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Defense Posts Shutout, Eagles Improve To 6-0
It certainly wasn’t its best performance of 2023, but in the end it was enough as the Milford Eagles moved to 6-0 on the year with a 28-0 shutout victory over Little Miami. The victory, coupled with Winton Woods loss at Anderson propels the Eagles into sole possession of first place in the Eastern Cincinnati Conference standings.
Just eight days shy of one year since its last shutout, the Eagle defense was opportunistic in holding the Panthers scoreless and to just 219 yards of total offense, the least by a Milford opponent this season and the fewest since Western Hills managed just 204 in last year’s OHSAA Playoff opener. Four sacks and a pair of interceptions by senior safety Robby Mickler were key elements of the defensive effort.
Milford got all the offense it would need in the first quarter, jumping to a 14-0 lead after one frame and increasing to 21-0 at the half. It looked like it would be a Milford runaway early as Nathan Webster bolted 51 yards on the Eagles’ second offensive snap of the night to go up 7-0.
Mickler’s first pick on the ensuing Panther drive handled the ball back to Milford at its own 33. A Luke Brand to Ashton Warther 33-yard pass was the big play of the drive which ended when Tofa Luani barreled in from three yards out. The Eagle went up 21-0 early in the second when Webster got loose and hit paydirt from 14 yards out.
Little Miami had a pair of golden scoring opportunities later in the second quarter but couldn’t capitalize. First a 33-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left and later Mickler’s second interception, this one at the Eagle five-yard line, turned Little Miami away once again.
Penalties plagued the Eagles, particularly in the second half as they managed just one more score late in the going. A Hunter Gulaskey sack early in the fourth set the stage for a potential scoring drive, but an Eagle fumble at the one proved otherwise. Andrew Littrell and Ashton Switzer combined for a sack to thwart the next LM drive and Webster made them pay with 34 yards on two carries, the last a three-yard jaunt for his third score of the night.
Webster finished the night with 142 yards on just 12 carries, marking his fourth time topping the century mark in his five games played. Brand was an efficient 21 of 29 passing for 220 yards, but for the first time this season did not throw a TD pass. Reece Davis hauled in seven passes for 77 yards while Warther had seven for 74 yards. Littrell led the defense with 13 tackles, including half a sack, while Cole Miller finished with eight stops.
Milford will look for 7-0 next week, hosting Walnut Hills for Homecoming at Eagle Stadium Powered by Cullen Electric.
Click here for final game stats.
