Prep Football

Milivojevic contributes 5 TDs as St. Francis beats Sterling

Posted September 01, 2023 1:00 am

By Dan Wussow Shaw Local News Network

St. Francis' Alessio Milivojevic makes a pass against Sterling Friday, Sept. 1, 2023 at Sterling High School.

STERLING - The St. Francis Spartans defeated the Sterling Golden Warriors 42-28 Friday night at Roscoe Eades Stadium.

Ball State commit and senior quarterback Alessio Milivojevic lived up to the hype Friday night against Sterling. He led a 46-yard opening drive to put St. Francis up 7-0 midway through the first quarter, setting it up with a 24-yard strike to Zachary Washington. He scored a 1-yard touchdown run on the next play, a keeper.

Milivojevic finished 16-for-19 passing for 266 yards and 4 touchdowns before he exited the game. He also had a 1-yard rushing score.

"We noticed they couldn't really guard our receivers that good. They had a really good defense, they were blitzing well, they were scheming their blitzes well, but they were playing man over the top, so we started throwing it all over them and it was working," Milivojevic said about the 28-point second half. "Our guys Ian, Dario, Zach, Tanner, Liam, they were all making really good plays, and I think we just had a really good team effort in the second half.

"The playmakers were insane. I'm leaning on them right now to beat their guy man-on-man, beat a zone and get open. They were doing a really good job getting open, catching it and making plays after getting the ball."

Milivojevic completed passes of 56, 44 and 46 yards to junior wide receiver Ian Willis. Willis turned in a personal-best performance, catching three of the four passing touchdowns and totaling 198 receiving yards on nine receptions. Washington caught three passes for 53 yards and hauled in a 12-yard receiving score.

"In film all week we were watching them, and we knew that they played man-to-man, so we knew that we should smoke them off the rip with the quick passes and a lot of crossers," Willis said. "I think our O-line held very well. Our O-line gave our quarterback a lot of time to sit in the pocket, and that just made a lot of room for me to get open and get time.

"Alessio helped me out a lot. I've known Alessio for a very long time, he's one of my best friends. Me and him have a special connection."

St. Francis' Andrew Bucaro knocks down Sterling's Joseph Holcomb's pass Friday, Sept. 1, 2023 at Sterling High School.

St. Francis' Ian Willis makes the catch against Sterling Friday, Sept. 1, 2023 at Sterling High School.

St. Francis' Dario Milivojevic celebrates a late first half touchdown against Sterling Friday, Sept. 1, 2023 at Sterling High School.

St. Francis' TyVonn Ransom lis pulled down by Sterling's Gage Tate Friday, Sept. 1, 2023 at Sterling High School.

St. Francis' TyVonn Ransom looks for running room against Sterling Friday, Sept. 1, 2023 at Sterling High School.

St. Francis' Zachary Washington leaps but comes up short on a pass Friday, Sept. 1, 2023 at Sterling High School.

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