John Milks (7). Photos by John Lucas Jr., JTV Sports
Trey Richmond | JTV Sports
Friday, October 23rd
(10-23-2026): Jonesville toppled Hanover-Horton on the road in the Division 7 district semi-finals on a chilly Friday night before Halloween.
The Comets of Hanover-Horton won the coin toss and elected to defer. The Jonesville Comets took the opening kick and marched 65 yards down the field with a consistent serving of John Milks. Carson Young took the quarterback sneak from two yards out to give Jonesville the opening 8-0 lead. Their defense forced a quick three-and-out and cashed in on back-to-back 65-yard drives. This drive was less methodical, but Milks was still the driving force. He lost four yards on the first snap, then burst for a 69-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 14 with four minutes remaining in the first quarter.
Jonesville dominated the first quarter. They outgained Hanover-Horton 143 to negative 15 yards and outscored them 14-0.
However, Hanover-Horton flipped the script in the second quarter outgaining Jonesville by 61. Facing a fourth and two, Hanover-Horton drew Jonesville offside and that kickstarted their offense. Nolan Arbuckle took the next snap 25 yards, but the drive was halted by a penalty. Hanover-Horton got the ball back with 1:35 left in the half on the 43-yard line and opened up their passing game. Devin Bevier hit Blake Cogan for 30 yards and Kolin Griffiths finished off the drive on an 11-yard off tackle touchdown carry, cutting the deficit in half. Jonesville led 14-7 at the break.
Both teams started slow offensively in the third, but the Jonesville Comets were the first to heat up. After minimal gains on the ground, they went to the air. On a second and 17, Young connected with Jorden Duque running wide open down the middle of the field for a 67-yard touchdown reception that stretched the lead to 15; 22-7.
Jonesville opened the scoring in the final quarter as well. Milks broke one tackle and scampered into the end zone for a 19-yard touchdown rush, ballooning the lead to 21 with a score of 28-7, just seven seconds into the fourth.
Facing a three-score deficit with time dwindling, Hanover-Horton went to the air again. Bevier went to Arbuckle on a fourth and two picking up 18, then again for 16 before rolling left and connecting with Griffiths in the back corner of the endzone for a 29-yard touchdown. The Jonesville lead narrowed; 28-14.
Jonesville did not stop their offensive push. Max Young took Carson Young’s touch pass for 22 yards, setting up a first and goal from the two. Milks took the next snap for his third touchdown of the night, giving Jonesville the 36-14 lead with five minutes to go. The late offensive surge was not enough as Hanover-Horton fell to Jonesville 36-22 in the district semi-finals.
Jonesville’s John Milks rushed for 235 yards and three touchdowns on nearly 30 carries. Hanover-Horton QB Devin Bevier went 9/15 passing for two touchdowns with no interceptions. His main target, Kolin Griffiths, caught six balls for over 100 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for an 11-yard score.
Jonesville will head to Union City to take on the Chargers next week in a Division 7 district title.
*All stats are unofficial*
Photos by John Lucas Jr., JTV Sports
