Knights roll over Eagles behind huge first half – 38-18
Game Stats: Milford vs. Kings
Coach Olds Corner: Challenge Accepted
Game Slideshow: Mindseye Photography
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Newspaper Coverage: Pulse-Journal
TV Coverage: WLWT Blitz 5
WKNG Radio: Re-play Podcast
Putter’s WKNG Player of the Game: Jamard Lewis – 4 catches for 142 yards, long of 59 yards and 2 touchdowns all in the first half! Putter’s congratulates Jamard Lewis! Great Game!
WKNG TV:
Game Recap: Contributed by Bret A. Sims
The Kings Knights took a 31-0 lead into halftime over the Milford Eagles that seemed to leave everyone in an Eagles uniform, on the sideline or in the stands with a look of bewilderment on their faces. Milford would make a run in the second half before ultimately falling 38-18.
On what has to be one of the prettiest play action plays at any level not just high school, Kings senior QB Johnny Brewster hit Jermard Lewis on a 59-yard touchdown pass to open the scoring at the 5:54 mark of the first quarter. Before the first half would end Brewster would hook up with Lewis again on another TD pass, this time from 44 yards out en route to a 142 yard performance on only four catches for the super fast Lewis.
Milford’s Nathan Termuhlen, who ran for 220 yards and scored five touchdowns a week earlier against Hughes High School, found carrying the ball much more difficult against a swarming Knights defense. Termuhlen would finish the game with 114 yards on 17 carries and two touchdowns but most of that came in the second half when the Knights had the game in hand. When the first half ended Termuhlen had less than 20 yards rushing, hadn’t found the end zone and lost a fumble. The second half had to get better for such a talented runner.
The defensive game plan for the Knights’ seemed to work to perfection as they consistently shut down the running lanes and frustrating the Eagles offense. Time and time again the linebacking corps of Blake Bates, Sean Horan and Austin Copeland beat the runner to the hole and stuffed them. Knowing that Milford didn’t fair as well when Sullivan passed more than six times a game the Knights forced him into putting the ball in the air 31 times.
Milford made a strong second half run against the Knights but some of that was due to the starters on defense being rested while their teammates gained valuable playing time which could pay off later in the season as the Knights make a push for the playoffs. A little bit of luck also went Milford’s way on their first score of the game (11:25 mark of 3rd quarter) when a pass from Frank Sullivan was knocked into the air after Spencer Rosekrans from Kings made an interception attempt. The ball landed in the arms of Milford’s receiver Nathan D’Orazia who took it 52 yards to the house.
It was a dominant performance on both sides of the ball for the Knights and while I’m sure coach Olds and his coaching staff know they have things their young team can get better at it had to be a very pleasing victory for all of them. Both the offense and defense seemed to be clicking on all cylinders and what was expected in the preseason of the offense seems to be playing out.
Kings tandem of Brewster and Gephardt (who had a TD pass himself to Blake Bates) are a two-headed monster that is going to give defenses fits all season. Throw in Westbrook who can take it to the house any time he touches the ball and the emergence of Jermard Lewis and steady hands of Nick Bird and the Knights become a difficult team to defend. Justin Crull and Nick Collado are very solid players that can change the complexion of the game and have to be accounted for at all times.
The Knights defense played bigger than they are once again and the production of the linebackers was a step up over last week as this team continues to gel.
It is early in the season but with two important wins under their belt the amount of confidence that can be gained from these wins can’t be underestimated. This team plays as a team and that can take them a long way.
The Knights will travel to Harrison for their first road game next week but all signs point for them to return t the castle at 3-0 if they continue to play they way they have their first two games.