Sargbah Smiles; Reivers Running Back Grins Through Challenges
Council Bluffs, IA
"Undersized running back goes junior college route, earns NCAA Division I scholarship". It's a familiar story in Council Bluffs and for Reiver Football. From Kevis Streeter, the first Reivers player to be offered a D-I scholarship, to Mekhi Sargent, who is currently in his senior season at the University of Iowa, the Reivers have given a platform for 'the little guy' to make their mark.
In the fall of 2018, the next in succession for that position for Head Coach Scott Strohmeier's Reivers was five foot, seven inch Milton Sargbah, out of Omaha, Nebraska. Sargbah came to the United States to live with his father when he was just six years old. His mother, Rebecca, decided it was safer than continuing to live in Monrovia, the capital city of Liberia that was experiencing political turmoil at the time. Football didn't start until nearly ten years later at Morton Middle School in Omaha. Coach Kyle Brant and Sargbah's brother Ozzie finally got Milton into pads in 8th grade and from there he hasn't looked back. Like many young players, Sargbah wanted to play Quarterback, but quickly realized he'd be more effective at running back, where his speed and size made him hard to catch. While Sargbah enjoys the blocking aspect of being in the backfield, he loves when "you hear the bands play', his way of describing getting through a hole in the defense to get into the endzone.
The small in stature back finished his high school career at Omaha North as a repeat first-team member of the Super-State squad, rushing for 2,355 yards and 28 touchdowns his senior season. All in all, Sargbah rushed for nearly 10 yards a carry in surpassing the five-thousand (5,087) rushing yards mark in his high school career while scoring 59 touchdowns. North Head Coach Larry Martin says about Sargbah, "Milton is an incredible leader on and off the field. He's the ultimate teammate, very determined and driven. He was always there for his teammates and coaches. He was a fierce competitor and always gave his best effort. Combine that with his toughness and shiftiness and durability you have an incredible playmaker." Sargbah's four years at North not only resulted in outstanding individual numbers, but the Vikings also won two Nebraska Class A State Championships and lost out on a third in a runner-up finish, though as any good competitor would tell you, "we should have won four", says Sargbah with a smile.
The recruitment of the diminutive back was led by Reivers Defensive Line coach Aaron Terry, a fellow Omaha North graduate. Terry says, "I knew in high school he could end up being a special player because of his speed and ability to run and catch the ball out of the backfield, and that evaluation was pretty spot on about Milton. He came in as a freshman and started some games for us at running back, and I was expecting big things out of him in his sophomore year." Sargbah chose Iowa Western after receiving light interest from Nebraska, Kansas State, and Air Force at the D-I level and D-2 interest from Northwest Missouri State and Emporia State. "I felt like there were some good people recruiting me at those other schools, but Coach Terry and Coach Stroh showed me love from the start", said Sargbah, "I knew where I stood with Iowa Western, and I knew that if I could prove myself they'd help me move on. I wanted to play for people who wanted the best for me, knew I could play ball, and were great people." Coach Strohmeier loved what he saw, "Just a very explosive player that was a winner. As the game went on he played his best."
As the third-leading rusher for the Reivers in 2018, the freshman scored a pair of touchdowns while rushing for 350 yards. Coach Strohmeier was pleased, overall, with Sargbah's adjustment to the college game, "He was never introduced to the zone running game in high school, so he had some adjusting to do once he got here, but he had games as a freshman where he really showed his abilities and he has the ability to play at a high level". With his freshman campaign in the rearview, Milton figured to be high on the depth chart heading into 2019. Spring ball had other ideas. Sargbah was in the midst of putting the finishing touches on a strong first year with the program when he tore his ACL in practice. "There was nobody really by me, I cut, my cleats got stuck, and I remember just rolling over. I heard a pop and I couldn't get up," Sargbah said. Sometimes, the sixth sense precedes such an event and it wasn't any different for Milton, "I knew something was wrong that day. My legs felt heavy and I was tired. My legs were fatigued."
Athletic trainer Andrew Mohr was on hand, "When Milton went down I was actually attending to another football player so he was helped off the field by a student athletic trainer. When I approached Milton and evaluated him he described the nefarious 'pop' that all too often accompanies major knee injuries. Once during the play and again as he was walking off the field. I remember the head coach (Scott Strohmeier) coming over immediately to ask my impression of his knee and giving reassurance to Milton", said Mohr, "Milton was his cool, calm self during the entire ordeal. I had hope for a minor knee injury, but already knew in the back of my mind that he would be seeing the orthopedic doctor the next day for another evaluation on his knee."
Cool and calm? Sargbah took Mohr's words as hope that he wouldn't be out long but knew it could be an ACL. When the diagnosis came, Sargbah said, "I cried for 30 minutes. I knew what surgery meant for the season. It was scary."
While Andrew Mohr was at practice the day of the injury, it's trainer Shannon Gehr that has been the primary football trainer since starting at IWCC in October of 2010. "I was so disappointed for him because I knew how hard he had worked, not only physically for football, but his nutrition and general fitness", said Gehr, "I knew he would use this year to get better in all aspects. Milly is hands down the hardest worker we've ever had. He came to rehab when he didn't have to and made huge improvements."
Rehab for Milton was a combination of pool workouts and workouts in the Reivers training room where he worked tirelessly with the Reivers athletic training staff in the summer of 2019. "Rehab was amazing. I felt like I was ahead of schedule," said Sargbah, "which was good, because when I started I couldn't raise my leg, couldn't walk, I felt hopeless at first."
Adding to the positive vibes that Milton was feeling with rehab was an offer to do more than just sit on the sidelines for the 2019 season - a job offer. "We always need help (in athletic training)," said Gehr, "we're always looking for student workers to help on the road with football. It made sense to ask Milly (as he's affectionately known) if he'd want to help move equipment, help fill water, and of course, that came with the side benefit of being able to be there to cheer on his teammates". So it came to be that 'Baby Boucher' was born - a play on the character from the Adam Sandler movie, "Waterboy".
Milton spent the 2019 season rehabbing and staying close to the team with his work as an athletic training assistant. He also worked on his growth in the classroom. Kim Henry, IWCC Vice President of Student Services, is another staff member that works closely with Milton, "He's a high character young man", says Henry, "He takes his academics just as seriously as his athletics and is focused on becoming better. I've seen him mature on both fronts during his IW journey."
Head Coach Scott Strohmeier agrees with Henry's assessment, "He's done everything we've asked him to do, on and off the field. Someone is going to get not only a good football player but a good person. He is a great kid that works extremely hard every single day. He is not a vocal leader but leads by example in how he comes to work every day in the classroom, weight room, or practice field. " The Reivers had high expectations for the redshirt sophomore in 2020 until the season was postponed until the spring due to COVID-19. Coach Strohmeier would love to have the sophomore stick around but knows if the right offer comes along, Milton should take it.
How does Sargbah see it? "I'd like to reevaluate in December," says Milton, "I'd love to play again for the Reivers in the spring and try for a National Championship. I think each team we've had here had a chance to win it and should have played for it". Where would he like to go? Growing up across the Missouri River in Omaha, you'd think Nebraska, but Sargbah throws a curve by answering Oklahoma State with a smile. When asked why the Cowboys, "Coach (Mike) Gundy played with the greatest running back ever and has seen what a 'little guy' can do." Sargbah says, referring of course to NFL Hall of Fame member Barry Sanders who played running back in Stillwater while the OSU Head Coach played quarterback from 1986 to 1988.
Time will tell where Sargbah will rank on the Reivers all-time 'little guys' list, but he's certainly left an impression with those he's encountered on campus. After his football career, Milton says he'd like to get into construction, with the goal to be able to build his future home. For now he'll continue working hard in the classroom and honing his craft on the gridiron. And, of course, he'll continue being 'one of the best Madden players in the World' and a 'god at Connect Four' ... all with a smile on his face.