By JIM STEELE
pressbox1.com

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - All year long, Milan High School's football team had used its physical play and athleticism to streak to 14 straight victories. The Bulldogs had pretty much had their way.

Milan scored over 550 points and had really one close game all year, a 17-14 victory over Martin-Westview on a rain-soaked Nov. 14 for the second round of the playoffs.

That all changed Friday afternoon in the Class 2A Blue Cross Bowl where Alcoa defeated Milan 28-14 and claimed its 10th state football title.

The Tornado defense limited Milan to a season-low 135 total yards, just 131 on the ground. Milan workhorse Jabronski Gilbert found the going tough as he was limited to six carries for 3 yards. Avery Williams managed 64 yards on five carries and Justin Coleman scrambled for 50 yards on 10 totes.

Alcoa seemed to have the diagnosis and cure for whatever Milan threw at it. The Bulldogs turned it over three times and gave up a 79-yard punt return.

The Twisters, who have won five straight 2A titles and haven't lost to a 2A team in five seasons, jumped to a 21-0 lead and precluded Milan from getting any kind of foothold for a comeback. Alcoa drove 52 yards in 13 plays, ending in a 3-yard pass pass play from Jaron Toney to Tyler Robinson with :05 remaining in the fourth. After a series of stalemates in the second frame, Alcoa crafted an 11-play, 47-yard drive which ended with :26 left in the half. Chase James scored from the 1 and Alcoa led 13-0 at the break.

Milan had a chance to get back in it, receiving the second-half kickoff, but the Bulldogs only scraped together 4 yards in 7 plays and had to boot it away. Alcoa may have nailed it shut with the punt return. James raced 79 yards on the return for the score. Toney added the deuce and the Tornadoes had a three-score, 21-0 lead.

Milan got on the board with 6:22 to play in the third and it seemed there may have been a glimmer of hope. Christian Coleman returned a blocked punt 30 yards for a touchdown. Rick Moody added the kick and Alcoa's lead had been trimmed to two scores, 21-7.

But the Tornadoes answered late in the third. Toney ended a nine-play, 46-yard drive with a 7-yard run straight up the middle. With 1:23 to play in the third, Alcoa held a 28-7 lead.

Milan made a late stab at it. Coleman scored from the 2 with 4:08 to play and trailed 28-14. The Bulldogs drove down to the Alcoa 35 but a late interception ended any comeback hope.

Williamson had 22 total tackles, 14 solo, two tackles for loss and a sack to earn Blue Cross Bowl defensive MVP honors. Toney had 104 yards on 25 carries and a touchdown to garner offensive MVP honors.

Alcoa used its offense as its best defense. The Twisters kept Milan's offense off the field. Alcoa held the ball 37:27 while the Bulldogs had it 16:33.

Milan coach Jeff Morris led Milan to the 2A state title in 1998, then, as his team bumped up to 3A a year later, the Bulldogs were again crowned. Milan won state titles in 1971 (10-7 over Kingston at Milan), 1977 (28-6 at Alcoa), 1998 (16-6 over Lipscomb at Murfreesboro) and 1999 (21-14 over Portland at Murfreesboro). Milan suffered a 10-6 loss to Sweetwater in the Class 2A final at Vanderbilt in 1993.

Both Milan and Alcoa finish 14-1. Alcoa's lone loss was to 4A Maryville, 20-13, in Week 1. Maryville suffered an upset 10-7 loss Saturday in the Class 4A championship to Nashville-Hillsboro.

Friday, Trousdale County topped Jo Byrns 31-14 for the Class A championship. Knox-Catholic defeated Memphis-Mitchell 28-18 for the 3A championship. Murfreesboro-Oakland was a 20-13 victor over Franklin 20-13 in the 5A final.