Doug Reilly
Sports Editor
Through eight weeks of the high school football season, I am amazed at the success and dominance of the Rams’ offense, particularly the passing game. In each of the Rams’ seven wins, they have scored more than 34 points, scoring 40 or more points in five of those seven games. Even in their only loss of the season, they scored 27 points, no slouch of a performance.
I credit this outstanding statistic to the way junior quarterback Matt Milano has played and matured, using his offensive scheme to incorporate all receivers in the offense, while also showing off his favorite target, Kevin Macari. While all eyes have been on Macari the past couple weeks, rightfully so as he’s accounted for seven touchdowns in the past two games, six of them receiving, Milano deserves a bit of credit as well.
The junior quarterback has thrown for three touchdowns in six of the eight games the Rams have played, a statistic that is seemingly unheard of. His success may be attributed to the fact that he has been blessed with a remarkable receiving core that includes juniors Patrick Newton, Connor Kilbane, and recently injured juniors Peter Kraus and John Brainard, and seniors Willie Gould, Cameron Armstrong, and Macari. However, Milano is the reason all these receivers look so good.
His maturation over the course of the season has been outstanding and the relationships and connections he has formed with his receivers have paid great dividends. Without Milano, the Rams would not have had the easy, blowout wins they’ve had almost regularly. Prior to October 30’s homecoming game against Wilton, the Rams looked at their next few home games as the biggest games of the year. Under that pressure, Milano threw for three touchdowns against Wilton in a blowout victory and five touchdowns in the biggest, most anticipated game of the season against rival Greenwich. Who’s to say he won’t do it again this week against Bridgeport Central?
If the Rams qualify for the state playoffs and somehow make it to the FCIAC championship game, it will be because of Matt Milano’s decision making and execution that will give his receivers the opportunity to score, the opportunity they’ve had and taken advantage of all season long.
