Milford linebacker Kaden Johnson could see daylight. He saw the ball and he saw the endzone.
All he had to do was catch the errant pass for a pick six. However, the ball bounced off his hands onto the turf.
Although the play ended South Lyon’s drive that was not good enough for Johnson who stormed off the field in anger. They strive for perfection at Milford High School.
They came close to that Friday night during a 35-8 victory at South Lyon in The Jungle. Milford did not pitch a shutout, but the Mavericks’ defense did.
South Lyon’s only points came on a scoop and score by defensive lineman Declan Scheloske in the third quarter.
Defense is their calling card in Milford.
“We got a bunch of guys who want to play hard,” Johnson said. “We want to play hard and we want to hit hard. We like to see them (opponents) try to run it down out throats and see who is the best out there.”
For the most part Milford (3-1 overall, 3-0 in the Lakes Valley Conference) has been the best out there under the Friday night lights. It’s only loss came to Dearborn Divine Child in a non-league contest. The Maverick’s defense has only given up 19 points in three LVC games.
Last season Milford gave up just 130 points in league games, the fewest in the conference, but graduated six All League defensive players. The hits continue with this new group. Head coach Andrew Micovich credited defensive coordinator Matt Wasnich for cooking up great schemes every week. He also said the Mavericks place their better athletes on defense.
That includes The Bash Brothers, linebackers Ike Stufft and Johnson, who create havoc all over the field.
If you want to boil this game to its simplest form, the Mavericks made tackles on defense. South Lyon (2-2, 2-2) did not.
Every time South Lyon threatened, Milford’s defense made big plays. South Lyon’s opening drive died after pounding the ball to the two-yard line. Later the Lions took over at midfield but lost five yards on their drive. Noah Pike officially ended the threat by tipping a pass harmlessly to the ground.
Defensive backs Owen Stark and Hunter Statzka made timely interceptions in the second half. They had to after quarterback Caden Johnston-Thompson coughed up the football on a blind side hit. South Lyon line man Scheloske scooped and scored from 35 yards out.
“We are going to be the most physical team on the field when we are out there,” Stufft said.
Shut outs mean a lot to these players. They recorded two last season and they walked off the field with pride in South Lyon with a defensive shutout.
“Shutouts are big,” Skatzka said. “We had two last year and we plan to get more this season.”