A SOLID SHOWING...is what Miami East gave despite a 35-28 loss to a solid Milton-Union team.

By Dwaine Maxson
August 22, 2008 – WEST MILTON
Miami East showed character and toughness in a 35-28 loss to Milton-Union. Although turnovers and mistakes proved to be costly for the Vikings Friday night against the Bulldogs. If not for three costly fumbles they may have pulled it out.

Miami East got the ball first, but a few plays later they lost a fumble on their own 37 yard line. The Bulldogs would then march down to the end zone. Milton’s Nikko Johnson finished the drive by catching an 11 yard pass from Jon Mason for the touchdown. After the Vikings second offensive series the Bulldogs then again moved the ball down field. Jon King finished that drive with a 2 yard run for their second touchdown and after the PAT kick were up 14-0. It looked like it might be a repeat of last year, but East fought back. On the Vikings next series they finally got the ball moving their way and Sam Smallwood finished the drive with a 3 yard run to make it 14-7.

In the second quarter Milton came with a balanced attack of the run and the pass. They then scored again on a Cory Warner 4 yard run and went up 20-7. But the Vikings would not give up and came back on their next series and answered with a 5 yard touchdown run by Smallwood.

Only down 20-14 at the half the Vikings came out fired up in the second half. East’s defense stopped the Bulldogs on their first series of the half. Then on their first possession of the second half the Vikings marched 38 yards down the field. Brock Smith finished the drive with a 23 yard run. After Justin Nosker’s kick Miami East lead 21-20. The Viking defense again held the Bulldogs, but on the Vikings’ next offensive series a quarterback-center exchange went bad and resulted in their second lost of fumble of the game. Milton recovered it on the Vikings’ 23 yard line. A few plays later the Bulldogs’ Jon King scored his second touchdown on a 4 yard run and after a successful 2 point conversion Milton lead 28-21.

Late in the third quarter the Vikings’ runningback fumbled the ball as he picked up a first down. Milton recovered it on the 50 yard line. A few plays later early in the fourth quarter the Bulldogs’ Cory Warner scored his second touchdown on a 26 yard run to make it 35-21. Later in the fourth the Vikings started moving the ball again. Justin Baker finished the drive with a 5 yard run for a touchdown to make it 35-28 with 3:51 left in the game. Unfortunately they could stop Milton’s Cory Warner as he gradually ran down the clock to end the game.

“Three of our fumbles lead to Milton touchdowns,” a couple of the Viking assistant coaches said. “We made too many mistakes against a good football team,” Coach Current said later.

Next week the Vikings travel to Mississinawa Valley to take on the Blackhawks.

Score by Quarters:
…………………….1……2……3…..4……Total
Miami East…….....7……7……7…..7……..28
Milton Union……..14…..6……8…...7…….35

Scoring Summary:
MU-Nikko Johnson 11 yard pass from Jon Mason (Zach Smith kick).
MU-Jon King 2 yard run (Smith kick).
ME-Sam Smallwood 3 yard run (Justin Nosker kick).
MU-Cory Warner 4 yard run (kick failed).
ME-Smallwood 5 yard run (Nosker kick).
ME-Brock Smith 23 yard run (Nosker kick).
MU-King 4 yard run (Johnson pass from Mason).
MU-Warner 26 yard run (Smith kick).
ME-Justin Baker 5 yard run (Nosker kick).

Records: Miami East 0-1 (0-0), Milton Union 1-0 (0-0).