Maylone scores twice as Champion tops Jackson-Milton 2-0

Staff photo / Brian Yauger Jackson-Milton senior Brayen Noble attempts to chase down Champion’s Tyler Danowski during Wednesday’s league game.
NORTH JACKSON — In a battle of the top two teams in the league, Champion took on Jackson-Milton to the tune of a 2-0 decision.
Sophomore Hunter Maylone scored the pair for the Golden Flashes as they moved to an 11-2-2 record and clinched at least a share of the Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference title.
Maylone scored one goal in each half, with his first goal setting the tone.
“The other team was throwing a lot of people in the middle, so we just spread it out and spread it out,” Flashes coach Shawnn Wilson said. “He was there at the right time, and he has a heck of a shot, and he scored.”
Champion had that momentum from the opening goal and controlled possession, but Jackson-Milton’s defense has allowed the fewest number of goals in the league. Despite facing several chances, the Blue Jays held strong.
With 12 minutes remaining in the contest however, Maylone scored again.
“It’s frustrating when you have all those good shots, but that’s how it goes sometimes when there are a lot of people in that area,” Wilson said. “We try to go outside that area, and then once our guys figure out how to do it, then it was just a matter of time and we got a couple.”
Champion is a young team, but has had stellar success stemming from its defense as a program.
While Jackson-Milton entered Wednesday’s game having only surrendered five goals this season, Champion came in having only surrendered seven.
Champion also entered Wednesday with a league-high 47 goals — 14 more than the next closest team (Crestview).
But it’s the Flashes’ defense that’s approaching history.
“These guys are still young, they’re still working together, but they’re growing every day,” Wilson said. “These guys have eight shutouts, and they’re very close to getting their school record, which is nine so that was something for them to shoot for. We’re stressing our defense, but also the way our kids are moving the ball together.”
Jackson-Milton (9-2-3) closes the season out with a pair of road games against Mathews and Waterloo.
Winning both would surpass the school record for program wins, (10 last season) and any following success in the postseason would also mark a program first, as the school’s first postseason wins in the sport.
For Blue Jays coach Ned Seder, it’s all about belief.
“There’s an old saying, we all know it. If you study, you pass. If you believe in yourself on the field, and you hustle every ball, you’re going to win,” Seder said. “That’s how they’re going to win, hopefully, and (advance to the) second, third round, as we hope.”
Champion closes out with Columbiana on Monday, and Garfield on Wednesday.