Late field goal caps Mills’ comeback victory over Jacksonville

Mills 37, Jacksonville 34

October 30, 2026

JACKSONVILLE — A late 32-yard field goal completed a comeback from a 13-point deficit as Mills (8-1, 5-1) beat Jacksonville (7-2, 4-2) 37-34 on Friday, Oct. 30.

Mills scored on offense, defense and special teams, overcoming two missed extra points and a touchdown erased by a penalty on its final scoring drive. Kenneth Gilcreast threw two touchdown passes, Alan Hall returned a kickoff for a score, and Roosevelt Eaton brought an interception back for another touchdown.

Jacksonville controlled the early scoring. Mason Ball ran for a touchdown to give the Titans a 7-0 lead with 5:57 left in the first quarter. Brett Wynne’s touchdown run extended the margin to 13-0 with 4:16 remaining in the half, but a bad snap disrupted the conversion and Jakobe Boone’s improvised pass fell incomplete.

Hall answered on the ensuing kickoff, reversing field and cutting back through the coverage for Mills’ first touchdown. The extra point cut the deficit to 13-7 with 4:02 left. Ball countered with a 28-yard touchdown run, and Jacksonville led 20-7 with 2:42 remaining. Eaton’s interception return and the ensuing kick brought Mills within 20-14 with 37 seconds left before halftime.

A blocked punt gave Mills possession at Jacksonville’s 5 in the third quarter. The Comets eventually faced fourth down from the 9, where Gilcreast rolled out and found Maddox Parker for a touchdown. The extra point missed, leaving the game tied at 20 with 4:04 remaining.

Boone immediately returned the kickoff for a touchdown, restoring Jacksonville’s lead. Gilcreast then connected with Ja’Meion Reese for a touchdown on a slant, but another missed kick left Mills behind 27-26 entering the fourth quarter.

Christopher Oliver recovered a dropped backward pass with 10:02 remaining, ending a Jacksonville scoring threat. Mills converted that opportunity into its first lead when Zamarion McDonald cut outside for a touchdown behind Reese’s block. Kentrell Mason threw the successful two-point conversion on a reverse-pass play, putting the Comets ahead 34-27 with 5:45 left.

Ball’s third rushing touchdown and Jacksonville’s extra point tied the game at 34 with 3:10 remaining. Mills responded with a drive that included Gilcreast’s run to the 11. A later touchdown pass was nullified by an ineligible-receiver penalty, and the Comets ultimately turned to the kicker identified by the broadcast as ‘Big Sosa.’ He converted from 32 yards to restore the lead.

Jacksonville still had a final possession, but Mills pressured Kingston Burnett on the last play and knocked the ball loose as time expired.

Scoring Summary

First quarter

5:57 — Jacksonville: Mason Ball touchdown run (Christian Gurollo kick). Jacksonville 7-0.

Second quarter

4:16 — Jacksonville: Brett Wynne touchdown run (Pass failed after bad snap). Jacksonville 13-0.

4:02 — Mills: Alan Hall kickoff-return touchdown (Kick good). Jacksonville 13-7.

2:42 — Jacksonville: Mason Ball 28-yard touchdown run (Christian Gurollo kick). Jacksonville 20-7.

0:37 — Mills: Roosevelt Eaton interception-return touchdown (Kick good). Jacksonville 20-14.

Third quarter

4:04 — Mills: Maddox Parker 9-yard touchdown pass from Kenneth Gilcreast (Kick failed). Tied 20-20.

Jacksonville: Jakobe Boone kickoff-return touchdown (Christian Gurollo kick). Jacksonville 27-20.

Mills: Ja’Meion Reese 10-yard touchdown pass from Kenneth Gilcreast (Kick failed). Jacksonville 27-26.

Fourth quarter

5:45 — Mills: Zamarion McDonald touchdown run (Kentrell Mason pass; receiver unidentified). Mills 34-27.

3:10 — Jacksonville: Mason Ball touchdown run (Christian Gurollo kick). Tied 34-34.

Mills: 32-yard field goal. Mills 37-34.

All 11 scoring plays are included. Unannounced clocks and distances are omitted. Mills’ winning kicker and the receiver on its two-point conversion remain unidentified.

Players Who Stood Out

Kenneth Gilcreast, Mills — Two touchdown passes; fourth-quarter run to the 11 on the winning drive.

Alan Hall, Mills — Second-quarter kickoff-return touchdown.

Roosevelt Eaton, Mills — Interception-return touchdown with 37 seconds left in the first half.

Maddox Parker, Mills — 9-yard touchdown reception on fourth down to tie the game in the third quarter.

Ja’Meion Reese, Mills — 10-yard touchdown reception; block on McDonald’s fourth-quarter touchdown run.

Zamarion McDonald, Mills — Fourth-quarter touchdown run that gave Mills its first lead.

Kentrell Mason, Mills — Successful two-point conversion pass after McDonald’s touchdown.

Christopher Oliver, Mills — Fourth-quarter recovery of a backward-pass fumble to stop a Jacksonville scoring threat.

Mills kicker (identity unresolved), Mills — Winning 32-yard field goal; broadcaster called him “Big Sosa.”

Mason Ball, Jacksonville — Three rushing touchdowns, including a 28-yard score.

Jakobe Boone, Jacksonville — Third-quarter kickoff-return touchdown immediately after Mills tied the game.

Brett Wynne, Jacksonville — Second-quarter rushing touchdown.

Christian Gurollo, Jacksonville — Four successful extra points, including the tying kick with 3:10 remaining.