Milton survives a two-hour weather delay to top Buford, 13-10

The summer long build-up to a potential No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown between Georgia high school football powers Milton and Buford was reduced to a waiting game after the first half of Friday night’s heavyweight contest. 
 
It was hard fought at Milton as the winners sought to make it two wins from two while a young and talented Enderby side also had their eyes set on a win when the light rain that began just after Milton took a 7-0 lead into the break began to turn into a thunderstorm which saw the contest being called for over two hours. The weather forced a sellout crowd of more than 3,000 fans to leave the stadium but those who returned in the final few minutes were treated to a nail biter as Milton triumphed 13-10. 
 
After the half had begun, Milton did not seem to be even phased by the break; they took the second half kick and went 80 yards to score the second touchdown. Ethan Barbour caught two passes from Luke Nickel, TJ Lester had a couple of rushes and Nickel hit CJ Wiley for a 17-yard pass for the score. The squib kick was terrible, but after the point after attempt the eagles made it to 13-0. 
 
Buford came back through the defensive side and through its punting. 
 
Milton again pinned the Eagles at their own one with a punt and on the next play, Buford got a great play from Bryce Perry-Wright who tackled TJ Lester in the end zone for a touchdown making the score 13-6 in favor of Milton. Buford remained managing the formation again. 
 
A third punt pinned Milton back in the red zone in the fourth quarter before a fumble by Buford quarterback Chris Garland at the Milton 15. Two plays later, the senior quarterback Ethan Ervin plunged ahead for the 11-yard touchdown. Quarterback Dalton Raiola, the younger brother of last year’s Buford QB, Dylan Raiola, then completed a two-point conversion toss to Sam Harkness as Buford drew to within three. 
 
The Wolves, however, would get no closer, as their final two possessions sputtered out. 
 
The only scoring in the first half of the game came from Milton when, on the third play of the second quarter, TJ Lester finished a 73-yard drive with a 21-yard touchdown run. Quarterback Luke Nickel found wide receiver CJ Wiley twice in the second pass to advance the Eagles more forward. In the attempt to score the final play of the match, Lester was tackled at the boundary line then he surged forward, and ran to the end zone. 
 
American Heritage will be Milton’s next opponent; the latter will visit South Florida next week to compete in Broward County National High School Football Showcase. The Wolves will entertain Georgia private school powerhouse Benedictine in their home-opener, also next Friday.