Last Friday night, Concord Carlisle traveled to Milford for the program’s first playoff game since being moved up to MIAA Division 2. The #16 Patriots faced a tough foe in the #1 seed Scarlet Hawks who came into the game at 7-1 from the tough Hockomock League (each team in Milford’s division is either in the D1 or D2 playoffs).
It did not take long for the Scarlet Hawks to push the action. After a CC punt (a 52 yard punt by senior K/P Will Law) on the Pats’ first possession, the Hawks marched 82 yards in 8 plays and a 14 yard touchdown jaunt to make it 7-0 Milford early in the first. On CC’s second possession, a problem with the snap exchange for a punt led to Milford taking over on downs at the CC 10 yard. Two plays later another TD run for the Scarlet Hawks put the lead at 14-0 early in the first. CC’s offense worked hard to respond on the ensuing drive, gaining the first two first downs of the game and nearing midfield, but the drive stalled and after another Law punt, Milford struck yet again on a 52 yard pass play to go up 21-0. The Scarlet Hawks stretched the lead on a 9 yard fumble recovery for a score on the next CC possession and it was 28-0 at the end of the first quarter.
CC showed some life early in the 2nd quarter. After Milford again drove deep into CC territory, junior TE / DL Aengus Wilson stripped a Milford RB of the ball and rumbled 90 yards for a Patriot TD. With the score 28-6, Sr. RB / DB Jack Carnes then jumped on the Patriots onside kick and CC had some momentum. However, the strong defense of the Scarlet Hawks came up with another big play to thwart any possible Patriots comeback with a 78 yard interception return for a TD and a 35-6 lead. Milford pushed the lead to 42-6 at the half. The Pats continued to battle with a long march capped by a 5 yard TD run by Sr. RB / DB Blake Newcomb (his 6th rushing TD and 13th TD overall for the campaign) to make the final score 42-13 Milford. Despite the outcome, the Patriots continued to play hard and show the team’s character in the late phases of the game. With the loss, the Patriots drop to 5-4 on the season and are eliminated from the MIAA D2 playoff bracket. The MIAA will announce CC’s next matchup (a non-playoff game) before the team ends the season at Lexington with a Thanksgiving matchup.
