Dramatic late-game touchdown gives Wildcats homecoming win over Trenton

The Milan Wildcats used a late game turnover created by a hard-hitting defense and a touchdown run and two-point conversion by Eddy Garcia with five seconds remaining, to grab a 28-27 win over Trenton in Grand River Conference action on Friday night from Cal Hubbard Field.

The back-and-forth affair, broadcast on KGOZ FM 101.7, saw the Wildcats with the early momentum, as the home team grabbed the lead on a Keaton Weter touchdown catch of 47 yards midway through the first quarter.  Tom Johnson had the play-by-play call:

Trenton answered with a 14 yard touchdown run by Aiden Weyer with 1:58 remaining in the first quarter, tying the game at 7-7: 

The lead flipped back to the Wildcats in the second quarter, with an 18-yard Garcia run giving Milan a 14-7 lead at the half.

The third quarter may have been the most dominant quarter of football played by Trenton, with the Bulldogs controlling the line of scrimmage and time of possession, scoring a pair of touchdowns to claim a 21-14 lead.  Cooper Houser crossed the goal line on a four-yard plunge with 5:23 remaining in the quarter, and gave THS the lead with a 13 yard scamper with 28 seconds remaining in the quarter: 

Milan was able to put together a drive into the red zone early in the fourth quarter, but the Bulldogs defense stiffened, forcing a 4th-and-goal from the 2 yard line.  On a quick throw into the left flat, Weter scored on a passing play for the second time, cutting the lead to 21-20 with 7:16 remaining.  The extra point was unsuccessful, leaving Trenton with the lead.

The Bulldogs continued to control the game with a strong running game, as a two-yard touchdown run by senior quarterback Mason Rongey gave Trenton a 27-20 with 4:25 to go.  After the Bulldogs appeared to push the lead to 28-20 with the extra point, a penalty flag thrown prior to the snap forced Trenton to try the PAT again.  The second attempt missed, leaving the Bulldog lead at 27-20.

With just over 2 minutes to go in the game, the Bulldogs took a major step toward a road victory, with Rongey picking off an errant pass, giving Trenton the ball, and Milan with just two time outs to utilize on defense.

However, a jarring hit at the 50-yard line on a Trenton run forced a fumble, recovered by Milan, giving the Wildcats renewed life.  Milan pushed the ball down the field, eventually reaching the one-yard line with the clock running under 10 seconds.  A one-yard run by Garcia got the Wildcats to within 27-26, leaving a decision to coach Mark Cole to go for a tie or the win.  The two-point conversion option was chosen, leaving the result of the game down to one play: 

The win pushes Milan to 4-2 on the season, with a 3-2 mark in the Grand River Conference.  Trenton is 1-5 in both conference play, and with the overall mark, as the Bulldogs non-conference game is coming up with Penney on Friday, October 25th.  This week, Milan will play at Gallatin, with Trenton hosting Maysville on KGOZ FM 101.7. 

Here is the area scoreboard from Friday, October 4, 2024: 

Milan Wildcats 28, Trenton Bulldogs 27 (KGOZ) 

Brookfield Bulldogs 52, Gallatin Bulldogs 0 (KTTN)

South Harrison Bulldogs 46, Maysville Wolverines 7 

Putnam County Midgets 22, Polo Panthers 20 

Salisbury Panthers 34, Marceline Tigers 8

Lawson Cardinals 34, West Platte Blue Jays 15

East Buchanan Bulldogs 10, Penney Hornets 7 

Mid-Buchanan Dragons 19, Lathrop Mules 6

South Shelby Cardinals 38, North Platte Panthers 0 

Lafayette County Huskers 42, Holden Eagles 21

Knob Noster Panthers 30, Lexington Minutemen 6

Richmond Spartans 56, Carrollton Trojans 7 

Chillicothe Hornets 20, Lafayette Fighting Irish 14

Savannah Savages 62, Cameron Dragons 7 

Maryville Spoofhounds 49, Benton Cardinals 7

Kearney Bulldogs 29, Grain Valley Eagles 6

St. Pius X Warriors 27, St. James Academy 20

Kirksville Tigers 16, Hannibal Pirates 15

Moberly Spartans 42, Marshall Owls 8

Mexico Bulldogs 21, Fulton Hornets 14

Albany Warriors 96, Princeton Tigers 46

Worth County Tigers 58, Stanberry Bulldogs 0 

King City Wildkats 36, North Andrew Cardinals 30 

St. Joseph Christian Lions 70, Pattonsburg Panthers 38 

Mound City Panthers 50, DeKalb Tigers 28 

East Atchison Wolves 48, Stewartsville/Osborn Wildcards 0

Rock Port Blue Jays 66, Nodaway Valley Thunder 42

Platte Valley 60, South Holt Knights 12

Braymer Bobcats 78, Keytesville Thunder 28 

Concordia Orioles 55, Santa Fe Chiefs 0 

Norborne/Hardin-Central Aggies 60, Slater Wildcats 12

Wellington-Napoleon Tigers 52, Orrick Bearcats 0 

Schuyler County Rams 70, Southwest Livingston Wildcats 22

Paris Coyotes 60, Knox County Eagles 20

Northwest Mustangs 52, North Shelby Raiders 42

St. Paul Lutheran Saints 62, Sweet Springs Greyhounds 60

Bishop LeBlond Eagles 64, KC East Christian 24

New Heights Christian 60, Plattsburg Tigers 34