Millwood defense holds Cascia Hall tight

Dontez Fagan was tired of the nickname. Burnt toast.

“I just wanted to come out and prove that wrong,” Fagan said. “I had to go to practice and work harder than I’ve ever worked.”

The senior defensive back from Millwood did just that against Cascia Hall on Friday night, intercepting two passes, returning one for a touchdown and breaking up four other passes to help Millwood win 38-7 at L.W. Good Stadium.

“It just feels so good,” Fagan said. “I was feeling it. I hope I made up for it tonight.”

Fagan earned his unfortunate nickname in the Falcons’ Week Zero victory against Heritage Hall after he had several missed assignments. But on Friday night against Cascia Hall, Fagan was practically perfect as he stayed stride for stride with the Commandos’ speedy receivers.

Millwood coach Darwin Franklin said he

was happy to see Fagan respond to adversity.

“We gave him a few names after the first week,” Franklin said. “I’m really glad he had the game he had because he needed that. He had to earn that, and he earned it through working hard and playing disciplined and coaches barking at him. He really did a good job.”

Despite Fagan’s best efforts, his pick-six was the only score of the first half as Millwood found itself in a defensive struggle.

The Millwood run game was limited to just 9 yards in the first half, and quarterback Daniel Howard was feeling frustrated.

“They sent a lot of blitzes, and we just weren’t picking it up,” Howard said. “Second half, we went into the locker room and had a team meeting and just talked about how we needed to come out and dominate.”

Howard kept his word, hitting receiver De’Mariyon Houston for a 35-yard touchdown to open the third quarter. Houston, a University of Texas commit, would finish the night with three catches for 90 yards and a score.

Howard scored again on a 50-yard run, but Cascia Hall answered shortly after that on a wacky play as running back Dylan Wilson ripped off a big run but fumbled, only to have the ball be recovered by receiver Broc Kelley who ran it 18 yards in for the Commandos’ only touchdown of the night.

From there Millwood would close the game out with several big plays as running back Marcus Major Jr. had a 49-yard touchdown run, Isaiah Major scored on a 15-yard fumble return and Howard picked off another Cascia Hall pass for a pick-six.

Howard finished with 102 yards rushing, 107 yards passing and three touchdowns.

Fagan said he hopes to ride the momentum of this win going forward.

“Practice hard, play hard,” Fagan said. “That’s what Millwood football is about.”