THE FLIGHT OF THE BLUE JAY; CONN NAILS GAME WINNER
NORTH JACKSON, OH- In an intense and closely contested high school football matchup, the Jackson Milton Blue Jays managed to secure a narrow 23-20 victory over the Mineral Ridge Rams.
The game was marked by several key moments: The first quarter saw both teams making long runs, with Mineral Ridge’s Jacob Russell and Ian Erb showcasing their skills. However, neither team managed to score, and the first quarter ended with a 0-0 tie.
In the second quarter, Jackson Milton broke the deadlock when Aiden Stanke rushed for a 7-yard touchdown, putting the Blue Jays on the board with a 7-0 lead after a successful PAT by Jaylon Soto.
Mineral Ridge quickly responded with a long pass to Brady Balestrino, setting up a 17-yard rushing touchdown by Ian Erb. A successful PAT by #1 Landon Pal tied the game at 7-7.
Jackson Milton turned the ball over on downs, allowing Mineral Ridge to capitalize with an 11-yard rushing touchdown by Ian Erb. However, the PAT was missed, leaving the score at 13-7 in favor of Mineral Ridge at halftime.
In the third quarter, Jackson Milton mounted a comeback, with Aiden Stanke scoring his second rushing touchdown, this time from 17 yards out. A successful PAT by Sam Conn gave the Blue Jays a 14-13 lead.
The fourth quarter continued to see a back-and-forth battle. Aiden Stanke added his third rushing touchdown, a 2-yard run, to extend Jackson Milton’s lead to 20-13. However, the two-point conversion attempt failed.
Mineral Ridge fought back with another 2-yard rushing touchdown by Ian Erb, tying the game at 20-20 after a successful PAT by Landon Pal.
The game was ultimately decided in the closing moments of the fourth quarter when Jackson Milton’s Sam Conn kicked a 20-yard field goal, giving the Blue Jays a narrow 23-20 lead.
With no time left on the clock, Jackson Milton emerged as the victors in this closely contested battle, securing the 23-20 win- and staying undefeated on the year.
