PREP FOOTBALL: Milan enters district play unbeaten

MILAN – The football program at Milan is enjoying right now all the differences a year can make.

This time in 2013, things were beginning to spiral out of control for the Bulldogs as they lost at home to Lexington and Humboldt to begin the season.

The team had players missing due to injuries, suspensions and insurance issues the likes of which head coach Jeff Morris had never see. He admitted he hopes he never sees again on a team he's associated with.

But that was '13, an unlucky year for the Bulldogs.

The season is '14, and things are much different. They're coming off wins at Lexington and at Humboldt, the latter of which had a running clock for most of the second half.

There's only one thing they'd like to keep similar to Week 2 last year, and that's the result of the game with Crockett County.

"That was an unusual game to say the least," Morris said smiling. "But we know that last season and last year's game will have no effect on the game we're playing here this week.

"We know we've got a good team coming in that we've got to be ready to fight with for four quarters."

Crockett County is a different team, too.

"They're a more complete team," Morris said. "They've got their tailback [Johnny Jones] back, because he missed playing us last year because of an injury.

"They're offensive line is big. They're defense is pretty hard to stop. Their quarterback is a great player if they decided to do more with him and throw it more to some good receivers they have out there. And their punter and kicker, he's one that can flip the field for them if we're not careful."

Milan won that game last year thanks to a few plays Milan isn't known for, like long passes to the tight end. Grant Holden played tight end that night and caught a 33-yard pass for a score. He probably won't catch one tonight since he's moved over to offensive guard.

"I like playing where I am, and this week should be fun going against their defensive line," Holden said. "But things are going a lot better for us this year because everybody is more committed to coming in – especially on the weekends – getting lifting and film work in and coming in throughout the week ready to practice.

"Being 2-0 might help the motivation, but trying to avoid last year has been good motivation too."

Holden said "3-7" has been almost a motto for the Bulldogs. It was their final record last year as they failed to make the playoffs for the first time in three decades, and they'd point to that as something to avoid when they didn't have the best day of work in the spring or summer.

"Whenever we got lackadaisical, somebody would ask the rest of the team if we wanted to be 3-7 again because that's the result we were working for," said receiver Bradley Brown, who was actually a part of the Cavaliers' program for a few months in the offseason before he moved home to Milan in time for his freshman season in 2011.

Brown said he and Johnny Jones, the Cavaliers' running back who's already rushed for 400 yards and nine touchdowns in two games, are first cousins, and he's got a few more friends over there.

"There hasn't been much trash talk this year," Brown said. "Yeah they did better than us and made the playoffs, but the first time they brought that up I said, 'Well we beat y'all.'

"I'll be glad to get out there Friday night."

Holden said he'll be glad to get back out there too. A son of former Bulldogs assistant coach, Todd Holden, he said he's practically grown up on the Bulldogs' practice field. He wants to be a part of the group that restores the swagger back to Milan's program after a down year last year.

"We hated coming off the field nearly every week without a win, and we hated even more not making the playoffs," Holden said. "That record, 3-7, has been in front of us all year since we ended last year, and we plan to keep winning this year and make Milan football what it's supposed to be around here."

Brandon Shields, 425-9751

This week's game

What: Crockett County at Milan

When: Friday at 7 p.m.

Radio: WTBK-FM 93.7

Tucker honored

Legendary Milan coach John Tucker will be honored this week and all season by the Bulldogs. The players will wear a special sticker on their helmets, and a replica of the sticker will be on the game field this week. There will also be a special ceremony honoring his memory at the game.