Collins game winner gives Lake the Bell over Milford
FELTON, Del- Lake Forest defeated Milford 31-28 in the 50thannual Battle for the Bell. With the win the Spartans finish the season 6-4 and the loss drops the Bucs to 5-5.
Both teams coming into this one just on the bubble of making it into the DIAA D2 playoff bracket, the 50thBattle of the Bell promised to be a classic. Back and forth was the story of the first half. After a muffed punt by Lake, Milford would recover and take over at the 12 and Fullback Rodney Robinson would punch it in from there with 9 minutes left to play in the first. Just three minutes later and Lake would respond, JaJuan Reid took a handoff 34 yards to the house for his first touchdown.
After a Milford punt, Lake would get another score to take the lead. Zaire Elliot plows his way into the end zone from 5 yards out to give the Spartans the 14-7 lead to end the first quarter. On the first play of the second quarter, Milford freshman QB Shawn Saxon hit Tyron Mifflin for the 25 yard score to tie us up at 14 early in the second. As time wined down in the half, Lake was looking to take the halftime lead. With 5 minutes remaining, Senior Fullback Chris Kennedy would get on the board with the two yard score giving the Spartans the 21-14 lead at half.
Milford unable to do anything with their first possession of the second half, punted away to a red hot Spartan offense that already put 3 rushing touchdowns on the board. Looking for a fourth, the handoff would go to JaJuan Reid and he goes all the way, 73 yards to the house to open the second half.
Milford in a 14 point hole, would not give up. Ensuing Bucs drive, Milford would take it all the way down the field and cap the drive off with a second Rodney Robinson touchdown run. Bucs cut the deficit to 7 in the third.
Spartans unable to move the ball after the Bucs score, they punt on their next 3 drives. With just under 5:30 left to play, Milford would get the ball at the 38. 43 yards later Junior Running Back Jabraih Luke gets it up the middle and goes 19 yards untouched for the equalizer with just over 3 minutes to play.
In the last home game of his career, Lake Senior QB Shyron Salandy had 3 minutes to take his team down the field and into field goal range to avoid OT. As time ticked down, the drive quickly came to a fourth and two. Normally a run first team, Lake fooled everyone in Felton when Salandy dropped back to pass. Milford bringing the pressure, number 12 had to get rid of it quick, being brought down by the defender he hit a wide open Jaden Rivera for the first down with 15 seconds left. About 20 yards from field goal range, Salandy had to make something happen fast if they were going to avoid overtime. Dropping back to pass, he hit a wide open Jene Sample and he takes it down to the 28 setting up kicker Cade Collins for a game winning FG attempt.
Walking onto the field, all eyes on Collins as he attempts to end it for Milford. A perfect snap and hold, and even better kick, Collins nails the game winner and Lake holds on to take the Bell for the first time since the 2015 season.
