By Mukala Kabongo
NEFJ Staff
MILTON – Last season, Milton Academy dealt with adversity throughout the year, suffering injuries to key players before ultimately finishing 4-4.
2025 was much different.
The Mustangs entered the NEPSAC Kevin MacDonald Bowl on Saturday riding a three-game winning streak with an offense averaging 38.3 points per game and a defense allowing just 17 points per game during the streak.
Both units complemented each other perfectly against Brunswick, leading to a 35-14 win.
“We work so hard for this and I’m just so proud of our guys,” said Milton Academy QB Qu’Ran Mcneil.
The Mustangs offense continued their hot streak during the first drive of the game. McNeil went 3-6 for 42 yards on the first Mustangs’ possession, and finished it with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Colin Lawrence to make it 7-0.
On the ensuing possession, defensive back Deacon Evrivriades picked off Ben Rolapp to send the Mustangs’ home crowd in a frenzy.
Brunswick’s defense stepped up and sacked McNeil before forcing a punt. Rolapp and the offense responded and got the visitors on board when he found receiver Alex McCormack streaking down the sideline for a 50-yard touchdown to tie things up.
On the ensuing possession, Brunswick picked off McNeil to give the Bruins great field position in Mustangs territory. Unfortunately, a missed 26-yard field goal resulted in nothing.
Milton Academy (7-2) turned to its run game with Brunswick’s defensive backs playing deep coverage. Running back Dante Berger took control of the game, making big run after big run that eventually set up a 49-yard pass from McNeil to Kash Kelly to get the Mustangs into the red zone.
McNeil then ran it in on play later from six-yards out to make it a 14-7 game.
“He’s been great from the moment he stepped on campus four years ago,” said head coach Mike Mason.
Brunswick was on the verge of scoring right before the half, but on back-to-back possessions, Harvard commit Gio Joseph batted down potential touchdown passes to keep the Mustangs ahead 14-7 going into the half.
“That stop at the end of the second quarter, right before halftime, was huge,” said Mason. “The defense has just come up unbelievable the last two weeks.”
Starting the second half, Milton Academy turned to its running game as Berger’s positive yardage set up a 49-yard pass from McNeil (7-13, 151 yards, 1 TD) to Kelly into Brunswick territory. Berger ran it in from six-yards out to give the Mustangs the 21-7 advantage.
“We made sure that everything mattered for this week,” said McNeil. “It was the biggest game of our lives.”
Down two scores, Brunswick responded behind running back Colt Inman and Rolapp, who made big plays on third down and fourth down that ultimately led to an Inman 17-yard touchdown that cut the lead to 21-14.
Brunswick (6-4) had an opportunity to tie things up at 21 after its defense forced a punt, but were bitten by the turnover bug. Deep in their own territory, linebacker Dionisios Kitsos picked off Rolapp and took it to the house for a pick-six to give the Mustangs the two-score lead at 28-14.
Berger and the offense put the icing on the cake when he rushed for his second touchdown of the game from five-yards out.
The victory gave the program its fourth New England championship with a senior class that persevered throughout its time at Milton Academy to bring a championship to the program.
McNeil, a University of Buffalo commit, is grateful he got to play with such a special group that have helped him on and off the field.
“If I wasn’t with this group of guys, I don’t think we would have made it this far,” he added.
