SETTING THE SCENE: A game brimming with playoff and Eastern Cincinnati Conference Championship implications greets the Milford High School football team as it heads into Week 8 of the 2018 season. The Eagles and Kings enter the match-up with identical 6-1 overall and 4-0 ECC records with the winner taking a big step towards claiming the conference crown. Both squads enter the contest, set for a 7 p.m. kickoff at Kings, riding four-game winning streaks.

A NOTE ABOUT TRAVEL: The much publicized visit to Lebanon by President Trump is likely to impact travel to Kings on Friday night. Fans are encouraged to arrive at Kings early to avoid potential issues with travel. More about the situation can be found here.

On Friday, October 12 in the early evening and again in the late evening, expect significant traffic disruption on I-71 as President Trump travels from Cincinnati to Lebanon for an evening event.

Northbound lanes on I-71 will be shut down (south of Western Row Road) at varying times to allow the Presidential motorcade uninterrupted highway access between Cincinnati and Lebanon.

Northbound and Southbound lanes on I-71 between Western Row Road and S.R. 48 will be shut down in Warren County. The expected timeframe for the Warren County closures are between 5:30pm and 6:00pm and again around 8:00pm.

A LOOK BACK: About the only thing that could slow down Milford during Week 7 of the high school football season was a second quarter lightning delay as the Eagles rolled to a 48-6 Homecoming victory over Withrow. The Eagles’ starters played just two quarters, scoring all of their points before the half in improving to 6-1 overall and 4-0 in Eastern Cincinnati Conference play, setting up a first place showdown at Kings on Friday night.

Click here to read more and click here for the final Milford-Withrow game stats.

A LOOK AT THE OPPONENT: A look at Kings, Milford’s 2018 Week 8 opponent:

• Friday, Oct. 12 at Kings, 7:00 p.m.
• 2018 Record: 6-1, 4-0 ECC (1^st Division II area coaches’ weekly poll)
• Top Offensive Player: Senior RB Nak’emon Williams (882 yards rushing, 12 TDs)
• Top Defensive Player: Senior DB Jay Cheatham (4 INTs)
• Last Meeting: 2017; Milford 42, Kings 28

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

• Milford scoring offense (1^st-43.4) vs. Kings scoring defense (4^th-21.4)
• Milford total offense (3^rd-379.3) vs. Kings total defense (5^th-313.1)
• Milford rushing offense (5^th-151.4) vs. Kings rushing defense (1^st-140.3)
• Milford passing offense (2^nd-227.9) vs. Kings passing defense (7^th-172.9)
• Kings scoring offense (3^rd-31.1) vs. Milford scoring defense (4^th-20.6)
• Kings total offense (4^th-353.6) vs. Milford total defense (3^rd-283.9)
• Kings rushing offense (1^st-244.7) vs. Milford rushing defense (6^th-198.9)
• Kings passing offense (5^th-108.9) vs. Milford passing defense (1^st-85.0)

INSIDE THE ECC: With only three weeks remaining in the regular season, three teams have risen to the top of the league standings. Kings and Milford enter Week 8 tied at 4-0, with Turpin just one game behind. Anderson and West Clermont share fourth, each at 2-2.

The Week 8 ECC schedule includes: Milford at Kings, Turpin at Anderson, West Clermont at Withrow and Loveland at Walnut Hills.

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

Rushing Yards: Cameron Kells (919)

Passing Yards: Hunter Johnson (1,585)

Receiving Yards: Dylan Hughes (555)

Tackles: Jacob Turner (57)

Sacks: C.T. Phillips (3.5)

Interceptions: Owen Martin (3)

Kickoff Return Yards: Dylan Hughes (235)

Punting Average: Brian Stevens (38.6)

Punt Return Yards: Dustin Laudermilk (127)

POLL WATCH: Even though they won their fourth straight game, the Eagles dipped a single spot to eighth in the weekly Cincinnati Enquirer Division I area coaches’ poll. Colerain continues to reign at No. 1 with all seven first place votes, ahead of Moeller, Fairfield, Elder and St. Xavier in the top-five. The ECC’s West Clermont is one of three squads also receiving votes.

In the Division II poll, Kings is first, with Anderson third, Turpin eighth, Loveland tied for 10^th and Withrow the only team also receiving votes. The coaches’ poll is released every Monday at Noon at preps.cincinnati.com/coachespolls.

PLAYOFFS? PLAYOFFS?: The fourth regular season installment of the OHSAA Computer Ratings which ultimately determines the playoff match-ups across the state have been released. In DI, the top-eight teams in each of Ohio’s four regions will earn a berth in the playoffs. The current top-eight in Region 4 by ranking are: Colerain, Moeller, Fairfield, Mason, Elder, Milford, Lakota East and Western Hills.

In the Division II, Region 8 rankings, of which much of the ECC resides, Kings is showing as No. 1 and Anderson is seventh, with Turpin in the outside looking in, in 11^th.

KELLS NAMED BLITZ 5 PRIMETIME PERFORMER: After his record breaking, seven touchdown performance in Milford’s Week 6 win over Anderson, senior RB Cameron Kells was voted Blitz 5’s Primetime Performer of the Week.

TRISTATE FOOTBALL HONORS EAGLE PAIR: Prior to each season, area website Tristatefootball.com recognizes the best of the best with inclusion on the site’s three all-area websites. The team’s are decided based on a combination of fan vote and staff input and the 2018 squads feature a pair of Eagles. On the offensive side of the ball, senior TE Connor Foster was selected to the second team, while senior WR Jake Ayler earned a slot on the third team.