By MacKenzie Bates

For the Forsyth County News

Milton used a balanced attack on offense to defeat Forsyth Central High School 37-7 on Friday night in Cumming.

“We made too many mistakes tonight,” Central head coach Frank Hepler said. “They’re a really good football team. We’re good enough to play against these teams. I’m frustrated for our guys and our community. They do a great job, but so do our guys.”

The Eagles (5-3, 3-0 Region 5-7A) amassed 450 yards of total offense, including 227 yards on the ground. Milton got the scoring started when quarterback Devin Farrell found a seam on a 17-yard run in the first quarter.

Late in the opening quarter, the Eagles started a 10-play 57-yard drive that was capped off by an Ahmad Junearick 1-yard plunge that began the second quarter.

On the next possession, Farrell took to the air, finding Jake Walter in the end zone on an 11-yard pass as the Eagles soared out to a 21-0 lead midway through the second quarter.

Forsyth Central put together a drive that found the Bulldogs inside the Milton 5-yard line, but a costly fumble on a third-and-goal play turned the ball over just before halftime.

“We’ve worked our hurry-up offense all of the time,” Hepler said. “Unfortunately, we had a bad snap that messed it up, and that’s on me. I’ve got to do a better job during the week and getting that more consistent. That would’ve been a great momentum swing heading in to halftime.”

The Bulldogs’ defense stepped out of the locker room in the third quarter and held on another long drive from the Eagles. Back on offense, Central got a fourth-down conversion by punter Ty Sherman, who threw a pass to Solomon Gates to continue the drive.  

Central scored on a 20-yard Bronson Landreth pass to Jake Bretz to bring the Bulldogs within two scores at 21-7 just before the fourth quarter.

“Give these kids credit, they continue to fight and that was good to see,” Hepler said. “I told our kids, ‘Let’s win each quarter.’ We came out and won the third quarter, but came out flat again in the fourth quarter. We’ve just got to build on that momentum.”

Milton then put the game away in the fourth quarter. Running back Jordan McDonald push the lead back out to three scores on a 3-yard run on the next possession.  

After a Central safety made it 30-7, Junearick got his second score of the game on a 39-yard scamper.

Farrell had an efficient game for Milton, going 13-for-22 passing for 213 yards and touchdown. He had eight rushes for 61 yards and a score.

Junearick led all rushers with 127 yards on 10 carries and two touchdowns.

Landreth went 10-of-14 passing for 106 yards and a touchdown.  Bretz had five catches for 70 yards. Landreth also led Central in rushing on seven carries for 31 yards.

“We’re a primary triple-option offense, but that touchdown pass is in our package,” Hepler said. “We’ve thrown quite a few touchdown passes this year and if you put too many guys in the box, we’re like any other zone football team. We’re going to throw it over top in those situations, and I was happy to see that executed tonight.”

Central travels to South Forsyth next week, while Milton goes on the road to Lambert.