Coming into a key Carroll County matchup, it was hard to ignore the contrasting styles of Century and Winters Mill.
While the Knights feature an explosive aerial attack led by the county’s top passer and receiver, the Falcons pride themselves on a slow, methodical and physical run game.
“We’re never out of it,” Falcons coach Matt Miller said. “We hold the ball, we run the clock, we play good defense.”
That signature running game took a while to get going, but Miller stuck to his game plan and in the fourth quarter, it paid off. With several talented backs he could’ve fed, the veteran coach rode the hot hand of Luke Phillips, who scored two second-half touchdowns to lead the Falcons to a 15-12 homecoming victory Friday night.
“It’s exciting, and when you beat a good team like Century, it’s just doubly exciting,” Miller said. “Our kids rose to the challenge and they did what they had to do.”
The Falcons (5-1, 2-1) tried to switch it up early. After their defense forced a quick three-and-out, quarterback Austin Denning threw an interception on the third offensive snap. Century’s Alexander Gonzalez came down with the ball, setting the stage for a Joey Tumminello rushing touchdown.
Tumminello’s score stood as the only points of the first half as both defenses locked in. Victor Tejada and Ezzy Poutre led the way for the Falcons defensively, forcing Century’s offense into a standstill. Normally efficient quarterback Jake Dexter struggled with mistimed throws and drops as several Knights drives quickly stalled.
Things didn’t go much better for the Falcons. One 13-play drive ended with no points after a Denning screen pass fell incomplete. It was one of three first-half drives where Century (3-3, 1-2) stopped the Falcons on fourth down.
Down 6-0 at the half, Miller and his captains urged their team to stay patient and trust the formula that had brought them this far.
“Coach told us at the half, ‘Look, this is how a football game goes,’” Phillips said. “We’re going to get stopped and we’re going to get runs, so we have to be patient. And the good thing about this team is nobody cares who gets the ball as long as we’re getting yards. We were able to put our heads down, get to work, and punch it in.”
The spark the Falcons needed came not from Denning the quarterback, but Denning the safety. He intercepted a Dexter pass and set up Phillips’ first touchdown. The following extra point gave the Falcons their first lead of the night.
“We trust him out there. It’s like having another coach on the field,” Miller said. “He understands what we want to do defensively, and when we put him in positions to make plays, he makes plays.”
The Century offense could only be held down for so long. Dexter connected with Will Koenig — the county’s leading receiver — for a 50-yard touchdown pass on the first snap of the fourth quarter. The play silenced the home crowd and gave the Knights the lead back at 12-7.
But both teams stuck to their identities, daring the other to stop them. Dexter continued to attack through the air, frequently targeting Delon Barnes on screen passes. However, on one of those screens, AJ Reeder read it perfectly, shed his blocker, and intercepted the pass. That turnover set up Phillips for his second touchdown of the night, an 11-yard dash that gave the Falcons the lead for good.
“[Phillips] did a great job,” Miller said. “He gives us hard yards. Even when the play seems done, he keeps his legs churning. The hard work he’s put in during the offseason has paid off.”
After Phillips crossed the goal line, Denning jumped into the arms of his linemen, celebrating with the unit that has become the catalyst for Winters Mill’s success this season.
But Denning the safety wasn’t done. With under a minute remaining, he picked off Dexter again to seal the win and push the Falcons to 5-1.
“I love playing both ways, even though it’s been making me tired,” Denning said. “I’m able to adapt in the game, and if Coach needs me to, I can play safety, too.”
As the student section celebrated and Miller was mobbed by his children post game, everyone left “Big Mill” happy. With a hard-fought win in the books and the homecoming dance just hours away, the Falcons had sent another strong message with their second straight county victory.
“It doesn’t matter who we face or who the ‘favorite’ is,” Phillips said. “We’re always ready to put in work and get the W.”
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