Top Performers: Milton Takes Down Marietta in 7A Showdown

There was a giant 7A matchup this past weekend as the Marietta Blue Devils, the 2019 7A state champions, went to Milton to take on the powerful Eagles who are on their way to a state championship run. It was a slow start for both team as both turned the ball over twice in the 1st quarter, but the Eagles were able to run their way to an impressive 38-21 victory. Here are some top performers of the game... &nbsp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="95164" first="Jordan" last="McDonald"] - Running Back - Milton</strong> Easily the game’s top performer, McDonald showed why he’s one of the top backs in the state, running 26 times for 250 yards and three touchdowns. He had long 80+ yard run early in the game that got him down to the 1-yard line where he scored on the next play. The big, bruising back showed off his speed and big-play ability all night, carrying the Milton offense at times. He’s so tough to bring down and had one of his best games of his Milton career when it mattered the most. The UCF Knights are getting an absolute steal in McDonald who has the size and overall talent to play early on as a freshman next season. https://twitter.com/MattDeBary/status/1461857680981692421?s=20 &nbsp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="34033" first="Bryce" last="Thornton"] - Defensive Back - Milton </strong> One of the top overall athletes on the team and in the region, the impressive 2023 defensive back was great in both run support and against the pass against a fast, high-scoring Blue Devil offense, making multiple tackles and intercepting a long pass in the 2nd half. Thornton is’s a multi-year starter for the Eagles and one of their top overall playmakers on defense. He can help on offense as well as he’s lethal with the ball in his hands, but he proved on Friday night why he’s one of the top 2023 defensive back prospects in the state. https://twitter.com/GPBsports/status/1461895098405425158?s=20 &nbsp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="33915" first="Tyler" last="Hughes"] - Quarterback - Marietta</strong> Even in a loss, and even with multiple INTs on the night, Hughes proved why he’s been one of the top passers in 7A this fall. The dual-threat playmaker went into full gunslinger mode, pushing the ball down the field and showing off his arm talent. He was being chased all night by the Milto n defense, but Hughes still found ways to make an impact. He had a great 65-yard TD strike in the 1st half and ran effectively as well. The Southern commitment ended his senior season with over 3,100 passing yards and 40 touchdown passes. https://twitter.com/MattDeBary/status/1461868789511987204?s=20 &nbsp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="96189" first="Carlos" last="Cervantes"] - Linebacker - Marietta</strong> It wasn’t a great day overall for the Blue Devil defense, but once again, Cervantes was all over the field. He got off blocks, showed toughness in the trenches, made tackle after tackle. He’s quick, instinctive, and one of the surest tackles you’ll find in the 2022 class. He wraps up well and can get to the ball carrier in a hurry. The Milton rushing attack was one of the keys to their victory, but it was hard not to notice Cervantes making lots of plays at linebacker in his final high school game. &nbsp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="33991" first="Devin" last="Farrell"] - QB - Milton</strong> Like Hughes, Farrell wasn’t perfect and turned the ball over multiple times, but he showed why he’s a multi-year starter and one of the leaders of the team. He made plays with his feet and threw the ball better as the game went on. He kept defenses honest with his legs, making it easier for McDonald to run wild for a big game. He threw a TD pass to Michigan State commit [player_tooltip player_id="33880" first="Jack" last="Nickel"] and ran for another score in the 2nd half. He was elusive and proved to be really tough to stop when he took off with the ball. https://twitter.com/GPBsports/status/1461862655283580932?s=20 https://twitter.com/GPBsports/status/1461887335507894276?s=20