By Thomas Sellers Jr.
The Millington Trojan coaching staff walked off the Mooney Bosewell Field Friday night somber but proud.
The melancholy state
derived from the 34-6 defeat to the Ridgeway Roadrunners. The pride was a product of the effort from the players competing for 48 minutes.
Millington (1-4, 0-1) entered the game against the Roadrunners as underdogs. And the favorites jumped ahead 7-0 late in the first quarter. Ridgeway running back Lilotis Walker scored on a 6-yard run to put the Roadrunners ahead by a touchdown.
The Trojans responded with a long drive down the field highlighted by a D’Monte Kemp run to the 2-yard line. As the quarter turned to the second period, Millington quarterback Eldon Tyms capped off the drive with a 1-yard TD run to make the score 7-6.
The Roadrunners (2-2, 1-0) added to their advantage at the 10-minute, 8-second mark when Walker entered the end zone again. His 3-yard score made the tally 13-6.
With less than 2 minutes remaining in the first half the Roadrunners got another scoring run to make the score 20-6.
The Trojan defense featuring sophomores and freshmen did force Ridgeway to punt and turnover the ball on downs.
Millington offense was limited adjusting to the absence of senior wide out Kip Fleming. During the practice week, Fleming suffered a foot injury causing him to wear a boot.
Without a downfield threat, the Millington offensive attack used screen passes to neutralize the Roadrunner pass rush.
The strategy worked allowing the Trojans some running room. But Millington had to endure another setback with Keno Taylor twisting his ankle and missing most of the game.
The Millington defense started to limit the running attack of Ridgeway. So Roadrunner signal caller Tyrique Sandusky took the air to increase the Ridgeway lead.
His first of two second half TD passes went for 37 yard to Walker to make the score 27-6 in the third quarter. Then Sandusky connected with wide receiver Vincent Taylor in the fourth quarter for a 37-yard touchdown as well.
The Roadrunners move on to face MUS next week. Meanwhile the Trojans hit the road to play the Kirby Cougars with a scheduled 7 p.m. kickoff.
