SETTING THE SCENE: The Milford High School football team will be out to get back into the win column, while starting Eastern Cincinnati Conference play on a high note when the Eagles host Turpin on Friday night at 7 p.m. The Eagles have gotten off to a solid start at 2-1, but are coming off a disappointing performance against Fairmont last week. Back on its home turf for a third straight week, Milford will take on a Turpin team that has gotten off to a slow start at 1-2, after finishing last season 11-1. The Eagles will also celebrate Jr. High Football/Cheer/Band Night prior to kickoff.

A LOOK BACK: Sept. 8 vs. Fairmont: Fairmont carried out its game plan of holding onto the ball with a bruising running game to perfection as the Firebirds rushed for 273 yards in a 42-0 win over Milford in non-conference football action on Friday night. Fairmont scored on all but one of its possessions throughout the contest, holding the ball for nearly 33 minutes, while its defense limited the high-octane Eagles’ offense to a season-low 145 yards.

Very little went right for the Eagles and it started early as an impressive drive on Milford’s (2-1) opening possession ended when Cameron Kells was hit and fumbled at the Fairmont five-yard line, leading to a Firebird recovery in the end zone.

Nearly seven minutes later, Fairmont (3-0) cracked the end zone for the first score of the night when Jesse Deglow plowed in from 13 yards out for his first of four rushing touchdowns.

With its triple option offense buzzing, the Fairmont defense was also stout as it limited Blake King to just 113 yards passing, while yielding just 32 total yards on the ground. Deglow had a huge night, carrying the rock 33 times for 161 yards and four touchdowns.

Faced with 60 offensive plays by the Firebirds, the Milford defense got a game-high 15 tackles from Bryce Dugan and 11 (along with a forced fumble) by Bailey Knox.

Click here for the Milford-Fairmont game stats.

A LOOK AT THE OPPONENT: A look at Turpin, Milford’s 2017 Week 4 opponent:

• Friday, Sept. 15 vs. Turpin, 7:00 p.m.
• 2017 Record: 1-2 (8^th Division II area coaches’ weekly poll)
• Top Offensive Player: Senior QB Lucas Smith (162 yards passing, 114 yards rushing, 4 total TDs)
• Top Defensive Player: Senior DB Zane Gifford (2 INTs)
• Last Meeting: 2016; Turpin 27, Milford 14

THE MATCH-UP: A look at the Milford-Turpin match-up by the numbers (per game averages with conference team rankings):

• Milford scoring offense (2^nd-30.3) vs. Turpin scoring defense (1^st-18.3)
• Milford total offense (3^rd-305.0) vs. Turpin total defense (1^st-223.3)
• Milford rushing offense (8^th-70.7) vs. Turpin rushing defense (3^rd-177.7)
• Milford passing offense (2^nd-234.3) vs. Turpin passing defense (1^st-45.7)
• Turpin scoring offense (4^th-20.7) vs. Milford scoring defense (4^th-27.0)
• Turpin total offense (4^th-207.0) vs. Milford total defense (7^th-318.0)
• Turpin rushing offense (4^th-121.3) vs. Milford rushing defense (5^th-193.0)
• Turpin passing offense (5^th-85.7) vs. Milford passing defense (6^th-125.0)

INSIDE THE ECC: The start to league play has arrived and after three weeks of non-league action, Anderson is the only team with an unbeaten record. Milford is alone at 2-1, with five teams, including defending champions Turpin, all at 1-2.

The Week 4 ECC schedule includes: Turpin at Milford, Kings at Anderson, West Clermont at Walnut Hills and Loveland at Withrow.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: A look at Milford’s statistical leaders:

Rushing Yards: Cameron Kells (118)

Passing Yards: Blake King (617)

Receiving Yards: Jake Ayler (225)

Tackles: Bryce Dugan (36)

Sacks: Bryce Dugan (2.5)

Interceptions: Evan Baugh (1)

Kickoff Return Yards: Evan Baugh (149)

Punting Average: Dillon Coleman (35.0)

Punt Return Yards: Evan Baugh (86)

POLL WATCH: Milford’s Week 3 loss to Fairmont dropped the Eagles down one spot in the Cincinnati Enquirer area Division I coaches’ poll to No. 9 in the Sept. 11 edition of the rankings. St. Xavier, also ranked No. 1 in Ohio, earned all seven top nods this week, to outdistance fellow GCL members Elder and Moeller, with Sycamore and Colerain completing the top-five. The ECC’s Walnut Hills is also among three teams receiving votes.

The ECC also has a strong presence in the Division II rankings with five of the top-10 teams, headlined by No. 3 Anderson. Kings is just behind at No. 5, with Turpin in eighth, West Clermont in ninth and Withrow in 10^th. Loveland also is in the others receiving votes section. The coaches’ poll is released every Monday at Noon at preps.cincinnati.com/coachespolls.

“SPECIAL” TEAMS: Among the many positives to the start of the 2017 season for the Eagles has been the exception play of its special teams. Milford’s return teams have been game-changing, while the kick block squad has also made an impact. A look at some of the special teams highlights to date by game:

• Oak Hills: blocked two extra point attempts by the Highlanders; Evan Baugh (69 yards) and Dylan Hughes (60 yards) each tallied lengthy kickoff returns that led to Milford touchdowns.
• Dixie Heights: returned two punts for touchdowns; one an 87-yard bolt by Evan Baugh and the second a 39-yard dash by Dustin Loudermilk.

WHAT A DEBUT: When head coach Tom Grippa arrived in Milford, he did so with a reputation for favoring a high-octane offense and he wasted no time in unleashing it in the opener against Oak Hills. Against the Highlanders, Blake King (295 yards passing) and Jake Ayler (160 yards receiving) posted the best individual performances by a Milford player in those categories in at least a decade. King also did damage with his legs, becoming the first Milford player since Chase Witte last season to score four touchdowns.

TICKET TALK: Once again this season, pre-sale tickets for all ages are available for all home and ECC away games only in the Milford High School Athletic Office for a cost of $5. Please note tickets for all ages at the gate are priced at $7 each. Come out and support the Eagles and save by purchasing your tickets in advance!