2016 Snapshot: Milton-Union
- Updated: July 9, 2016
It was great to see Milton-Union get back to its winning ways in 2015. Former alum and head coach Mark Lane had little to work with in his first two seasons winning just five total games. His boys finally broke through last fall. The program made its seventh playoff appearance (all since ’02) and now the returning cast of M-U characters will look to expand on their accomplishment.
Milton-Union RB Zac Shields (photo from Facebook)
“Last year’s team got a taste of what it is like to have a level of success. This year’s team is working to build upon last year’s efforts,” Lane states. His ’16 Bulldogs are rich with experience and loaded with team speed. Those traits will put Milton-Union in position for another post-season run. In order to get back to the promise land the Bulldogs must stay healthy for they are not rich with size beyond their front line players.
This is a team learned how to win a year ago and got better at closing the deal as the season went on. Milton-Union’s final three wins were by a margin of 23.7 points. The Bulldogs are going to be a handful to deal with come if they continue that trend in ‘16.
Division V, Region 20
2015 RECORD: 6-4, 4-2 SWBL Buckeye
COACH: Mark Lane (5-15 @ Milton-Union, two years, 5-15 overall)
HONOR ROLL
Zac Shields, Jr, RB/DB – A strong start to the ’15 season saw Shields run for 130 yards or more in the Bulldogs first four games. He also had five of his nine rushing touchdowns in that span. He finished with 1,049 yards on the ground and 1,309 all-purpose yards on his way to being named Second Team All-SWBL Buckeye. Shields will be the centerpiece of the Bulldogs Wing-T offense for the next two years.
Keaton Lucous, Jr, OL/DL – A First Team All-SWBL Buckeye selection as an defensive lineman last fall Lucous does it all. He finished the year with three-and-a-half sacks and a fumble recovery. On offense, he ran for 311 yards, had three receptions for 45 yards with two rushing touchdowns.
Keifer Jones, Sr, TE/DL – A relentless effort giver, Jones is a force on both sides of the line for Milton-Union. He was named First Team All-SWBL Buckeye last fall.
OTHER RETURNEES
Krue Thwaits, Sr, RB/DB – When healthy Thwaits gives coach Lane productive snaps in all three phases of the game.
Tyler Courtright, Jr, OL/DL – Big ‘ole number 59 is primed for a monster junior campaign. Courtright will be a force on both sides of the ball for the Bulldogs.
Blake Smith, Sr, QB/DB – In his first year as the Bulldogs starter, Smith had at least one touchdown pass in eight of the teams 10 regular season contests. He ended up with 720 yards through the air and 10 touchdown passes on just 38 completions (only six interceptions). Also a starter on defense Smith has come up with a pair of interceptions in each of the past two seasons.
PLAYOFF HISTORY
(six appearances, 5-7) – 2015, 2012, 2011, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2002
2016 SCHEDULE
The opponents are the same as they were a year ago for the Bulldogs. Milton-Union started the ’15 season 4-1 including a pair victories by six and seven points. They will need to get out of the gate strong again if they want to return to the post-season. The last five weeks Bulldogs will face four very good offensive teams, hosting Madison Senior, at Brookville, at Carlisle and in the finale versus Waynesville. Milton-Union went 2-3 last October against those foes.
THE HUNT FOR A GOOD OCTOBER
Over the past three seasons Milton-union is a combined 4-10 in the month of October. The Bulldogs average margin of defeat in those 14 contests is just 5.6 points.
CLOSING THE DEAL
Milton-Union was outscored in the second half of its four regular season games by a combined 55-19. They never scored more than seven points after intermission in any of those defeats.
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