Milan's Anthony Ballard named Jackson area's Week 7 Player of the Week
Milan coach Jeff Morris went up to running back Anthony Ballard Jr. on Friday night and asked him whether he needed a rest.
The Bulldogs’ two-headed rushing attack took a blow when Jacquez Norman went out with a sprained ankle. It was up to Ballard, who also was playing defense, to carry the load.
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Ballard responded emphatically, rushing for 232 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries in Milan’s 49-35 region 7-3A win over Bolivar Central to be named the Week 7 Player of the Week.
“Anthony just doubled up and carried the whole load; kid kind of wanted to put the whole team on his back,” Morris said.
Ballard now has 801 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on the season. He didn’t mind taking on the increased reps and responsibilities.
“I never mind putting the team on my back and getting the workload,” Ballard said. “Whatever is needed to get the win, I'm willing to do.”
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His performance came in a game Milan desperately needed to win to keep pace in region play. The Bulldogs (4-3, 2-1) are in third place in the region, one game behind both South Gibson and Covington. The win also snapped Milan’s two-game losing streak.
Ballard said the win might just be what the team needed to turn things around.
“The losses we had, especially the first two, we were that close to winning those two,” Ballard said. “We needed this win, but I really do feel like we're coming together and everything. The running game is really standing out more than ever.”
Other standout performances
Jacob Buie (USJ) – Buie was 15-of-23 for 291 yards and two touchdowns in the Bruins’ 48-28 win over St. George’s.
Gunnar Lewis (Jackson Christian) – Lewis completed 12 of 17 passes for 185 yards and a touchdown and rushed 20 times for 156 yards and three touchdowns in the Eagles' 49-17 win over Clarksville Academy.
William Stafford (Scotts Hill) – Stafford registered six solo tackles, four assists, 2.5 sacks and rushed for 99 yards and two touchdowns in a 14-7 win over Hickman County.
Jerwin Young (Haywood) – Young was a menace in the backfield, racking up seven tackles and four sacks in the Tomcats’ 42-0 win over Ripley.
Players of the week
Week 1: Haywood's Decourtney Reed
Week 2: Jackson Christian's Luke Robertson
Week 3: Liberty's Stephun Bush
Week 4: Riverside's Stone Frost
Week 5: Bolivar's Trey Lowe
Week 6: Crockett County's Jacob Fitzhugh
Week 7: Milan’s Anthony Ballard
Reach Luis Torres at ltorres1@jacksonsun.com and follow him on Twitter @LFTorresIII.