Urda, Milford football run past Hollis Brookline for season-opening win

MILFORD - From the very start, Gavin Urda was ready to go for the Milford High School football team Friday against Hollis Brookline.

Urda lead the Spartans to a nearly perfect game,s tarring on both sides of the ball, as the Spartans got to a big lead and held off the Cavaliers for a 35-21 win in the Division II opener for both teams.

Urda made his presence know on the very first series of the game. HB quarterback Sander Wimmer, on pass intended for receiver Blake Bergerson, was picked off by Urda, setting the Spartans up with excellent field position. The Wimmer-Bergerson connection would be strong later in the game for the Cavaliers.

Although Milford wasn’t able to convert initially on the great field position, Urda gashed the Cavs defense for 65-yard touchdown, going untouched for the games first score. The Milford special teams unit made an immediate impact as well, setting the offense up on the following series.

HB had a punt blocked, which the Spartans recovered on the Cavs' 15-yard line. A few plays later, Milford back Junior Ughu rumbled in for the 5-yard touchdown run to give the Spartans the 14-0 lead. Early in the second quarter, the Spartans' defense made another incredible play, as Wimmer was intercepted for the second time when Sean Hanrahan hauled in an overthrown pass.

Hanrahan was able to return the ball to the HB 45-yard line, and on the next play, Urda carried 45 yards for the touchdown, his second of the night, to give Milford a 21-0 lead. Urda would score his third rushing touchdown of the game in the final moments of the second quarter to boost the Spartans' lead to 28-0 heading into half time.

To this point, Milford dominated every aspect of the game, and it looked as if HB would be heading home with a blowout loss. But midway through the third quarter, the Cavs' luck started to turn.

Wimmer had been struggling to get the ball to his big receiver Bergerson for much of the game, with two previous attempts costing him interceptions. But Wimmer was able to hit Bergerson for a 50-yard touchdown pass that just got past the defenders outstretched hands. The score cut the Milford lead to 28-7.

The Hollis sideline erupted and had life once again, but it was a short-lived enthusiasm. Urda ripped the Cavs' defense on a 70-yard run, setting the Spartans up on the 2-yard line. On the next play, the Spartans would score again, increasing their lead 35-7.

The Cavaliers didn’t go away easily after that. Wimmer would score on a 20-yard run and had another 50-yard touchdown pass to Bergerson on consecutive possessions. But the scores were not enough, as Milford ran out the remained clock down and secured its first win of the season.

Milford goes on the road for the first time, heading to Manchester West on Friday for a 7 p.m. kickoff while HB has its home opener against Hanover at 2 p.m. on Saturday.