MILTON — Milton’s football programme endured a heavy defeat Friday night, falling 42-7 on the road to Monona Grove in a game decided well before the final whistle.
Dominant first half leaves Milton chasing
Monona Grove surged into a commanding lead in the opening 24 minutes, outscoring Milton 42-0 and effectively removing the Silver Eagles’ starters at half-time. The visitors struggled to get momentum, finishing the game with just 77 total yards of offence compared with Monona Grove’s 360 yards.
Monona Grove’s junior quarterback Jaxon Zukowski was the central factor in the rout. He finished the night a combined threat, completing 8 of 11 passes for 86 yards and two passing touchdowns while also rushing 10 times for 100 yards and four rushing majors. Zukowski's explosive first quarter — four rushing touchdowns and 82 yards on the ground — set the tone and allowed the Silver Eagles to place many of their starters on the bench by intermission.
“That’s a very very good football team,” Milton head coach Jeff Spiwak said after the game. “They deserve a lot of credit. They’re very well coached, they’re very physical.”
Milton shows fight in second half
While the scoreboard told a lopsided story, Milton’s players managed to salvage some pride after the break. The Red Hawks outscored Monona Grove 7-0 in the second half, engineering a late touchdown drive after a key turnover forced by the defence.
- A defensive play — a forced fumble returned by senior Aidan McKeen to the Monona Grove 45-yard line — kick-started Milton’s comeback hopes.
- Quarterback Brice Remington connected with Caden Pernot on a 10-yard touchdown pass late in the game to account for Milton’s only score.
- Despite the late surge, Milton’s offence managed just 77 total yards for the contest.
Spiwak acknowledged positives amid the loss, saying the team executed some of its planned plays but fell short in finish. “It felt like we were just 95 percent there all night, though, just not quite being able to make the plays,” he said.
Key statistics
| Team | Total yards | Halftime score | Final score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monona Grove | 360 | 42 | 42 |
| Milton | 77 | 0 | 7 |
What the result means
The defeat left Milton searching for its first win of the season and raised questions about offensive consistency against high-level opponents. While Monona Grove’s ranking and undefeated start — the Silver Eagles entered the game 3-0 and were listed as a top-three team in their division — make the margin of defeat understandable, the Red Hawks will need to convert second-half flashes into early-game execution if they hope to change the tide in coming weeks.
Coach Spiwak highlighted the work ethic of his quarterback, noting that Brice Remington has been diligent in practice. The late touchdown, the coach said, was some payoff for that effort.
For Milton fans and local supporters, the focus will be on adjustments and improvement. The team’s brief second-half resurgence and defensive play on the forced fumble suggest there are elements to build on, but the stark contrast between the halves underlines the challenge ahead as the schedule continues.
The Red Hawks and their community now turn attention to the next matchup, aiming to take lessons from a tough road outing and find ways to convert competitive halves into complete performances.
