![FINAL — Gainesville [GA] Red Elephants stun SN No. 14 Milton [GA] Eagles, 28-16 image](https://library.sportingnews.com/styles/crop_style_16_9_mobile_webp/s3/2025-10/AA_GFX%20Generic_icon_16x9.png.webp?itok=VOnF9K5R){kind=icon}
MILTON, Georgia, Oct. 10 — To say the odds were stacked against the Gainesville [GA] Red Elephants headed into Friday night's game at the SN No. 14 Milton [GA] Eagles would be a massive understatement.
Milton entered the game as a back-to-back state champion having won 31 of their past 32 games. They also had won 42 straight region contests and 18 straight home games. About the only metric where Gainesville was Milton's equal was in overall record where both teams entered the contest with 6-1 ledgers.
But Gainesville had spoken about the need to win a statement game like this, as the Red Elephants seek to establish their program as a national brand on par with Milton, Buford, and Georgia's top-ranked Grayson [Loganville, GA] Rams. Not to mention the SN No. 23 Carrollton [GA] Trojans who beat the Elephants, 43-21, back on September 12.
And on this night, Gainesville finally earned the victory that could prove to be a program-defining win on the path to becoming that national brand. The Red Elephants stunned the Eagles on their own home field in a a dominating performance in which the Red Elephants built a 21-3 advantage and then held on as Milton stormed back into the game late. A 17-yard touchdown reception by the hosts' Mikey Dircks was followed by Bentley Hickman's 5-yard scamper early in the fourth quarter, and suddenly, Milton had trimmed Gainesville's lead to 21-6.
No problem.
Gainesville set up shop on the 50-yard line following the kickoff after Hickman's score, and one play later, Nigel Newkirk found paydirt, taking it half the field for a touchdown. Newkirk, an uncommitted junior, who is listed as the No. 5 running back in Georgia according to 247sports.com's Class of 2027 rankings, was a beast against one of the best defenses in the Peach State.
The touchdown was Newkirk's third of the game, including a 41-yarder, and he was the catalyst on the offensive side for the Red Elephants. But, it would be impossible to understate how important Gainesville's defense was in helping to seal the win on this night. The Red Elephant defenders even forced a late turnover at their own 2-yard line after Newkirk's final touchdown as Milton was driving to cut into Gainesville's lead once more.
Milton falls to 6-2 with the loss, and the Eagles get a week off before visiting the Johns Creek [GA] Gladiators on October 24. Gainesville hosts the Chattahoochee [Alpharetta] Cougars next Friday night, looking to build on the momentum of a win that will resonate nationally.
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FINAL — Gainesville 28, Milton 16
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|| FOURTH QUARTER ||
And that's your ballgame from Milton. It's a big upset tonight as Gainesville fights off a late comeback attempt to win the game, 28-16.
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Milton drives deep into Gainesville territory only to fumble at the 2-yard line. The Red Elephants recover.
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Following Milton's touchdown, Gainesville quickly answers after setting up after the kickoff at the 50-yard line. From there, Nigel Newkirk takes it to the house to put the Red Elephants back up by 12 again. It's been a big night for Newkirk. It's the most points Milton has given up all year.
4TH QTR — Gainesville 28, Milton 16
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And here comes Milton! It looks like Bentley Hickman running it in from 5 yards out.
4TH QTR — Gainesville 21, Milton 16
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Mikey Dircks hauls in a 17-yard touchdown reception for Milton, but the 2-point conversion fails.
4TH QTR — Gainesville 21, Milton 9
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The fourth quarter is under way.
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|| THIRD QUARTER ||
And that's it for the third quarter. A shocker unfolding in the Peach State tonight.
END OF 3RD QTR — Gainesville 21, Milton 3
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Nigel Newkirk breaks through the line and takes it to the house from 41 yards out. We've officially got an upset brewing.
3RD QTR — Gainesville 21, Milton 3
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Milton is unable to capitalize on the great field position as Gainesville forces the Eagles to punt. Somewhere, there's a punter breathing a deep sigh of relief.
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Gainesville shanks a punt to set up Milton's next drive starting at the Red Elephants' 39. There was a good rush, and the punter didn't follow through. The resulting punt only nets four yards. Costly mistake for Gainesville.
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And we're under way in the second half.
|| SECOND QUARTER ||
Gainesville was driving before getting called for two penalties on one play – a holding call and a dead ball personal foul that moved them all the way from around Milton's 15 back to the around midfield. From there, they ran the clock out, and we're at the half in Milton.
That sequence was one of the few times Gainesville has shot itself in the foot. They would love to add a field goal in that scenario, but all in all, if you offered them this deal to start the second half with a 14-3 lead on Milton's home field, they would have, no doubt, taken it.
HALFTIME — Gainesville 14, Milton 3
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Gainesville forces a fourth down deep in Milton's territory. The Eagles' punter punts from inside his own 5-yard line, and Gainesville will set up shop on offense near midfield. 1:23 to play before halftime as Gainesville tries to add to its lead.
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Gainesville's defense has bent, but it hasn't broken. They force a fourth down, and on a low snap on a 24-yard field goal try, the Red Elephants' special teams rewards the defense by blocking the attempt.
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Milton strikes with a big pass play down to Gainesville's 22.
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Gainesville gets a first down at Milton's 14-yard line after a pass interference call on the Eagles. On first down, they move it to the 4-yard line, and Nigel Newkirk takes it down to the 2-yard line on 1st-and-goal and then pounds it in from there to extend Gainesville's lead.
The Red Elephants are doing the one thing that nobody's been able to do on Milton all year – consistently string drives together and put points on the board.
2ND QTR — Gainesville 14, Milton 3
|| FIRST QUARTER ||
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Milton fumbles at their own 45-yard line, and Gainesville pounces on it.
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And that's your first quarter from Milton. Gainesville with the early advantage after one.
END OF 1ST QTR — Gainesville 7, Milton 3
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Gainesville answers with a 40-yard touchdown reception by Dwight Lewis. Milton's defense has been anything but porous this year, but the Red Elephants have been effective moving the ball on their first two drives. 1:41 to play in the first quarter.
1ST QTR — Gainesville 7, Milton 3
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Milton converts a 43-yard field goal after their drive stalled at Gainesville's 19.
1ST QTR — Milton 3, Gainesville 0
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Milton converts a third down to move the chains, approaching midfield on their first possession.
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Gainesville with an impressive first drive down inside Milton's 30. But the Red Herd turns the ball over on downs there. That Milton defense is hard to crack, but overall, the Elephants have to be encouraged that they were able to make some positive plays on that first drive.
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We're under way in Milton! A great return by Gainesville to start the game as the Red Elephants get the ball first.
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Coming soon!
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OUR PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA TEAMS ...
Finally, don't miss out on The Sporting News Preseason All-American Teams that just debuted today!
The Sporting News High School Preseason All-American Offense 2025
The Sporting News High School Preseason All-American Defense 2025
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