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# On the Gridiron: Milford football takes care of business this time
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/on-the-gridiron-milford-football-takes-care-of-business-this-time/
- Published: 2015-10-13T11:00:33.000Z
- Updated: 2015-10-13T11:00:33.000Z
- Description: The Milford High School football team has been in this spot before, and things hadn't always turned out the way it hoped. In 2012, the Spartans had a 4-0 record in the old Division III and dropped their next two games, but still ended up as the No. 2 seed. In 2013, Milford was 3-1 before going to Wi
- Author: Joe Marchilena
- Tags: Division II, football, Milford, On the Gridiron, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

The Milford High School football team has been in this spot before, and things hadn't always turned out the way it hoped.

In 2012, the Spartans had a 4-0 record in the old Division III and dropped their next two games, but still ended up as the No. 2 seed.

In 2013, Milford was 3-1 before going to Windham and blowing a late lead in a loss. Two weeks later, the Spartans were blown out by Monadnock and eventually missed the playoffs.

Last year, Milford was 4-1, but lost back-to-back games to Trinity and Windham, and had to wait until the final day of the regular season to find out if it made the postseason.

This year, the Spartans were 4-1 and heading into another game with Trinity. But this time, the Spartans got the job done, winning the battle up front and ran all over the Pioneers in a 46-12 win.

Now Milford (5-1) gets a week off before another big midseason test at Windham on Oct. 24, which could go a long way toward locking up a postseason spot.

"It is a big lift because we haven't been here before," Milford coach Keith Jones said. "We've been 4-2 after this game and under a lot of pressure. You're worried about the last game of the season and waiting to see who loses to see who gets into the playoffs.

"This puts a different perspective on it. Doesn't mean the seasons over, but it does change things. You want to win your conference title. We want to go to Windham and play well."

If the postseason started this week, Milford would be the fourth seed and hosting a game because of the new playoff format in the division. Teams are seeded based on rating, and the win over Trinity, a team Milford lost to in each of the last two seasons, and the win two weeks ago over Lebanon, could go a long way to helping the Spartans improve their position.

"We want to win every week, especially conference games," Jones said. "It changes the playoff picture for us a little bit. It showed that we can beat a good football team when we execute and don't make mental mistakes."

### Not any easier

Trinity (3-2) struggled to stop the run in last Friday's loss to Milford, giving up 292 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. It doesn't get any better for Pioneers this week, as they'll head to Souhegan on Friday.

The Sabers (4-1) are coming off the second game of the season in which they gained over 500 yards on offense, including 472 yards rushing, this time in a 26-7 win over Sanborn. Three running back went for over a hundred yards for Souhegan, led by 196 yards and two touchdowns by Jon Nogueira.

Like Milford, Souhegan is looking up in the South Conference standings at Windham, but is still in position to get in the postseason thanks to its rating.

### Taking strides

With its 35-0 win over Pembroke last weekend, John Stark is 3-3 on the season and at .500 this late in the season for the first time since 2007.

That year, the Generals started the year 0-3 and 1-4 before winning their final four games of the year, including a shootout win over playoff-bound Souhegan on the last week of the regular season. That was perhaps the program's biggest win, in one of John Stark's best years.

John Stark's three losses this year were by a combined 23 points to Milford, Windham and Monadnock, teams that are 14-4 on the season. The Generals have two winnable games left against Manchester West (0-5) and Sanborn (1-4), but would need a lot of help to get into the postseason.

### Up ...

- **Laconia:** Since starting the season 0-2, the Sachems have won three of four, including last Saturday's one-point win over Plymouth, which came on a blocked extra point late in the game.

### ... And Down

- **Pelham:** The Pythons fell to 0-5 on the season after last Saturday's 16-6 loss to Hollis Brookline. The defense has played well at times, including giving up just 28 points in the last two games, but the offense has scored just 24 total in the last four games.

**Madden Stat of the Week:** Laconia's Kyle Chiasson had 290 yards and two touchdowns rushing and another 86 yards receiving in the win over Plymouth.