Nally runs over BB&N, gives Milton Academy ISL-6 title

If there was any question as to the identity of the top team in the ISL, Keith Nally made sure Milton Academy quickly put it to rest.

Nally put on a herculean performance on Friday afternoon as the sophomore running back piled up 348 yards on the ground and three touchdowns to lead Milton Academy to a crucial 25-13 road win over Buckingham Browne & Nichols in Cambridge.

The win clinches the ISL-6 title for Milton Academy (7-0) and also earns them an automatic NEPSAC bowl bid. BB&N, meanwhile, will play Lawrence Academy next week for second place in a game that will have key bowl implications.

“Keith’s performance was something,” Milton Academy coach Kevin Macdonald said. “We did a great job on defense for the most part, but the key for us was on offense we kept moving the ball which limited how much they had it in their hands.”

From the start Milton Academy controlled the line of scrimmage, allowing Nally to be an unstoppable force on the ground. For the day Nally averaged over seven yards a carry with 183 yards coming in the first half.

“It’s all my offensive line. I think we have the best offensive line in maybe New England and I trust them to lead the way,” Nally said. “We have been working so hard for this and it’s all starting to pay off. We have been looking forward to this game all year.”

The two sides went scoreless in the first half largely due to a pair of fumbles from both teams inside the red zone. The Mustangs quickly broke the ice early in the second quarter as after a terrific 24-yard catch by Andrew Rappleyea got the ball inside the five, Nally powered in to put Milton Academy on top 6-0. After Milton Academy forced a punt, Nally and the Mustangs offense went back to work. Nally tallied consecutive runs of 19 and 22 yards to work inside the red zone. Two plays later he plowed in from 14 yards out with the assistance of a push from the offensive line to give the Mustangs a 14-0 lead.

BB&N had a few chances to get back within striking distance. Late in the first half the Knights worked inside the red zone, and to begin the third quarter they got down within the five-yard line though. Both times, however, they came up empty instead as Milton Academy defensive back Ben Waterman picked off a pass in the end zone and the Knights then turned the ball over on downs.

Nally put the icing on the cake early in the final stanza as he popped over 300 yards for the day with runs of 13 and seven yards in succession before notching a three yard touchdown run to give the Mustangs a commanding 25-0 edge.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3qbeX5X