Milan's defense plays best game of season to help Bulldogs beat McNairy Central

SELMER - The Milan offense scored 28 first half points en route to a 34-7 win over McNairy Central, but the Bulldog defense might have been the most impressive group in the Region 7-3A matchup Friday night.

“It says something that no one defensive player really stood out to me tonight,” said Milan Coach Jeff Morris. “It was our defense's best performance of the season. I am really proud of them. We really asked our defensive backs to step up this week and help us stop the run, and that seemed to work.”

After the Bulldogs (5-3, 3-1) went up 7-0 on Taylor Lockhart's 35-yard pass to Davante Herron, Matt Staggs recovered a Bobcat fumbled punt to set up the first of Jacquez Norman's three tochdowns on the night as the first quarter expired.

Anthony Ballard is known as one of the top running backs in West Tennessee, but he impressed on the defensive side of the ball, recording two second quarter sacks and a forced fumble to stifle McNairy.(3-5, 0-4)

“We didn't give up tonight,” said Ballard about the defensive unit's play. "The new blitz scheme really allowed us to put the pressure on them and keep them off balance. Sometimes, I lined up at linebacker, and sometimes I was at defensive end but we really brought the heat.”  

T'Detrius Carter recovered a Bobcat fumble halfway through the second quarter to stop another offensive seies by the Bobcats.

With Milan up 28-0 but McNairy threatening to score from 23 yards out, Ballard's sack and Kurt Chandler's fumble recovery held McNairy scoreless in the first half.

“Our defense really stepped up tonight,” said quarterback Lockhart about his counterparts on the defense. “They were really hungry. We have two great leaders out there in middle linebacker Christian Wright and defensive tackle Kurt Chandler. They really help us bring the intensity and set the tone for the game tonight.”

The Bulldogs held the Bobcats' senior running back Kylin Wynn to 11 yards in the first half. Wynn, who had 643 yards and 11 touchdowns coming into the game, broke one big run for 44 yards and McNairy's only score with 4:13 left in the third quarter.

“We had it all locked in mentally tonight,” said Ballard. “We gave up a few big plays, but overall, the defense was really solid tonight. We knew they would want to run and that we would want to stop it.”