A statement from Tabor’s defense, which smothers Milton Academy in NEPSAC Class B battle

MILTON — There was simply no room to run against Tabor’s staunch defensive front.

The Seawolves smothered Milton Academy’s offense at every turn Saturday afternoon, and three first-half touchdowns set the tone in a 28-14 NEPSAC Class B win.

After Quinn Vanneste rumbled in from 57 yards for the opening score, the Seawolves (2-1) doubled their lead with Peter Bourque’s 11-yard keeper.

That 14-0 lead held up because the defense wouldn’t give the Mustangs (1-1) an inch.

“Our guys in the box really showed up today,” Tabor coach Jeff Moore said. “We’ve put a big emphasis on stopping the run. I thought we did a great job.”

Between the Temple-bound Vanneste (who moved from linebacker to edge), Simon Nuamah, Marique Miller, James Dutra, and Quinn Adams, the Seawolves shut down nearly everything.

Add in Landen O’Neil, a recent Duke commit for men’s lacrosse, and Liam Conlon at linebacker, and it was tough sledding for the Mustangs.

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“We feel gifted — I don’t know if we’ll ever get it again,” Moore said of Vanneste, O’Neil, and Conlon. ”All three of them played at an elite level today. They work hard, they care about their teammates, they practice with elite effort and strain. We’ve been really fortunate for those guys.”

Milton Academy’s first-half score was from the defense (an 89-yard pick-6 from senior Deacon Evriviades), and their lone offensive touchdown was a slant pass that senior Zahir Mitchell broke for 72 yards on fourth down.

In all, Tabor allowed just four plays to go for more than 10 yards – three of which came in the fourth quarter.

“We love to play defense,” Vanneste said. “When the offense didn’t get it done, we were hyped to go back out there. We love to play as a group, not as individuals. We’re a unit.”

The Virginia Tech-bound Bourque shrugged off two first-half interceptions to provide a steady hand, throwing for 166 yards and a third-quarter touchdown strike to a leaping Mahkai Phillip in the corner of the end zone. Lucas Fickeisen added the final score with an 8-yard rush.

From the source Mike Puzzanghera can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on X @mpuzzanghera.