🏈 Milton’s Breakthrough — The Panthers won their first game since 2023, edging Crestview 20-19 in overtime.
🚨 Clutch Moments — QB Kaiden Hall led a late 89-yard drive, while LB Aiden Spratt scored the tying touchdown in the final seconds.
🎯 Season Outlook — Milton debuts a new veer-option offense, while Crestview looks to rebound against Niceville.
MILTON — The Milton Panthers snapped a year-long skid Friday night, edging the Crestview Bulldogs 20-19 in overtime at Haywood Hanna Stadium. The win was the Panthers’ first since November 2023 and the first under new head coach Ronnie Douglas.
Defense and ground games dominated throughout, but Milton’s late surge forced overtime. With just under two minutes left in regulation, quarterback and four-star Florida commit Kaiden Hall sparked an 89-yard drive.
His biggest throw came on a third-down roll to his left, finding senior wide receiver Ezra Jones on a 28-yard jump ball that set up the Panthers inside the red zone.
From there, senior linebacker Aiden Spratt — playing both ways — punched in the game-tying touchdown with 27 seconds remaining. Kicker Boone Sanborn’s extra point evened the score at 13-13 and sent the game to overtime.
Milton struck first in the extra period. Senior running back Kyle Paul powered in from 10 yards out, giving the Panthers a 20-13 advantage. Crestview answered when quarterback Zy Tassin scored on a run of his own.
Facing a choice between extending the game or ending it, the Bulldogs’ staff called a timeout and opted for a two-point conversion.
Tassin’s pass on the attempt fell short of its target in the end zone, sealing Milton’s dramatic win and ending its losing streak.
“For this community, you know, they’ve been waiting a long time,” Douglas said. “A lot of tradition here. They deserve this — but you don’t deserve anything unless you work for it. These guys have worked really hard to have this win.”
Crestview had set the tone early. On the Bulldogs’ opening drive, Tassin broke free for a 58-yard touchdown run.
Milton responded in the second quarter when three-star Southern Miss commit David Aboya intercepted a pass and returned it 25 yards, setting up Hall for a short touchdown run.
Momentum swung again moments later when Crestview returned the ensuing kickoff deep into Milton territory. Quarterback Chasen Lawrence capped the short field with a touchdown run that put the Bulldogs ahead 13-6 at halftime.
But Milton’s defense stiffened after the break, setting the stage for the late heroics that delivered a breakthrough win for Douglas and his team.
For Milton, Friday’s game was the first official showing of a new offense — the veer option.
In total, the Panthers rushed the ball 45 times for 192 yards and three scores. Hall led the way, with 20 carries and 92 yards and a touchdown, along with him going 5-9, passing for 66 yards.
At times, especially in the first half, Crestview’s stingy defense kept the Panthers at bay, only crossing midfield twice. However, Douglas said that they just followed the game plan, which eventually led to success.
“We just stick to our system, get them to believe in it,” he said. “Hard work, show up, dedication — do what we ask you to do. These young men are very coachable, great young men, and they balled tonight.”
Douglas credited Crestview for pushing his team to the limit.
“That’s a great Crestview football team,” he said. “They’re going to win a lot of games. They’ve got some great athletes. It could have gone either way tonight.”
For Crestview, while starting the season 0-1, they look to pick up their first win of the season over the Niceville Eagles, who will also be looking to pick up their first win of the season after losing to Lincoln, 36-29.
The Milton Panthers will be on the road this Friday, as they head west to face the Pensacola High Tigers, who look to rebound after a 29-0 loss to Pine Forest.
Pro Communi Bono
St. Francis De Sales, Ora Pro Nobis!
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