SETTING THE SCENE: Having won three straight and averaging 56.3 points per game during the run, the high-flying Milford High School football team is back home for Week 7 of the 2018 season this Friday hosting Withrow. It will also be Homecoming at Eagle Stadium. Since beginning Eastern Cincinnati Conference play, the Eagles have been rolling, outscoring opponents 169-62. For the season, the Milford is 5-1 overall and are tied for first inside the ECC with Kings, each at 3-0.

A LOOK BACK: The Friday Night Lights shown brightly on Anderson’s Charles L. Brown Stadium during Week 6, but no one shined brighter than Milford senior RB Cameron Kells as his astonishing seven touchdown performance keyed the Eagles to a big 56-20 win over the host Redskins. Not to be outdone, the Milford defense kept one of the Eastern Cincinnati Conference’s most high-flying offenses in check, while forcing four turnovers. Kells rushed for a career-best 251 yards, adding 45 yards receiving. The victory keeps Milford in a tie for first place in the league with Kings, each at 3-0.

Click here to read more, click here for the final Milford-Anderson game stats and here for a photo gallery from the game courtesy of Tammy Ruehrwein.

A LOOK AT THE OPPONENT: A look at Withrow, Milford’s 2018 Week 7 opponent:

• Friday, Oct. 5 vs. Withrow, 7:00 p.m.
• 2018 Record: 1-5, 0-3 ECC (RV Division II area coaches’ weekly poll)
• Top Offensive Player: Junior QB Winston Combs (543 yards passing, 3 TDs)
• Top Defensive Player: Senior DL Ceayre Hall (8.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble)
• Last Meeting: 2017; Milford 39, Withrow 14

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

• Milford scoring offense (1^st-42.7) vs. Withrow scoring defense (6^th-29.5)
• Milford total offense (3^rd-378.7) vs. Withrow total defense (4^th-299.8)
• Milford rushing offense (5^th-147.3) vs. Withrow rushing defense (6^th-215.0)
• Milford passing offense (2^nd-231.3) vs. Withrow passing defense (2^nd-84.8)
• Withrow scoring offense (8^th-5.5) vs. Milford scoring defense (4^th-23.0)
• Withrow total offense (8^th-178.8) vs. Milford total defense (6^th-311.0)
• Withrow rushing offense (8^th-81.2) vs. Milford rushing defense (6^th-229.0)
• Withrow passing offense (6^th-97.7) vs. Milford passing defense (1^st-82.0)

INSIDE THE ECC: The ECC race continues to be tightly contested with Milford and Kings the last two remaining undefeated teams at 3-0. Behind the front running duo are Turpin and West Clermont, each at 2-1.

The Week 7 ECC schedule includes: Withrow at Milford, Anderson at West Clermont, Turpin at Loveland and Kings at Walnut Hills.

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

Rushing Yards: Cameron Kells (801)

Passing Yards: Hunter Johnson (1,379)

Receiving Yards: Dylan Hughes (471)

Tackles: Jacob Turner (54)

Sacks: C.T. Phillips (3.0)

Interceptions: Owen Martin (3)

Kickoff Return Yards: Dylan Hughes (235)

Punting Average: Brian Stevens (38.8)

Punt Return Yards: Dustin Laudermilk (122)

POLL WATCH: Another big win, this time over Anderson, moved the Eagles up to seventh in the Oct. 1 edition of the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Division I area coaches’ poll. Colerain continues to firmly hold the top spot with all seven first place votes, ahead of Elder, Fairfield and Moeller (tied for third) and Mason. West Clermont from the ECC is also receiving votes.

In the Division II poll, Kings is in a tie for first, with Anderson fifth, Turpin seventh, 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 third 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, Mason, Moeller, Elder, Fairfield, Milford, Sycamore and Lakota East.

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

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.