MILFORD – With a couple of timely recoveries, North Attleboro is back to defend the Div. 3 state title.

The seventh-seeded Big Red, powered by their running attack, had more than enough to take down No. 2 Milton, 43-29, at Milford High on Saturday in the semifinals.

“We graduated a lot of kids, but I have to tell you we’ve been on our journey,” said North Attleboro coach Mike Strachan. “We’re talking about climbing our mountain all year, and they have answered the bell every single time. They’ve gotten better.”

In the third quarter, North Attleboro (9-2) took advantage of deferring to the second half as it needed just three plays to find paydirt as senior captain Frankie Strachan ran it in from 17 yards out to make it a 29-15 advantage.

North Attleboro receiver Nathaniel Robin, left, is hit by Milton’s Luke Rowley after making a reception during the second quarter Saturday in a state semifinal. (Photo by Paul Connors/Media News Group/Boston Herald)

Milton (9-2) then had to re-kick on the ensuing kickoff, and Cam Vialpando recovered the onside kick attempt for the Big Red. They marched it down the field 55 yards on six plays with Strachan getting his third of the day – this time from one yard out to make it 36-15.

“We responded pretty well and our kids made the plays,” said coach Strachan. “At the end of the day, they made plays.”

Frankie Strachan (35 carries, 173 yards) added his fourth on the next Big Red drive to push it to 43-15 after three quarters.

“It’s all about energy,” the senior said. “We had a loss against Mansfield, and we knew we came out flat. It’s an emphasis that we come out with energy.”

Milton (9-2) earned a couple of scores in the fourth as Patrick Collins ran it in from eight yards out and hit sophomore Taj Chung from 27 yards out to cap the scoring with 5:03 left as Vialpando recovered the Wildcats’ onside kick attempt after that.

To open the first quarter, North Attleboro’s Aiden Jackson recovered a fumble on the first play of scrimmage, and eight run plays later, Strachan ran it in from four yards out to go up 7-0 after taking 4:30 off the clock.

After a Milton punt, Big Red put together a long drive of 10 plays capped by a 31-yard touchdown pass from senior Dylan Brousseau to sophomore Milo House on fourth down to go up 14-0 early in the second on a drive that took just over six minutes off the clock.

The Wildcats answered as four plays later senior captain Patrick Collins ran it in from seven yards out and the two-point rush for senior Aidan Rowley made it 14-8.

Once again, North Attleboro took it 70 yards on 10 plays, as this time Brousseau hit sophomore Nathaniel Robin for a 27-yard TD grab as Robin had to fall on top of the ball after dropping it just outside the end zone. Strachan added a two-point rush to make it 22-8 with 4:17 left in the second.

North Attleboro receiver Nathaniel Robin, front, recovers his own fumble in the end zone for a touchdown in front of Milton’s Luke Rowley during the second quarter. (Photo by Paul Connors/Media News Group/Boston Herald)

Milton did not go quietly as it needed just seven plays to find paydirt as Collins found Michael McGee for a 5-yard score to cut the deficit to 22-15 at the half. This sets up a rematch against King Philip in the championship game. The Warriors won the previous matchup 21-7.