With only 17 players available against arguably the best opponent on its regular-season schedule, Edinburgh’s football team faced an uphill battle even before the opening kickoff Friday.
Milan, along with its 48-man roster and long history of success against the host Lancers, made sure the script played out the way it appeared it should.
The Indians scored touchdowns on eight of their first nine offensive possessions and added a punt return score during that stretch. They built a 55-0 halftime lead and eased to a 62-0 Mid-Indiana Conference win. The victory was Milan’s 30th straight over Edinburgh.
Milan improved to 3-2, but its losses came against Class 3A Batesville and Lawrenceburg (ranked seventh in 3A). The Indians defeated Rushville, another 3A team, in the season opener. Milan and Edinburgh are Class A squads.
The Lancers, meanwhile, play all Class A schools except for 2A Switzerland County, which is Edinburgh’s lone win thus far this season.
Edinburgh (1-5) played without leading rusher Austin Streeval, who missed school with an illness, and the running game suffered in his absence. The Lancers finished the game with minus-9 rushing yards, thanks in part to six Milan sacks.
Lancers quarterback Riley Palmeter completed 11 of 21 passes for 98 yards despite facing heavy pressure most of the night, but he also threw three interceptions. Palmeter’s most impressive throws included a pair of third-and-long conversions to Caleb Dewey of 26 and 29 yards in the first quarter.
“Our running game was not as good as it normally is, so we just tried to do the best we could with what we had,” Edinburgh coach Tyler DeSpain said. “Riley goes in there every night, he gets hit, he gets back up. He’s the kind of kid who scrambles around for his life sometimes. His toughness is what sticks out to me.”
Milan outgained Edinburgh 410 yards to 89 overall. Indians quarterback Peyton Wert completed 6 of 10 passes for 161 yards and three touchdowns, all in the first half (he sat out the second). Milan running back Logan Reed scored a pair of touchdowns and rushed for 77 yards on just seven carries.
“We’re disappointed to a point,” DeSpain said, referring to the season thus far. “Realistically, I think we’re just a few plays away from being 3-2. But our kids are still striving, and we’re still kind of young. There are a lot of things we can still improve on.”
Edinburgh returns to action next Friday at Traders Point Christian.
