Call it a rebirth, a renaissance or a resurgence. Call it whatever one likes.

Just make sure you call it history. As in, it is history now.

After struggling mightily the previous seven seasons and winning six combined games, Milton came storming back last fall. The Black Panthers exceeded that seven-year total in one season, going 7-5, advancing to the District 4 Class AAA semifinals and nearly reaching the championship. Milton also won its first playoff game since 2012 and achieved all that without even having a home field since its new stadium was under construction.

As great as that turnaround season was, Milton has to forget about it now. That is the message coach Phil Davis and his staff are pounding in the players’ heads. A strong group returns from that team and the goal now is to focus on the future because it could be quite bright.

“We do have a good core back that had a lot of success last season, but that was last season,” Davis said. “Each season presents itself with new challenges and we will have to learn how to play against teams that will be preparing for us on a weekly basis.”

Milton will prepare with renewed confidence. The Panthers no longer think they can win, but know they can do so after last year’s breakthrough campaign. Milton started 4-0, produced a memorable comeback against Mifflinburg and blanked North Penn-Mansfield, 35-0, in the district quarterfinals. The Panthers then gave perennial title contender Montoursville a battle in the semifinals, losing a 17-14 heartbreaker.

Moving up to the Class AAAA presents a new challenge, but Milton is confident, experienced and hungry. When trying to change a program’s culture, the mental barrier often can be more imposing than the physical one and Milton may have broken through that. The hope is that last year was the kind of launching pad which helped a program like Jersey Shore go from long-time doormat to state power in a short time.

That is a lofty goal and Milton is taking it a step at a time, but the ingredients are there for more success this year. Milton not only has a strong nucleus returning, but also exciting younger players coming up. Belief is powerful and possessing that also makes Milton a potential dangerous team in the Class AAAA field.

Right now that is the focus. Milton is looking ahead, not back.

“We won’t talk about last season and what we did,” Davis said. “Each season is a new season and a new challenge and we need to be ready to compete each and every week to try and accomplish some of the success we had last season.”

Milton returns seven starters on both sides of the ball, including four along the offensive line. That line surged throughout the year and helped Milton average 227 rushing yards per game. The Panthers especially imposed their will up front in the playoff opener, clearing the way for 289 yards on the ground.

Quarterback Xzavier Minium helped pilot that offense and was a second team all-state selection as an athlete. Minium is a good leader who is as dangerous with his legs as he is his arm. Chris Doyle was a conference all-star and put together one of the best freshman running back seasons in area history, scoring a freshman record 18 touchdowns.

Milton did not throw the ball a lot but was efficient when doing so. Peyton Rearick and Dylan Reiff were big reasons why and both are back. Rearick also could play a large role in the backfield.

All those players will play key roles defensively as well. Farrell Sipe and Gary Verdinelli helped fuel the defensive line last season and both are back. Doyle will see more time at linebacker and Minium anchors the secondary. Milton was as opportunistic as it was stingy, returning five turnovers or blocked kicks for touchdowns.

The excitement surrounding Milton’s program does not stop with the potential this team has either. Milton finally has a home again and it now features expanded seating and a turf field. A home field advantage could offer a boost not there last season.

The Panthers make their debut on that field in the season opener against South Williamsport. It is an immediate test against a tradition-laden program. Milton also has big games against strong teams like Mount Carmel, Mifflinburg and Bloomsburg, in addition to going against teams which could be poised for rebound seasons.

Whoever the opponent, Milton is focusing on itself. After years of darkness, the Panthers found the light last fall. Now the goal is to keep it shining as they try making even brighter days.

­2022 Football Players to Watch

Chris Doyle, RB/LB: Doyle did something no other area player ever had in his debut season. The workhorse running back scored a freshman record 18 touchdowns and became just the fifth area freshman to ever reach 1,000 yards. Doyle’s immediate impact played a monster role in Milton having its best season since 2012. Just scratching the surface of what he may do, Doyle ran for 1,174 yards and averaged 6.8 yards per carry. He went over 100 yards four times and ran wild against Holy Redeemer, producing 272 yards, the most by a Milton running back in the 2000s. Doyle also is a consistent producer on defense and scored multiple touchdowns five times. He found the end zone in 10 of 12 games and shined bright in his playoff debut, gashing North Penn-Mansfield for 113 yards and four touchdowns.

Xzavier Minium, QB/DB: One of the area’s most complete players, Minium does a bit of everything and may have been the team’s most valuable player during its stunning turnaround season. After playing wide receiver his first two seasons, Minium moved to quarterback as a junior and threw for 699 yards, four touchdowns and just three interceptions. Milton features a run-first offense, but Minium was effective when he went to the air and completed 59.3% of his passes. He is one of the district’s best rushing quarterbacks, totaling 830 yards and 13 touchdowns. Minium ran for 127 yards and two touchdowns against Montoursville in the district semifinals and erupted for a career-high 185 yards and four scores against Nativity. Minium also is an excellent defensive back who helps anchor the secondary.

Peyton Rearick, WR/LB: Another young player who provided a major jolt in his first year starting, Rearick made enormous strides as a sophomore and became one of the team’s more exciting weapons. Milton utilized Rearick as a receiver and rusher and he performed well in both roles. Rearick caught 14 passes for 240 yards and a touchdown, forming a quality duo with Dylan Reiff. He also ran for 120 yards and a touchdown, averaging eight yards per carry. Rearick was instrumental in Milton’s biggest regular-season win of the season, its comeback against Mifflinburg. That night he caught a 94-yard pass which set up a touchdown and helped the Black Panthers rally from a 14-0 halftime deficit.

Dylan Reiff, WR/DB: And now for the other half of a potentially imposing wide receiver tandem. Reiff was yet another player who enjoyed a big breakthrough season. A two-way starter, Reiff finished second on the team in catches, producing 16 for 222 yards and two touchdowns. With teams focused on slowing Milton’s run, Reiff and Rearick could do a lot to keep defenses honest this season. Reiff showed the ability to do just that when he caught four passes for 112 yards and two touchdowns in a game against District 6 Class 5A runner-up Central Mountain.

–By CHRIS MASSE