8/8/2019 Milan News-Leader Sports

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Milan beats Ypsi in thrillerBy Dave MerchantHeritage Newspapers

It isnt always the biggestor strongest player on thefootball team that wins thegame. Last Friday night, theMilan Big Reds were grateful

for the foot of senior kickerMark McCrae, who booteda 29-yard field goal late inthe fourth quarter to giveMilan a 25-24 win over hostYpsilanti.

Before the kick I justlooked at the uprights,McCrae said. I dontget a chance to kick thatmany field goals and I justattempted it like it was anextra point. I am happy forthe team that what I did mat-tered. They are the ones thatpractice so hard and put theblood, sweat and tears intoit.

The kick certainly didmatter. And despite making a39-yarder last season, McCraesaid this was the biggest kick

hes ever made.With the home crowd excit-

ed for the start of the footballseason, the Phoenix deliveredearly in the game.

After each team failed toscored on their first posses-sions, Milan fumbled andYpsilanti senior BrendanFrame pounced on it. On thenext play, junior runningback Austin Sanders went10 yards for the score. ThePhoenix led 6-0 after themissed extra point attemptwith 5:40 to play in the firstquarter.

Early in the second quar-ter, Milans Robert Goupillscored on a 1-yard run.McCraes extra point was

good to give the Big Reds a 7-6lead with 11:10 to play in the

first half.The teams would continue

to battle back and forth untilSanders ran down the left

side of the field for an 11-yardtouchdown. The two-pointconversion failed and Ypsiled 12-7 with 9:02 to play inthe second quarter.

The score remained thatway until the third quarterwhen Ypsi quarterback KevinClark connected on a 43-yardpass play to Ryan Griffin.The play set up an 11-yard TDrun by Sanders who now hadthree touchdowns on day. Thetwo-point conversion wasincomplete but the Phoenixled 18-7.

But the Big Reds answeredwith a big play. DeAndreMitchell ran back a 75-yardkickoff for a touchdown.After Milan made the two-point conversion, the BigReds trailed 18-15.

Ypsilanti was unable tomove the ball on the next pos-session and Milan got the ballback on its own 10-yard line.Joe Dunn ran it in for the BigReds from the 4-yard line.After the McCrae extra pointthe visitors from down theroad were up 22-18 with 7:24to play in the third quarter.

This time, Ypsilantimounted the comeback. With

25 seconds left in the third

quarter, Brandon Jordan ranin a score from 11 yards outafter breaking several Milanwould-be tacklers. The extrapoint failed, but Ypsi led 24-22.

McCrae erased that leadwith his game-winning fieldgoal.

Ypsilanti coach JasonMalloy was disappointedwith the loss, but not with the

Milan hostsPuddle JumperBy Don RichterHeritage Newspapers

Milans boys cross country

team finished third at last weeksPuddle Jumper Invitational atWilson Park. The host Big Redsended up with 88 points.

Pacing Milan in the meet wasjunior Ike Fink who finishedfifth overall. Teammate juniorNathan Anderson was sixth forthe Big Reds.

Looks like these two willbattle for the No. 1 spot on theteam this year, said Milancoach Steve Porter.

Placing 20th overall for Milanwas junior Dylan Miller, whilesophomore Carter Hayes was21st for the Big Reds.

Dylan and Carter are rightback to form in the No. 3 and No.4 spot, Porter said.

Freshman Nate Pyle wasMilans No. 5 finisher on the day.

He had the most impressiveperformance after just one weekof practice, Porter said. Theother boys (on team) ran well.This was our best early season

meet since Ive been coachingthe boys (past six years). Ourleague is very competitive thisyear with four good teams at thetop. It will be nice to be one ofthem.

The Big Reds girls crosscountry team finished fourthoverall in the meet recording 121points.

Leading Milan individuallywas senior Tara Lewis with atime of 21:13.

Junior Laura Heath crossedthe line 21st in 21:46, while soph-omore Danielle Anderson was26th in 22:14 for the Big Reds.

Our top three veteran run-ners all ran well despite comingoff a week of high mileage,Porter said. The bright spotfor the girls team followed thetop runners with surprise per-formances from our less experi-enced girls.

Senior Grace Albers was

27th in 22:18, while sophomoreSydney Hajduk was 29th in22:20 and freshman ChabrielleGollman was 31st in 22:32 forMilan.

With just 1:07 between our

top five, what looked to be arebuilding year for the girls,after losing four of our top fivefrom 2009, will turn into somecompetitive meets for Milan,Porter said. The competitionfor our top five spots has cre-ated some very interesting teamdynamics for our girls, all ofwhich makes us a better team inthe near future.

Our leadership has beengreat and the girls are wellaware of our traditions. Theyhave accepted that challenge andthe pressure that comes with it.

Overall, Porter said thePuddle Jumper invite was apositive experience.

This was a fun meet for boththe kids and the spectators, he

said. We had a great crowd ofMilan parents, family and fans.With nine full teams this wasthe biggest Puddle Jumper inyears.

For those interested in join-ing cross country, Porter said itwasnt too late to become a mem-ber of a Big Red team.

The middle school team(sixth- through eighth-graders)has started practicing, he said.And we have new membersjoining the high school teamevery day.

Those interested can callPorter at 439-8530.

Milan next travels to ErieMason to participate in its meet4:30 p.m. Tuesday.

On Wednesday, the Big Redsvisit Springport to compete in

its invitational at 4 p.m.On Sept. 18, Milan travels to

New Boston Huron for its invita-tional at 8:30 a.m.

SPORTS September 2, 2010SECTIONMILAN

LIVE ONLINE THIS WEEKGames featured LIVE online this

week include Milans home footballgame with the Riverview Pirates.

Photos by Tom Perkins

Milan senior Leo Pittman runs to daylight during last Fridays season opener against Ypsilanti.

LOCAL SPORTS EVERYDAY

www.heritage.comWEB EXCLUSIVE: The Milan Big Reds host Riverview in high school football

Big Red senior Joe Dunn stiff-arms Ypsilanti senior DerrickWhitehead in last Fridays game versus Ypsilanti.

Big Reds tieLincoln in matchBy Don RichterHeritage Newspapers

Milans boys tennis team lost

to Ann Arbor Skyline 8-0 in adual match last Saturday.

In singles play, Big Red Jason

Kuck lost 6-1, 6-1 to the EaglesFajr Najib at the No. 1 flight.

At No. 2 singles, MilansGarth Olson lost to RyanJackson 6-2, 6-0.

At No. 3 singles, Big Red KyleMallonen lost to Ben Kaldjian 6-0, 6-1. Milans Garret Olson lost6-1, 6-1 to Jojo Otchere at No. 4singles.

In doubles competition, theBig Red No. 1 duo of BlakeLaFuente and Mitchell Goodinlost 7-5, 6-1 to Kazuki Matsuroand Nate Wegryn.

At No. 2 doubles, Nick Whiteand Anthony Pearson lost toSkylines Carson White andRussellChey 6-0, 6-0.

At No. 3 doubles, MilansJacob Simmons and Travis

Matts lost to Ryan Franke andThomas Friedlander 6-0, 6-0.The Big Reds lost by forfeit at

No. 4 doubles.Milans record is 0-1-1 on the

season.

To open the 2010 year, the BigReds tied Lincoln 4-4 in a dualmatch.

The boys showed a lot ofeffort today and a great attitudethat well build on throughoutthe season, said Milan coachNate Rodriguez.

At No. 1 singles, Kuck defeat-ed Chad Opfermann in a three-set marathon 6-2, 4-6, 6-0.

Garth Olson defeated IanBentrum 6-3, 7-6 at No. 2 singles.

At No. 3 singles, Mallonenlost to Zach Dunlop 6-2, 6-1.

Garret Olson defeated JustinKenney in straight sets 6-1, 6-2at No. 4 singles.

The Olson brothers bothwon at singles in straight sets,Rodriguez said. And Garretrecorded his first career win asa freshman.

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GAME DAY

When: Friday 7 p.m.Where: Milan High SchoolOpponent: RiverviewScouting report: Milanopened the 2010 season

last Friday defeating hostYpsilanti 25-24. Riverviewbeat Dearborn HeightsCrestwood 14-6 in its open-er. Last year, the Big Redslost to the Pirates 28-6. Thegame is the Huron Leagueopener for both clubs.Next up: Milan travels toHuron League opponentFlat Rock for a game Sept.10 at 7 p.m.

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Tennis

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COLLEGEFOOTBALLPREVIEW

Chelseas NickHill is trying toclimb up the depthchart at MSU.

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Full speed ahead!