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# Milford looks to regroup against Con-Val
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/milford-looks-to-regroup-against-con-val/
- Published: 2010-09-24T14:52:36.000Z
- Updated: 2010-09-24T14:52:36.000Z
- Description: Scores can be deceiving. The Milford High School football team has played two games outside of Division III and lost by 21 and 19 points, respectively. But in each game, the Spartans were within striking distance in the second half. Last week against Tyngsboro, Milford led at halftime before the Tig
- Author: Joe Marchilena
- Tags: Division III-IV, Fall Sports, Division III, football, Milford, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

Scores can be deceiving.

The Milford High School football team has played two games outside of Division III and lost by 21 and 19 points, respectively.

But in each game, the Spartans were within striking distance in the second half. Last week against Tyngsboro, Milford led at halftime before the Tigers scored 19 points in the fourth quarter to pull away.

“We’re still putting the pieces of the puzzle together,” Milford coach Keith Jones said. “We played good competition. It helps when you play somebody who is good, but you can’t stay in games with penalties and turnovers.”

While those things have plagued the Spartans (1-0 in Division III, 1-2 overall), their defense has also fallen victim to the big play, allowing 385 yards per game this season.

That again can be attributed to youth, according to Jones.

“We have an inexperienced secondary with three new starters,” he said. “When people get to the second level, we’re not tackling. We need to get better at recognizing the run vs. the pass.”

Milford has had little trouble this season running the football, and once again, John Forte led the way against Tyngsboro. Forte 158 yards on the ground, while Max Goudreau also eclipsed the century mark with 131\. As a team, the Spartans had almost 400 yards on the ground, but because of their mistakes, it didn’t show on the scoreboard.

“We ran the ball down their throat,” Jones said. “Sometimes how you play good defense is sustaining long drives. We have either scored quickly or we’ve made miscues.”

Milford returns to division play this week against Con-Val (1-1, 1-2), which is coming off a loss to Portsmouth.

A year ago, the Cougars came into town and handed the Spartans their second loss in a game that went down to the final minutes of the fourth quarter. Jones again expects it to be a close game between the two.

“We usually have a tough game with Con-Val,” he said. “This is the fastest Con-Val team I’ve seen. Their quarterback throws well deep and runs really well.”

The Cougars run an option offense, but Jones isn’t sure what they’ll try to do more.

“They threw a ton against Pelham (in Week 2) and against Portsmouth they tried to run the ball,” he said. “They play solid defense. The Portsmouth score was misleading because (Con-Val) had a lot of miscues.”

The teams will meet in Milford for a 7 p.m. start on Friday.