Governor’s Academy Football Remains Undefeated With 29-10 Win Over Milton Academy

(Byfield)  Governor’s Academy continues undefeated (7-0) downing Milton Academy, 29-10, on a breezy afternoon at GA.

And likewise, Belmont Hill is also undefeated with their, 42-15, rout of Lawrence Academy.

That should make next Saturday’s, regular-season-ending, 1PM matchup between the Govs and the Hillies into the biggest game in this 2011 Independent School League season.  There is something called the NEPSAC bowl after the regular season is over!

Governor’s had great success running the ball, getting all four touchdowns that way.   The big problem for Milton Academy (3-4) was that there wasn’t one back they could key on.

The biggest play of the game was probably the last play of the first half.  It was a play that never should have happened.

The visiting Mustangs trailed only, 8-3, and had the ball at their own 18-yard-line with a minute left in the half.  They were deep in their own territory.  Probably should have been a good time to run off some clock.  But the Mustangs were throwing passes.

None were intercepted but the passes stopped the clock and gave GA time for a play from the Mustang 35.  Quarterback Tate Jozokos swept left and used Eli Morrissey’s block to score as the halftime horn sounded.  GA left with a 14-3 halftime lead.

The Mustang’s last minute fiasco loomed large when they drove 71 yards with the opening kickoff in the second half into the end zone finished off with Drew Jacobs eleven yard run.  Justin Yoon’s kick closed things to 14-10.

Next possession Tate Jozokos was picked by Jack Conway to set MA up at their own 40 early in the third quarter.  You started to think that maybe Milton Academy (3-4) could pull off a major upset.

Not on this day.  The Mustangs final three possessions ended in turnover, red zone squander, and turnover.  The Gov’s, meanwhile, put up two touchdowns and extra points, and ran out the clock on their last possession.

Kirk Ryder was prominent in two of those Mustang stops.  He recovered Drew Jacobs fumble after Eli Morrissey’s tackle forced the loose ball.  Later Kirk put a serious hit on Mustang QB Anthony Scurto on a failed fourth down play at the Gov’s nine just as he was releasing a pass.

Sammy Davis converted a 4th-and-3 late in the third quarter.  Tate Jozokos (three touchdowns/one 2-point conversion) finished the drive with a one yard push up the middle. GA led, 21-10, as the third period ended.

After Milton Academy’s red zone squander in the fourth period, the Govs put together a 91-yard march featuring a 26-yard run by Tate Jozokos and a bizarre 24-yard run by Sammy Davis.  I say “bizarre” because Sammy fumbled the pitch that was supposed to send him left, picked up the fumble and ran right for the yards.  He had the speed to get away with the change of direction.  Sammy went the final seven yards on a sweep left.  Tate scrambled for the 2-point conversion.

Jesse Gwozdz intercepted Anthony Scurto on the Mustangs’ last possession.

Milton Academy got on the board first on freshman Justin Yoon’s 35-yard field goal.  That leg could land him on a D1 college roster four years from now.

Eli Morrissey took the next kickoff all the way to the Mustang 13.  The Govs looked ready to roll into the end zone but Otis Handy picked off Tate Jozokos’ pass at the one.

On the first play after the interception the Mustangs tried to fake a handoff and have QB Anthony Scurto follow.  The play was way too slow in getting started and Anthony was dropped in the end zone for a safety.

Things stayed 3-2 until late in the second period.  A couple of long runs by Eli Morrissey and Austin Smith set Tate up for a one-yard scoring plunge with one minute until halftime.  This brings us back to MA’s questionable strategy during the final minute of the first half.

The Gov’s tried an end around (Frank Barba) after one touchdown and a fake kick (Colin Smith) on another.  The polish wasn’t on either one of those attempts!

This was my first look at the Governor’s.  They certainly have a running game to be feared especially to the outside.  I also liked the fact that many of the best blocks I saw were thrown by backs.  If I were Belmont Hill, however, I would be wanting to force Governor’s to throw the ball – Tate threw two interceptions.

The Gov’s were very solid on defense.  Bug Carper, Tucker Oniskey, and Kirk Ryder spent a lot of time in the Mustang backfield.  Kirk’s QB hurry on 4th down in the red zone was significant.  If the Mustangs had scored they would have trailed just, 21-17, with most of the final quarter left.

Belmont Hill (7-0) versus Governor’s Academy (7-0) on November 12th (Saturday) at 1PM in Byfield.

(I take my own pictures and draw my own conclusions.  Mistakes are unintentional.)  If you click on any of the pictures they will enlarge to normal size.