GARY FRANKLIN PHOTO
The South Ripley Raider cheerleader squad for 2013-14 as pictured front from left above include: Courtney McGuire, Haley Schmaltz, Katelyn Moore, Taylor Wrightsman, Donna Roberts and Andrea Grossman. Back row: Sam Wilhoit, Mercedes Bowling, Allie Sexton, Kylie Werner, Erin Gloyd, Emma Wilhoit and Kayla King. Revving up for the tasks at hand, the squad recently performed at the Swiss Wine Festival at Vevay and look forward to competition at the annual Versailles Pumpkin Show and other events between now and the onset of basketball season. Not pictured is SR Lady Raider HS Cheer Squad Coach Gayle Wrightsman.
Utter disbelief unveils on Milan football field
By Gary Franklin
SPORTS EDITOR
When superiority falls through the cracks, one can only hang his head and wonder why. Such was the case for the Milan Indian varsity football team as they hosted the Lawrenceburg Tigers on Friday night, September 6.
Opening scoring action for the game resulted in Milan Indian senior quarterback Gavin.
Detraz helping his own cause at the 6:14 mark with a 4 yard TD for the 6-0 lead. Detraz followed it with a two-point conversion, giving the tribe the early 8-0 edge.
At 3:18, the battling Tigers knotted the game at 8. However, Milan struck for TD number two with a mere 15 seconds remaining in period one off a Michael Thompson (23) three yard run for a 14-8 lead, heading to period two. The failed two point conversion attempt left the score at 14-8 Milan.
Second period action resulted in an Indian senior Jon Spurlock (19) 11 yard TD run at the 4:22 mark, leading to senior teammate Brandon Beard's (24) addition of a two-point conversion.
The Indians left the field at the halftime break controlling and up 14 points at 22-8.
Second Half
With the return of the Tigers and Indians to the field for second half action, it became obvious that the game was by no means over.
At 10:35, Lawrenceburg cut into the tribe's lead with a TD score for 14-22.
Adding to the tragedy about to unfold, the Tigers added another TD to cut the deficit to two at 20-22 in just over a minute and a half at the 9:03 mark.
The Indians mustered offensive positivity with just four seconds remaining in the third period as QB Detraz (14) ran 13 yards for a TD and teammate Brandon Beard completed the two-point conversion to move back into a nine point lead, 30-20.
Dominating, but penalties and set backs left the tribe vulnerable while finishing the game.
Presumably adding the needed distance to complete the task at hand, Indian QB Detraz hustled to the end zone at the 8:23 mark for an eight yard TD score, to which he duplicated the act with a completed two point conversion for a commanding 18 point lead at 38-20.
As the game continued in period four, it became obvious that the scoreboard game clock was not going to be a friend to the tribe on this night.
With eight minutes remaining on the slowly moving game clock, the Tigers scored an unbelievable 65 yard TD, cutting their deficit to 12 at 26-38.
Again at 4:53, the Tigers rallied to add another TD, reducing Milan's lead to just a six point TD score at 32-38.
Devastion set in as the Tigers were contained on the 33 yard line and the clock down to 41 seconds remaining in the game. However, offensive interference called on the Tiger pass gave them 15 yards, moving them to the 18, from which they added the TD for a tie at 38 and gained their first lead of the game at 39-38 at 24 seconds off a PAT launched between the uprights.
Methodically, the tribe worked to get the ball into scoring range, but before they could answer the call, the ugly sound of the horn stilled the excitement.
In sheer disbelief, the tribe had fallen to the Tigers, 38-39.