Roswell 17, Milton 0

November 4, 2016 - Roswell, Ga: Roswell coach John Ford gets the team psyched up before their game against Cherokee at Roswell High School Friday November 4, 2016, in Roswell, Ga. The winner is the Region 4-AAAAAAA champion. PHOTO / JASON GETZ

Credit: Stephen Black - Score Atlanta

Credit: Stephen Black - Score Atlanta

November 4, 2016 - Roswell, Ga: Roswell coach John Ford gets the team psyched up before their game against Cherokee at Roswell High School Friday November 4, 2016, in Roswell, Ga. The winner is the Region 4-AAAAAAA champion. PHOTO / JASON GETZ
November 4, 2016 - Roswell, Ga: Roswell coach John Ford gets the team psyched up before their game against Cherokee at Roswell High School Friday November 4, 2016, in Roswell, Ga. The winner is the Region 4-AAAAAAA champion. PHOTO / JASON GETZ

Credit: Stephen Black - Score Atlanta

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Credit: Stephen Black - Score Atlanta

The Roswell defense forced three turnovers, two that led directly to touchdowns, to give the Hornets (5-0) a 17-0 win at North Fulton rival Milton (2-3) in a Class AAAAAAA non-region matchup.

Roswell, the No. 1 team in Class 7A, overcame a slow offensive first half, which ended in a scoreless tie, to get two rushing touchdowns from senior tailback Sheldon Evans in the second half to pull away.

After a 25-yard Turner Barckhoff field goal in the third quarter to open scoring, Evans rushed for an eight-yard touchdown later in the third and a two-yard score in the fourth to make the final tally.

Linebacker Mitch Stone forced a fumble recovered by strong safety Jesse Bridgman, and cornerback LeAnthony Williams and free safety Xavier McKinney both had interceptions for Roswell, which held Milton to negative rushing yards. The Hornets have only given up 16 points all season with the last two games shutouts over Class 7A opponents (47-0 Archer).

“We have the best defensive coaches and the best defense in the state of Georgia,” Ford duly said following the win.

The game was the last non-region matchup for both teams before starting their league schedules next week. Roswell pushed its lead in the rivalry series, one of the state’s oldest, to 37-24-1.