There usually is plenty of talk about guys such as Bo Melton and Owen Bowles — both Rutgers University recruits — when it comes to the Cedar Creek football team. But quarterback Jesse Milza is just as important as anybody else on the team, and he proved that again on Saturday by leading the Pirates to a very tough 30-19 victory over Oakcrest.
Milza passed for more than 200 yards — despite taking some big hits from an aggressive Falcons defense — to go along with a pair of touchdown strikes. For his efforts, he is our Bunting Family Pharmacy Athlete of the Week.
Milza orchestrated a pair of touchdown drives in the first half that included an 11-yard TD pass to Nazir Chapman that gave the Pirates a 10-0 lead. But his best work came in the second half when the Pirates were trailing 19-16. On Cedar Creek’s first possession of the third quarter, Milza picked up a key first down before getting drilled by an Oakcrest defender. He had to come out of the game briefly, and on the next play, Melton rushed around the right side for a 27-yard touchdown that put the Pirates ahead for good, 23-19.
In the fourth quarter, Cedar Creek took over with 6:53 remaining, and although that drive featured a heavy dose of Melton running the ball, Milza made the play that ultimate sealed the win. Facing third-and-7 from the 17-yard line, Milza made a great playaction fake, then hit a wide-open Isaiah Watson over the middle for a touchdown that gave Cedar Creek a 30-19 lead with just 3:20 left.
In typical Milza fashion, he gave credit to the Pirates’ defense for being the key to victory.
“Our defense is unbelievable. I know no matter what they will have my back. I know whatever mistakes I make, whatever mistakes the offense makes, they are going to turn around and have my back. And that’s even if we put the ball in our own territory. They are going to battle it out and they are going to want to get off the field. Coach Watson has an unbelievable defense. They grind, they are warriors, and they have a blast doing it,” Milza said.
In addition to leading the Pirates to the win, Milza also became the all-time passing leader among schools formerly in the Cape-Atlantic League. The Pirates also clinched the title for the new West Jersey Football League Independence Division, improving to 8-1 overall and 5-0 in the division.

— Dave O’Sullivan, Publisher