.

As you can see, Levi right here, just floating the ball out.

Three defenders, but no one made a physical effort of trying to intercept that ball.

Levi had actually moved out of the district.

They moved to Tennessee.

His family moved to Tennessee because of work, and he was not even in the program when the season started.

Handoff goes to Hickman and he doesn't get much at all.

Gets one on the play, and Derrick Baker, of course, injured a ligament in his wrist in that Buford loss.

The three star that moved in from St.

Thomas Aquinas and that left them with freshman Trey Hassan to finish that game.

And then Hassan played a couple of games.

Family moved back, and he's been the starting quarterback now for the fifth consecutive game.

So an opportunity to get out on the field came back.

Derrick Baker.

They're hoping at some point maybe to get him back this season.

What a difference he's made.

61, 230 junior the three star very talented guy.

Levy fires and it's caught by Carrasquillo.

And that's going to be a first down a big catch and throw by Levi to Carrasquillo.

Nice job Carrasquillo coming back to this ball to roll out showing you the arm talent here as Levy long out route but a good job by his receiver.

Coming back and getting that ball for him.

Now it isn't as if Levi was not totally familiar with the pro.

He'd been in the feeder program, so he's come up through the grades through the middle school program with Milton.

They just moved out for work purposes and then came back from Tennessee.

Levi stays alive, heaves it up there for Haviland, and gets broken up at the 38 yard line.

First time they've tried to go to Haviland.

Now a flag comes out after Jamarcus Sims had broken up the pass.

Big pressure there.

Aiden Cain inside on Madden monies causing this throw.

Oliver trying to get out of the pocket.

Just floating it up there to grant Haviland down the field.

Holding against the offense I have pass interference against the defense.

Both penalties offset.

Replay.

Second down.

That's a break for Gainesville right there.

Taj against Gainesville.

Defensive line coming alive here in these last two quarters.

Really starting to dictate to this offensive line who has to continue to try to match the intensity.

And they've put a lot of pressure on Levy.

Ball goes to Hickman and Hickman.

Big run up to the 45 yard line.

Going to get the first down.

Good block there by Haviland.

That right side.

Montez and Evans as you said the power lifter 54 right down hill.

Good cut running through the tackle there is Hickman.

So first and ten ball at the 45 yard line.

Milton trying to answer back.

They're down 18 Levi heavy rush.

He's in trouble.

Quarterback sack back at the 40 yard line I think it was Leonard who got there first.

Once again Marshall Leonard playing up there with a lot of guys with a lot of stars.

But he is having a night to night.

612 25 the speed off the edge.

Good job reading the quarterback Levi trying to pull the ball.

But Leonard is not having any of that tonight.

Leonard is been offered by Rhinehart.

The other guys are power conference guys, and Leonard is the guy that's kind of, lost in the shuffle with all those star studded players.

But he's had a heck of a game tonight.

Levy pressures coming again.

He lifts it up there and there's contact.

And there's got to be a flag there.

Right?

No okay.

Looked like there was holding on.

Carrasquillo that time.

Zach Ingram doing a good job covering right there.

The best thing about that is he got his eyes around to find the ball.

That was the final play of the third quarter, and we're heading to the fourth at Milton.

The Eagles 42 game region winning streak in jeopardy here tonight.

Gainesville with the 21-3 lead.

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As we head to the fourth quarter here at Eagles Nest in Gainesville, on the verge of a big victory.

Don't know that I would call it an upset victory, but an upset victory historically in that Milton hadn't lost a game since 2017.

So I guess it makes it an upset right?

But we knew Gainesville was good.

Gainesville has a very talented team, and they really listening to Coach Niblett had this game marked off as something they challenged themselves to come in here to Milton and win.

So third down and long as we start the fourth quarter here for Milton Oliver in the pocket.

It's clean.

Now.

It breaks down.

He's going to run.

He's going to go down.

Matthews with the quarterback sack at the 39 yard line.

Long developing play deep route.

Just couldn't find anyone down the field spying right there is Xavier Griffin watch eight.

Keep his eye on Oliver.

He's playing the quarterback draw right there.

Stepping up allowing his teammate Jamarion Matthews to make that play.

Third quarterback sack for this Gainesville defense tonight.

Meaning on the punt.

It's been a rough night for Oliver.

He's taken a lot of hits outside of just three quarterback sacks.

They punt it away from Williams and it checks up at the 25.

And let's see where they end up spotting.

It looks like the 27.

That's where Gainesville is going to go on offense.

And Milton's got.

A bow up here and try to get a quick three and out or a turnover.

Because my guess is Gainesville is going to do their best to drain the clock here.

Yeah, I would imagine you're going to get the Thunder back in the game.

PJ Lewis start getting downhill and really test his defense, see if you can get you a long drive here and put some points on the board.

But you're right, Matt.

You just feel like this Milton defense is going to have to come up with a turnover for their offense and give them the short field to have any chance of scoring and getting back in.

Newkirk 11 carries, 90 yards, two touchdowns, one of them a 40 1 yard touchdown that made it a 21-3 game.

Where we stand right now early here in the fourth quarter.

Ball goes complete.

He dropped it Williams dropped it.

Took his eyes off of it momentarily.

Good decision there by Hughley to go outside.

You could see why boda run blitzing right there.

They were going to try.

They were playing the run.

This Eagle defense trying to get some big bodies in there.

Just not able to come up with the catch.

As Philip Williams.

Brings up second down and ten.

That actually does Milton a favor.

It's a quick play.

Not a lot of time off the clock.

They got to start thinking about the clock down 18 right now.

Newkirk gets swallowed under Weivoda.

Is there along with Tamina now.

It's going to be third down.

I live high level player is by Voda.

The three star headed to Iowa.

Versatile linebacker 62, 200 pounds.

Loves Milton coach says he defends the brand.

One of those guys who just really loves playing here.

Committed to Iowa over 29 other offers including Georgia Tech.

And now it's going to be third down and nine Milton.

Let's make some noise.

Play gets blown dead.

Come on now.

Landon Williamson.

The tight.

End.

I have false start offense.

It'll be third down.

Once again, right there.

Coach Niblett, he is going to have a lot to show his team.

They can get this victory.

Probably just was beating themselves in situations like that with the false starts.

This late in the season.

Just can't have that when you're trying to win big games.

So third down and 14.

Hughley just downs the ball into the ground as the rush came in on him.

Trying to set up the screen there on that third and 14 read out by the defense.

Nowhere to go with the ball.

Just throwing it at the feet of the running back right there.

Newkirk.

Fourth down.

So fourth and 14 punting situation right here for Gainesville.

You got it.

You got it.

Catch the ball.

Gainesville has done a good job this this punt cover team, punt return team for Milton has made a lot of damage against teams this year.

So far so good.

They've done a good job.

So fourth down and rugby style kick by Gonzalez.

And it's going to be caught at the 40 1 yard line.

Good catch in traffic there by Williams.

So decent field position for Milton.

They got to score some points and do it in a hurry.

Down 213.

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So.

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You wouldn't be texting while cheering on your team.

Jacket.

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So why would you drive a car while distracted driving isn't a game when you lose on the road, it could lead to a crash.

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Welcome back to Milton 9:56 to go here in 4 March in 18.

Let's take the tour.

We talked about folks that were in trouble.

Looks like somebody's going to escape.

North Oconee Nicholas Pollack.

Sachs, East Side's Payton Shaw fourth down with under 2:00 to go.

Looks like the Titans will be able to hold on for the 14 13 win as a 34 point favorite.

East side took him right to the edge.

Also, we've got a score.

One of the big rivalries down in South Georgia.

Clinch actually scored.

Final score of six.

Nothing over Brooks that game literally just ended.

Ravens still on the ropes.

Although the margins now 28 19 Matt fourth quarter up to you.

And that Nicholas Pollack who came up with the big play is the son of David Pollack, former Georgia Bulldog star who went on to play in the NFL.

So first and ten ball at the 40 yard line.

Ball out on the edge.

It goes to Carrasquilla and Carrasquilla gets knocked out of bounds at the 44 short.

Game.

Empty backfield.

Feel like they're going to have to get offensive and try to get something over the top downfield.

Here's Derrick Baker on the sideline.

They anxiously await his return.

If they can stay in the playoffs long enough.

He is a big kid with a big arm and a big running game.

It looks like a will linebacker when you watch him physically.

Big legs, a lot of speed and a big arm.

He's a difference maker.

They have missed him this season.

He's done a great job in relief.

Moving back in but in trouble here tonight.

He goes up top and Carrasquillo catches it at the 20 yard line.

Just a great throw and catch here.

Levy sitting in the pocket once again showing you the toughness taking this hit right here to this ball.

Nice little skinny post.

There by Carrasquillo.

Getting behind the defense.

Great concentration to bring that ball in.

Nice touch.

Pass by Levy and Carrasquillo.

Another big catch.

That was his eighth catch of the night to the end zone.

It goes.

And Carrasquillo can't come up with it that time.

He has been their go to guy.

Carrasquillo with eight catches tonight.

Elijah Watson.

Job there.

Chase Walker little hand battle between the two right there.

Good job getting your head around Carrasquilla.

I don't know about that lacrosse scholarship.

I mean, you can do some things on the football field.

Trust me.

Eight catches for 156 tonight.

Eight of Halevy's ten completions have gone to him.

Definitely a different wide receiver room for Milton this season.

They call time out.

924 to go.

Milton really needs to score right here.

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Start it up Matt Stewart Wayne Gandy Jon Nelson with you in the fourth quarter here Milton has won 40-2 consecutive region games dating back to 2017.

Josh Niblett team, now 9.5 minutes away from ending that long streak that's included three state championships during that streak.

So second down coming out of the time-out for Milton Halevy lobs it over the top.

Touchdown Milton.

Let's go.

Let's go.

Ball goes to Mikey Dirks the backup tight end.

And it's 21-9 Explosion right there.

Kind of confusing the defense.

As you could see bodies explode to different positions just wide open right there.

And just a little seam route by Mickey Dirks Mikey Dirks for the touchdown.

Keeping the offense out here going for two.

And Dirks had not been out there I don't think much tonight.

So they slip him in there.

So they're not paying attention to him.

And he catches the touchdown pass.

Now they go for two right here.

Halevy looking back and throwing to the back of the end zone.

And it's caught for two or not.

They're going to rule him out of the back of the end zone.

No will not count.

Went to Haven right there.

Great job.

A little roll out and then trying to throw the ball back to Haven.

Kind of surprised they went for the two right there.

Mathematically, at least in my mind.

Did not make a lot of sense.

Here's a look at the two point attempt.

Tight coverage.

As you can see over there, Jamarcus Sims and use that left foot as it lands out of bounds.

Trying to use the big body right there at 65, 230.

But here just catching the defense by surprise ran out quickly off the sideline, exploded to an empty formation and then just hitting Dirks in the scene for the touchdown.

Now it's 21-9 Let's see if Milton tries to execute an onside kick.

Here.

Would you do.

It this early.

Right here I just kicked the ball off and tried to get my defense trust my defense.

Still a lot of time on the clock.

Newkirk and Wilmont.

There's a line drive kick that's going to go right to Wilmont at the ten and Wilmont on the return, runs into his own man and gets tackled at the 35.

So they get good field position out.

Of it.

Nike Dirks.

Capping that.

DBHDD in the.

New red ribbon 365 curriculum scoring drive with his touchdown catch of 17 yards.

Four plays in 59 total yards.

Bolton's down 12 913 to.

Go.

Let's red elephant offense has to come alive.

They you know they've made a play or two.

Most of their touchdowns have been on big plays.

Dwight Lewis.

With an early screen Nigel Newkirk with a big run right here.

Just needs to put a drive together and milk this clock a little.

Hand off.

Goes to Lewis.

He goes to the far side and Lewis gets dragged down at the 39 yard line by Weivoda.

Who was back in the game falling forward, had a big first quarter.

Nigel Newkirk has taken over the second and third and now back in the game.

Just running off of that right edge.

They'll take their time, let the clock run.

Second down and five.

Lewis gets the hand off again and this time Lewis gets wrapped up right there at the line of scrimmage.

That was Tristan Lester coming in from that outside linebacker spot.

Plays outside linebacker here for Milton.

He's rated as a three star safety.

Committed to Marshall.

Got hybrid right there.

Just playing off the edge.

We've seen him make multiple plays tonight.

Playing off of that edge.

Physical for his size at 5:11 195.

Committed to Marshall over ten other offers including Georgia Southern.

And now it's going to be third down.

Line to gain is the 45.

Wilcox that goes in motion.

And the pass is incomplete.

Tried to get the ball to Ruiz the tight end and it's going to be fourth down.

And that stops the clock.

Pressure there by Lester in the face of Hughley forcing him to throw the ball over his stretched arm.

As you can see.

Watch 12 work down the line.

See him with the ball.

Has to throw over Lester and just could not connect with Sergio Ruiz.

Not a great job of time management right there.

They're leaving the door open for Milton to have some time to make a comeback.

So fourth down you see.

Watch for a fake right.

Here.

Running.

A couple men out late.

Ball goes all the way back.

They get the punt out of there by Gonzalez and it's going to be fielded at the 14 yard line.

And returnable.

And Aiden Williams gets dragged down at the 25.

So that's where Milton goes on offense.

They are 75 yards away and they are 12 points down.

So they're going to need two touchdowns.

That's why I kind of wondered why they went for the two when they did.

Because it kind of took the field goal out of play for him.

Definitely got to stay vertical here in this next drive.

Try to score here in the next 2 minutes to give yourself a chance to have the ball back.

Eagles at 25.

Oliver has shown some toughness.

You can see him kind of holding his shoulder.

He's taking some big hits here tonight.

He has.

To go to.

The air and sidearm it out here to Williams and Aiden Williams dances through the traffic and still on his feet trying to get to the far side.

Williams still on his feet and out across the 40 to the 45.

Great individual effort by Aiden Williams, who takes a tumble over the bench over there on the far side.

And hopefully he's okay.

Just a little screen here taking another big hit is Oliver and just crossing the field.

Similar to punt return here for him as Aiden Williams showing you the elusiveness the speed.

Good blocking right there.

Just getting shoved all the way through the equipment box in the back on the Gainesville side.

Aiden has six offers, including South Carolina, Georgia Tech and Louisville.

So first and ten.

Hand off goes to Hickman and Hickman gets stonewalled and tackled by Matthews and Cain.. Just penetration there by Matthews and Cain.

Both of these guys have really come on after that first drive where they were kind of dominated by the Eagles offensive line, they really set the tempo inside, getting off blocks, losing, using leverage.

Those two guys have eight tackles between them tonight and a couple of TfL, a Levy throwing on the run going out here and it's caught by.

Bear at the 22 yard.

Line.

Ashton Bear comes up with a huge catch for Milton.

Just floating a little roll out.

Floating it out for his receiver to make a play.

Just couldn't find the ball in time.

But a good job there of concentration and bringing that down for bear.

Here comes Milton to the air and caught by Haviland.

Haviland inside the five and down near the pylon and out of bounds at the one.

Talked about when they're going to get the ball to grant Haviland one of the top tight ends in the country.

Just catching him out on the edge.

Good throw.

And look at Haviland.

Show you the explosiveness the physicalness right there at the end trying to get in the end zone.

The big body.

Things getting interesting.

Halevy bobbled the snap throws to the end zone incomplete.

Had to get it out of there.

He had pressure breathing down his neck.

Slow to get up.

As you can see.

Taking some big hits.

Looks like he's laboring with that right arm a little.

He's kind of hanging.

It.

He's taking a lot of hits from this Gainesville defensive front.

It looks like they maybe have dropped the flag for intentional grounding.

He was in the pocket.

Tackled.

Weitzer was in the vicinity of the throw.

Tackle.

Waiting for the call from the official again.

Brian Bogus, our referee tonight.

There's no flag on the play.

Dangerous decision there by Levy right there.

Catching a break.

Mice did cut off his route side judge saying that he was in the vicinity.

So second down and goal from the five.

Handoff goes to Hickman.

Cuts inside.

Touchdown.

Milton.

We got a game here in the fourth quarter.

It's 21-15 Bentley Hickman.

We've talked about his physical runs inside downhill runner.

Good job.

Gaps Cain runner.

Good job by the offensive line.

This cutback lane right here putting his foot in the ground getting the shoulders square.

Walking in untouched for the touchdown.

Ambrose on for the p.a.t.

They get the kick up and the kick is good.

And it is 21-16 And we got a lot of time left in this one.

Milton has battled back here in the fourth quarter.

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Welcome back to Milton.

Margins down to five.

And we're not quite to the halfway point of the fourth quarter here on the great GPB.

Let me give you a couple of scores as we go.

The match with Rabun County, Oglethorpe County, Oglethorpe County comes into the game 1-3 in region play.

They get the win upsetting Rabun County.

Now that looks like in two weeks Rabun County Athens Academy that will get the number 1 seed.

They'll get the top of the region champ in that particular region.

Also, 6-A setting up next week, Hillgrove and McEachern, they both win tonight.

Hillgrove a big shout out there now 4-0 7-0 McEachern 51 14 winners over Pebblebrook 4-0 7-0 guess where we are Football Fridays next week Matt.

Neighborhood brawl next Friday night.

Hillgrove and McEachern.

That'll be a fun one.

Those are two long time rivals there in West Cobb.

Looking forward to that one.

Our first ever visit to Hillgrove.

As you take a look at the DBHDD and the new red ribbon.

365 curriculum scoring drive.

Impressive.

Six play, 75 yard and the sophomore made some really big plays on that drive.

Wayne showed you a lot of moxie and toughness right there.

Sitting in there taking those hits to deliver the ball.

Wilmont picks it up in the ten and another right.

Nice return for Wilmont.

He has been big in the kick return game for Gainesville tonight.

He is still going out there to the 50 yard line.

They finally get him down so cuts the field in half.

Great job all night long by Legend Wilmont bringing these balls out.

Only a sophomore doing a good job.

Really a great job in the return game several times tonight.

His offense has started at 40 plus.

So Wayne how do you get a first name?

Legend I mean, when you're born, do they just know you're going to be a. Great athlete?

They just have a premonition.

It's probably something.

Favorite parent had a favorite movie, something you know, a character in a movie.

He's making himself a legend on the special teams unit here tonight.

A lot of.

Speed.

Did you see that?

That was good.

That was good.

So here's Gainesville.

Their lead is down to five.

They still have the lead with 6-0 seven to go.

Hand goes big hole for Newkirk.

There he goes.

Nigel Newkirk.

Another big touchdown run for Gainesville.

Outstanding blocking by this offensive line on that play right there.

This young man Nigel Newkirk the blazing speed.

Watch how he approaches this line of scrimmage.

No one to negotiate.

He's four or five yards across the line of scrimmage before Milton defender is even grabbing at him.

Right there, able to break a tackle right down the heart of the defense.

Put on the Jets once again to put his team on the board.

As coach Niblett told us, when he gets to the second level, if you haven't gotten him yet, he's gone.

And he proved it again with a 50 yard touchdown run right there.

He's had touchdown runs of 1 yard, 41 yards, 50 yards.

And that might have been the backbreaker right there as he gives Gainesville a 28 16.

Lead.

Zone blocking.

Good job of front tight ends right there.

Cam James number 5 down the field sticking on Battaglia.

Just a wave to be able to hit the line four or 5 yards.

As I said before defender even gets to touch him.

And then there's just no catching him once he gets into the secondary.

Yeah he just busted right through a tackle of Boston Estes the veteran safety for Milton.

And that might have been enough right there.

As you take a look at the DBHDD new red ribbon.

365 curriculum scoring drive.

Really more just a scoring play.

One play and 50 yards after they got the great return by Wilmont.

And now they're up by 12 again 28 16.

That's been this Gainesville team tonight.

Just big plays all around.

Their scoring has been off of big plays.

13 carries for 140 1-3 touchdowns for Nigel Newkirk who has 32 offers including Georgia, Florida, Ole Miss and Georgia Tech.

Just a junior.

Big season for him.

Big night for him tonight as he might finally be the guy Gainesville with him to end this long region winning streak by Milton.

Looks like we have offsides here for Gainesville on the kickoff.

Flag sitting.

Back at the 40 yard line.

Encroachment.

Encroachment.

Kicking team.

Five-Yard.

Penalty.

Free kicks.

Coach Niblett just added another ten stadiums to the workout because trust me, even in a win.

The offside penalties are just not something you can do to be an efficient team.

That's ten penalties for Gainesville tonight.

Try it again.

This will be returnable for Williams from the three Hayden Williams coming this way.

Knocked down at the 25.

That was James on special teams making the tackle.

And James really like this young man.

And the physicality he plays with headed to Furman.

And coach Niblett Wilmont wonders even on the special teams that he was an extremely physical guy.

He's what the what he actually said extremely physical and he's been showing it in special teams and blocking out on the edge.

Compared him to his son Sky, who, much like Cam James, you know, did so much for his team.

Right up the middle there goes Hickman.

Hickman out across the 50.

Jumps over a man and down to the 39 yard line.

What a run by Bentley, Hickman and Milton trying to answer right back.

The big fella.

511210 right here showing you the versatility the footwork right there.

The cut back.

He knew Zac Ingram was not going to take him on high right there.

Just cut back underneath him for another three or four yards.

So first and ten from the 38 Halevy going up top.

And Miss Mincer right there at the 15 yard line threw behind.

Him.

The play number 21.

You see this offense trying to get to the end zone really come alive.

Since they were down big.

And there's no doubt.

This has been a different offense for Milton here in this fourth quarter.

North Cobb 13 points on the board here in the fourth.

So we have a. Man down over on the far side of the field.

I think it.

Is.

Looks like it's just a cramp though.

So that's good news.

But it does not appear to be serious.

How about 13 points on the board here for Milton after they had fallen behind 21-3 And then how about Gainesville answering right back with Nigel?

Newkirk busting a 50 yard touchdown run?

Let's check in with John.

All right.

Let's take a peek at the rest of this particular region, excluding what we're seeing right now.

Roswell with a big win tonight.

They now go to three.

And oh in the region they are now 6-1 in the overall with their big win over Chattahoochee.

Chattahoochee drops to 0-3 and 1-6 Lanier beat Johns Creek yesterday.

They're now 2-2 So they're in a bit of the catbird seat when it comes to the fore.

They're 5-3 overall.

Johns Creek second, you're still looking for their first wins in region so far here.

This this time around.

So Roswell will be tied with the winner of this game for first place in the region.

And the loser will drop into third place.

Handoff goes to Hickman and Hickman runs out of bounds.

And of course, the region standings.

As we're talking about them, significant this year, but next year, not so much as the Georgia High School Association voted this week to change the playoff format and go to a power ranking.

And it's very significant as you look at this region, in this region with a power format ranking, which they will have next year, you would have three teams Gainesville, Roswell and Milton, who would all be top ten seeds and would have first round playoff games at home.

That will not be the case this year, though.

The team that finishes third will have to play on the road, much like Gainesville did last year.

Third down stands in the pocket, now runs out of the pocket right up the middle, still on his feet inside the 20 down to the ten and inside the ten to the eight.

What a run by Halevy right there.

Great recognition by Levy to pull this ball.

Didn't like the route trying to get it out to.

Might sir.

Didn't like it.

And then the warrior in this young sophomore on display willing to take the hits, pay the price to try to get this victory.

How about Johnny Football tonight?

14 of 26 passing for 254.

And now a big run right there.

Hickman gets it again and he's down to the two and a. Half.

Was caught and a shift change.

They had an extra guy still on the field running off as Milton made that snap.

They did not drop a flag on the play though.

Hickman gets it right back and Hickman slams in there.

Gets pushed back.

Not this time.

And there's Marshall in there on that tackle along with Matthews as those guys have been all night.

You still want to play with some pace and clock is running.

When you run the ball, you're not scoring.

The clock is ticking.

Want to get up and get going?

Hand off to Hickman again.

He dives for the end zone.

Didn't get there.

And then the ball came out.

They're going to say it's Gainesville.

Ball.

Hickman tried to dive for the end zone and got cut down at the legs.

And then when he was hit, the ball popped out.

Three times in a row, going to Bentley.

Hickman.

We saw him score early on this play right here trying to go airborne and just lost the ball.

Ball is out right there.

You can see him frustrated.

But right here just nowhere to go.

Stepping up in there taking the hit ball is out right there.

Jamarion Cheeks.

The backup Mike linebacker out there with Darren Williams.

At the same time it was Cheeks who, when he dove, got his helmet and shoulder pad on the ball and knocked it out of Hickman's hands.

So Gainesville will take over at the two yard line.

What a huge play by Demari Cheeks to force that fumble.

And so Gainesville's got it back now with 3-58 on the clock and a 12 point lead.

That might have been the play of the game right there by Cheeks.

Can you imagine they're going to keep this ball on the ground here, lined up in the gun still in that formation having to call a time-out clock running down.

Time-out.

Time-out called by Gainesville.

So Gainesville's got two games remaining on their schedule after tonight.

Next Friday night they'll be at home against Chattanooga.

Chattanooga Chattahoochee.

Pardon me.

And then they'll close out their home schedule against Roswell on the 24th.

As that stands right now, if they hold on to get the victory here over Milton, that could be for the region championship.

If they.

Assuming they're heavy favorites against Chattahoochee than Roswell.

If they beat Roswell on the 24th, they would win the region championship.

Gainesville gotta be very careful here getting this ball out this Milton defense and penetration, especially when you have the quarterback in the shotgun.

A lot of things can happen.

But you imagine this ball is going to the back, get the ball to Dwight Lewis.

Lewis gets the hand off.

He wraps up and goes down immediately.

Milton has two time-outs and they got to start thinking about using them, and I think they just used one of.

Them.

They do.

So here's the schedule for Milton.

They will be off next Friday night and they have two games remaining on their schedule, both of them on the road at Johns Creek and then on the 31st Halloween night at Roswell.

Their big rival.

And remains to be seen just how big that game is going to be.

If Roswell defeats.

Gainesville in two weeks.

And that's a huge game on the 31st.

If they don't, then Roswell and Milton will be playing for second and third place in the region.

John.

Go down to one 6-A and let you know what's going on there.

We do have a final on the board.

Colquitt a winner tonight over Tift 39 20.

That puts them to two and one in region play.

Now, the games that are still in progress but are late, you have Lowndes winning in Kingsland against Camden County.

Valdosta in control with Richmond Hill.

So if that does follow through, Lowndes goes to 3-0 8-0 Richmond Hill, Valdosta, Colquitt all at two and one.

Camden would drop to 0-3 along with Tift County.

So you're getting some separation in one 6-A.

And I think we did have our scoring final in class two A in region one.

Carver over Sumter by the score of eight seven.

Wow.

Carver goes to 5-0 eight and zero.

Sumter loses at home.

4-1 7-1 Looks like the region championship in region one is going to go to Carver.

Columbus in a dogfight tonight.

Yeah, Sumter County has had a tremendous season.

Takes their first loss.

Sounds like a heartbreaking fashion by one point.

Carver Columbus tonight.

So second down.

Lewis gets the hand off trying to go around the far edge and he gets tackled there shy of the ten.

And Milton will use their last time out.

Keeping the ball on the ground, forcing Milton to use their last time out here.

Gainesville you're going to run this ball three times in a row.

Try to get a first down.

In this situation, you got to still be alert.

Kareem Hunt Hughley using his legs.

Great time to run a quarterback sneak with him as well.

Be sure to join us next Friday night.

Huge rivalry game between two unbeaten teams as we come to you from West Cobb as the Hillgrove Hawks play host to the McEachern Indians.

That'll be next Friday night at 730 right here on GPB sports Football in Georgia.

Not done here yet.

With 3:35 to go, but Milton's got to get a stop right here for any chance at a big comeback.

And that's our stream game of the week next Friday night, as well as Lagrange plays host to Troup.

That's also a huge rivalry game down in Troup County as the Tigers take on the Grangers.. And you can watch that on gpb.org slash sports or on the GPB sports app.

So big play right here.

Milton going to.

Be difficult even if they get a stop here.

But they really got to get a stop here to keep alive any kind of a hope to win this game.

And extend their winning streak to 43 games.

High snap Newkirk gets it.

And they get the stop.

I think it's going to be really close about a yard.

I think he's short.

Which means Gainesville would have to punt.

He is short by about a yard.

Still be discussing it does from our vantage point.

Looks like he a little short, but.

Which side of they're going with with the mark.

Looks like they're going to get a measurement here.

We got an old school measurement.

We.

We don't get many of.

These.

Anymore.

Got a measurement?

This.

So this is a very important measurement.

The little chain game.

So here you go.

Going to get a good look at it right there.

We're right up on close.

Top of it.

And that is going to be.

Marked to the first down.

First down.

That's going to do.

It.

That'll do it.

In all likelihood Milton cannot stop the clock any longer.

As long as Gainesville protects the ball, they should be able to hold on to it till the end of the game.

You can see Coach Reeves telling his defense grip the ball, pull up the ball right here.

This will be the first Milton team to lose a region game since 2017.

So if we can get a cleaner snap here.

By Krew Moledor.

Last time snap was a little high.

Good snap.

There is the run.

And.

Milton can no longer stop the clock.

The run by Newkirk right there and the clock will go under three to play.

So this is definitely going to put a big wrinkle into the region.

Seven 5-A standings as Gainesville and Roswell will now be tied for first place in the region.

With three weeks left in the regular season, Milton drops into third place, which for this year means you're going to have to play on the road in the first round.

Next year could be a different story.

Handoff goes to Newkirk Newkirk all the way out to the 34 yard line.

Newkirk having a big night.

Good vision there by Newkirk finding that cutback lane, showing you the speed once again.

Not sure on this.

Seems like maybe he was.

He gave himself up here.

He's thought about it right there.

And then he you know he had the first down.

No real reason to score.

Just want to keep the clock going.

Just fell down right there.

Gainesville is almost at a point where they can kneel this out.

So first and ten.

High snap again.

This time Hughley is going to keep it and go down at the 35.

And these are those moments you wish you could morph into.

Yeah, get under center.

It's amazing.

You can't morph just for these moments and get under center because that is a possibility in those situations.

Snaps get away from you and that would be disastrous.

In this situation.

History is going to be made here tonight as Gainesville is going to come in to Milton and come away with the victory.

And then what had been a very long, certainly a historic winning streak in the region for this Milton program.

Handoff goes to Lewis and Lewis trying to bounce outside and stay in bounds.

And he does go down inbounds and we might run one more play.

Gainesville is going to improve to seven and one.

They will be 4-0 in the region.

Personal foul face mask against the defense.

That'll be 15 yards out of the.

Play.

Clock is continuing to run.

Although I don't know that that is important at this point.

And now the Gainesville side sensing the victory is in their hands, rises to their feet and cheers on their team.

So Gainesville will be 4-0 so technically they're a half game ahead of Roswell.

They have.

This is game number 8 for them, and Roswell's one game behind him in the schedule.

But there's a big chance when those two teams play on October 24, they will still be both undefeated in the region and playing for the region championship.

Hughley takes a knee and we're done.

Gainesville has ended Milton's 42 game region winning streak with a 28-16 victory here at the Eagle's.

Nest.

This Gainesville team really, really came in here with purpose.

A game they felt against a team they really, really wanted to beat here in this situation, to start proving to themselves that they belong on this level and can compete against the best.

A great job really used the big play.

You know, when you think about how they got into the end zone, it was big runs by Newkirk, the screen by Lewis early in the game to get on the board, running backs taking over this game tonight for Gainesville.

Just the second loss for Milton overall in their last 33 games.

And quite an extraordinary run for the back to back state champions.

But Gainesville is the winner tonight 28 16 and time now for our coach's interview.

Brought to you by Johnny's New York Style Pizza.

Your original neighborhood pizzeria.

Thank you very much, Matt here with the coach.

What did you learn about yourself tonight?

Well.

Man, to God be the glory.

Look, man, these kids last year, what happened to us?

We said, in off season, you got to own it.

If you're going to earn the right to fix it.

And these kids had a silent, quiet confidence about themselves this week.

The way they went to work, because we said, look, Monday through Thursday, we got to earn the right to perform well on Friday.

Now, look, we made it interesting at times tonight, but when we had the ball, our back, make plays, we were able to do that.

But I'm proud of these young men, proud of our coaches and all the the big red country.

You showed on the edges that you could keep contain on that defensive line.

You got to the edges, you got a lot of chunk plays tonight.

Speaks a lot about the line.

Well, we worked really hard defensively and making sure we kept the quarterback in the pocket, stop the run, make them one dimensional.

And then offensively, I can't say enough about our offensive line.

Look early on it was a little bit of tough sledding, but it was just trying to find gaps in there.

And our guys hung with it.

And then we were able to find some things that we liked.

Congratulations on.

The win man.

Thank you brother.

To God be the glory.

It's awesome.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Tag out.

Hot tag averaging about ten yards a carry.

Our natural choice for player of the game.

Natural choice for Georgia.

The Georgia Cotton Commission Nigel gets to keep the hat that goes home with you.

Towel goes home with you.

What was it like out there tonight for you?

First off, I want to say Milton was a very, very good team, very physical.

But, you know, my boys, they came.

I love my O-line, my backup behind me, Dwight Lewis.

And we got the job done tonight.

Man.

I was going to ask you to brag on that offensive line breaking those holes for you out there tonight.

Hey, I love I love them boys, man.

We work hard every day at practice, man.

Hey, nothing but sweat.

That's it.

Nothing but sweat and tears.

Love them.

Boys to death.

What was the week of practice like?

Getting ready for a game like this?

Knowing how important it was?

Like I said, Coach Niblett, he he respects his opponents.

You know, he was very intense practices.

Tuesday and Wednesday, we went very hard.

And, man, it was just a good team.

Yes, sir.

We're only making plans for Nigel.

Nigel.

Newkirk, Georgia Cotton Commission player of the game.

The natural choice for Georgia.

Our natural choice player of the game.

Towel hat.

Go back to Gainesville.

Matt.

Send it back up to you to put a bow on this one.

Yeah, Nigel goes for 16, carries 166 yards and three touchdowns and 16 yards receiving as well.

What a night for Nigel Newkirk and what a night for Josh Niblett and the Gainesville Red Elephants as they come in to Milton and defeat the Eagles 28 16, snapping a 42 game region winning streak for the two time defending state champions.

Gainesville, now seven and one overall and in the driver's seat, perhaps in region seven, 5-A pending an outcome against Roswell at the end of the regular season.

They are now four and oh in the region.

Be sure to join us next Friday night as the McEachern Indians meet the Hillgrove Hawks in a matchup of unbeatens with first place on the line in region three.

6-A.

That's next Friday night right here on GPB, and our stream game will be the troop Tigers taking on the Lagrange Grangers.

Another big rivalry game.

Both of those games next Friday night on GPB and GPB.

Dot.

If you missed portions of tonight's game or just want to see it again, you can catch a full replay later this evening or in the coming week at GPB Sports on Demand.

Now for Wayne Gandy John Nelson, our VP of sports, Kevin Gerkey, our game producer.

Glenn Diamond, our director, Vince Early, I'm Matt Stewart.

Good night from the Eagle's Nest, where Gainesville Diggs Milton 42 game winning streak with a 28-16 win.

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He's coachable.

You tell him something.

He's got it.

He's the kid that you want everybody else to be.

He comes to work.

Perfect attitude every single day.

I think the wrestling and football kind of complement each other.

You know, mental toughness is a real ingredient in both.

Combine his athleticism along with his relentless effort.

That just makes a really, really talented football player.

He's a worker and on the defensive side of the ball, you've got to have that relentless effort.

He's not the kid that makes the same mistakes over and over again.

He corrects things and that's huge.

I don't care what sport you're playing.