Kyle Craig (71) and Jeremy Grable (1) will both be looking to lead the 2009 Eagles back into the GHSA playoffs.

By Phillip Giltman

Milton head coach Scott Walker does not like to use the term “rebuilding,” but with 37 seniors gone from last year’s playoff team, it’s difficult to label it anything else.

“We will be a different team, but our expectations have not changed,” said Walker, who enters his fourth season as Milton’s head coach. Walker led the Eagles to its first consecutive winning seasons since 1994. But the Milton faithful relished even more in last year’s 20-19 victory over rival Roswell, ending a seven-year drought against the historically superior Hornets. “That was a big win for our school, our program and our community,” said Walker, a Milton alumnus. “But in football, you enjoy it for a couple of hours and then prepare for the next one.”  

With only six offensive starters returning and only one on defense, the Eagles will indeed be a different ball club. And the first question which Walker has been already asked “a billion times” is how to fill the void left by tailback Toney Williams, a Tennessee signee who rushed for over 2,000 yards and 30 touchdowns last year, seven of which he scored in one game to open the season against Chattahoochee.  

“We are not going to have one guy carry the ball 40 times a game like Toney did, but we are going to be big up front and we are going to be physical,” he said. “And I assure you we will run the football.”

Like all head coaches, Walker would love to have a starting tailback he can rely on, but it appears he will have to rush by committee with juniors Wesley Gaston and Roswell transfer Lavelle Summerlin getting a bulk of the carries. Milton also lost tailback and unsung hero Taj Harris to graduation. Harris served as back up to Williams and still ran for over 1,000 yards. He signed earlier this year with Virginia Military Institute along with offensive lineman James Snyder.

It’s hard to fathom, but Milton is still seeking its first playoff win since 1953. And if 56 years of frustration isn’t enough, a triple overtime 43-41 loss to East Paulding in the first round last year left the Eagles even more distraught.

“That one still hurts,” said Walker. “We just didn’t get it done, but it is losses like that that drive you and make you work harder.” And Walker will admit his goal now is to get back to the playoffs and win one. “If you get into the playoffs, then you have a chance to win it all. That’s what we are playing for.”

And with Milton coming off consecutive winning seasons, Walker can feel the pressure beginning to mount. “When you go 3-7, there is no pressure,” Walker said. “But when you win, the next one becomes all the more important. I’m proud of the steps we have taken, but we have not arrived by any means.”

OFFENSE

History has shown that Milton likes to run the ball. And although offensive catalyst Williams is gone, that philosophy is not going to change in 2009. What will change, however, is their formation. The Eagles mostly ran out of I-Formation last year with Williams constituting about 80% of the offense.  

“We are moving toward a multiple pro-style offense,” Walker said. “We will still run some I-Form, but we are going to switch it up.” And with starters Kyle Cregge and Brad Beaty returning on the offensive line and Robby Hoffman at fullback, Milton will remain a run-dominant team.

With Williams out of the mix, Walker expects senior quarterback Wilson Perry to take on a much larger role. Perry completed 72% of his passes last year and Walker trusts he will do the right thing with the football. “He understands the offense and he puts us in good situations,” he said. “He knows he is going to have do more, but we have no doubt that he can do it.” Walker said one of the advantages of being a running team is that it sets up play action extremely well. “Wil has a good fake, which can bring the defense in and hopefully open up something downfield.”

Walker also thinks his receiving corps is one of the most athletic he has ever coached. He believes junior AJ Canara will be heavily recruited and is expecting big things out of Ryan Hume, a senior transfer from Miami. “Spencer Conrad has had an excellent camp for us as well,” he said. 

DEFENSE

Although Milton will only be getting one defensive starter back from last year, Walker could not have asked for a better one than senior outside linebacker and leading tackler Jeremy Grable. With nearly 10 Division-1 offers, Grable will lead a young and inexperienced defense that gave up an average of 21 points a game last year.

 
Walker, who served under former Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta, said the Eagles will stick to their base 4-3 defense and continue to apply pressure to opposing offenses. “We are a blitzing team,” said Walker. “There is no hiding that. We attack people from every which way to try and dictate the tempo of the game, not the other way around.”  

Walker said there are eight players who will rotate in to serve up front. Wade Wilson, Brandon Nix, Josh Manley and Austin West will most likely start, but the others are vying for more playing time. “The coaches and I are seeing a lot of competition,” he said. “I’ve learned competition is a better coach than any of us will ever be.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Walker admits he is not pleased with the fact, but the Eagles will kick by committee again this year. He said juniors Brendan O’Flynn and Matt Thomas are both vying for the starting role. Joe Colucci will be the team’s punter.

As for a returns specialist, Walker said he has about six players practicing punt and kickoff returns. He said AJ Canara, Lavelle Summerlin, Ryan Hume and defensive back Mike Martin are all potential candidates.

Milton Football Team: Row 1(L-R) Jeremy Grable, Lavelle Summerlin, Spencer Conrad, Connor Mills, AJ Canara, Alex Joiner, Jonathan Farnsworth, Mike Martin, Dylan Ooton, Joe Vance      Row 2 (L-R)  Wilson Perry, Ryan Hume, Colin McElroy, Cameron Zahedi, Peter Flaaen, Joe Colucci, Wesley Gaston, Andrew Palmier, Myles Taylor, Sam Schottenfeld, Preston Martin                                                 Row 3 (L-R) Rickley Gustave, Evan Anheuser, Santee Deck,  Robbie Hoffman, JJ Brink, Brian Drake, Kyle Wyckoff, Jacob Heffner, Ben Hirschland, Alec Larson, Phillip Speer, Stuart Pierce                                    Row 4 (L-R) David Schwartz, Brandon Nix, Kyle LaStrange, Eric Matlock, Simon Dobbins, Josh Norris, Charlie Tew, Daniel Smith, Christian Officer, Robbie Grupp, Kenny Adetayo, Bradley Benjamin, Alex Shannon Row 5 (L-R) Connor Burns, Joseph Tavizon, John Kielly, Matt Mannino, Austin Averett, Kyle Cregge, Ian Stammer, Isaac Berrios, Josh Manley, Justin Bates, Brad Beaty, Darion Mitchell                                        Row 6 (L-R) Parker Smith, Doug Lynch, Marty Sinkevicius, Chase Lee, Tai Adetayo, Michael Doudna, Todd Nixon, Bryce Patterson, Connor Bourff, Ellis Grant, Wade Wilson, Austin West, Brendan O’Flynn, Matt Thomas, Thomas Fowler Row 7 (L-R) Kayla Accurso, Simone Hopps, John Stettner,  Coach Nate Miller, Coach Tim Lester, Coach Pete DeWeese, Coach Mike Scott,  Head Coach Scott Walker, Coach Craig Bennett, Coach Jamie Dixon,  Coach Lonnie Estes, Coach Shawn McCarty, Emily Bopp, Mackenzie Faile, Ryan Etheredge, Elissa Peterson                       Not Pictured:  Dai Jon Parker, Zach Toups, James Boxton

Giltman’s Guess on Milton

PREDICTION: Coming off consecutive winning seasons, including a trip to the playoffs last year, Scott Walker has undoubtedly changed the mentality of this Milton football program. And although he has his team hungry for their first playoff win in 56 years, the loss of tailback Toney Williams will be too much to bear.

Despite losing 37 seniors, Walker will have this team ready to play each and every Friday and they will compete, but lack of experience on both sides of the ball will result in the Eagles coming out on the wrong end of some close ballgames.

Milton opens at home against Chattahoochee, who they beat 51-49 in last year’s season opener and then plays Campbell in its second game. After Campbell, the Eagles have three consecutive away games against formidable regional opponents. They also have to face Kell on the road and Roswell at Ray Manus Stadium. Roswell will be out for revenge after losing a 20-19 nail-biter to their cross-town rivals.

At 6-4 and fifth in Region 6-AAAAA, the Eagles fall shy of a playoff berth.

Milton Cheerleaders: front row l-r Jordan Burns, Callie Tivnan, Allie Jernigan, Katie Fadler, Charlotte Habberfield, Lauren Lewis, Lauren Burns 2nd row l-r Hannah Guttman, Katie Massa, Hannah Lech, Grace Reed, Hannah Wilbur, Katie Murphy, Taylor Spiron top rpw l-r Audrey Campbell, Lauren Vitari, Trinity Freeman, Brooke Barnett, Montana Johnston, Katie Brownfield, Taylor Campbell