SETTING THE SCENE: Having already clinched a winning season for the first time since 2000, the Milford High School football team will celebrate Homecoming on a quest for a fifth straight win when it hosts Withrow on Friday night. The Eagles are 6-1 on the year and 4-0 in the rugged Eastern Cincinnati Conference, coming off their first ever win against Kings. For Homecoming, they will take on a 1-6 Withrow squad that has dropped six in a row. Fans attending Friday’s game should be mindful of the Homecoming parade pre-game. Parade route information can be found here.

A LOOK BACK: Oct. 6 vs. Kings: The 2017 season for the Milford High School football team has been a storybook tale thus far and it added another new chapter on Oct. 6 as the Eagles picked up a 42-28 win over Kings in a thrilling Eastern Cincinnati Conference battle. In what is believed to be the program’s first-ever victory over the Knights, Milford outscored the visitors by a 21-7 count in the fourth quarter to snap a tie game after three quarters.

The game provided everything that is good about Friday Night high school football as each team gave the other its best shot all night long. Milford (6-1, 4-0 ECC) scored first and never actually trailed but had to turn back answer after answer from Kings (2-5, 1-3 ECC) every time it grabbed the lead. The victory assures the Eagles of their first winning season since 2000 as they have now captured six wins with just three regular season games remaining.

The Eagles’ high-octane offense was firing on all cylinders, running up 434 yards of total offense, including 162 on the ground which matched the team’s season-high. As has been the case all season long, the Eagle offense went as senior QB Blake King did and as usual the signal caller was up to the task. The always efficient King completed 21 of 34 passes for 272 yards, with a pair of touchdowns, while adding a season-best 89 yards rushing and three more scores. King’s favorite target was junior speedster Dylan Hughes who hauled in 10 passes for 143 yards and two scores.

Click here for the full recap and click here for the final Milford-Kings game stats.

A LOOK AT THE OPPONENT: A look at Kings, Milford’s 2017 Week 8 opponent:

• Friday, Oct. 13 vs. Withrow, 7:00 p.m.
• 2017 Record: 1-6, 0-4 ECC (RV Division II area coaches’ weekly poll)
• Top Offensive Player: Senior RB/QB Milyke Brown (598 yards rushing, 121 yards passing, 367 total return yards, 6 total TDs)
• Top Defensive Player: Junior LB Daniel Johnson (2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries)
• Last Meeting: 2016; Withrow 32, Milford 31 (OT)

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

• Milford scoring offense (2^nd-32.1) vs. Withrow scoring defense (8^th-35.5)
• Milford total offense (3^rd-331.0) vs. Withrow total defense (5^th-296.0)
• Milford rushing offense (8^th-104.4) vs. Withrow rushing defense (2^nd-143.8)
• Milford passing offense (2^nd-226.6) vs. Withrow passing defense (7^th-152.2)
• Withrow scoring offense (8^th-9.8) vs. Milford scoring defense (2^nd-17.4)
• Withrow total offense (5^th-234.3) vs. Milford total defense (4^th-286.3)
• Withrow rushing offense (3^rd-187.8) vs. Milford rushing defense (3^rd-159.4)
• Withrow passing offense (7^th-46.5.2) vs. Milford passing defense (4^th-126.9)

INSIDE THE ECC: The race for the Eastern Cincinnati Conference Championship continues to be a three horse race, but only two remain undefeated after Anderson held off West Clermont last week to move to 4-0, joining the Eagles at the top.

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

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

Rushing Yards: Cameron Kells (284)

Passing Yards: Blake King (1458)

Receiving Yards: Dylan Hughes (483)

Tackles: Bryce Dugan (78)

Sacks: Bryce Dugan (4.0)

Interceptions: Evan Baugh (2), Adam Bartrum/Dustin Laudermilk (1)

Kickoff Return Yards: Evan Baugh (210)

Punting Average: Robbie McQueary (41.0)

Punt Return Yards: Evan Baugh (193)

POLL WATCH: Another win propelled Milford up two spots to No. 7 in the weekly Cincinnati Enquirer Division I area coaches’ poll. The No. 1 team in Ohio also resides in Cincinnati as St. Xavier earned all six first place votes. The rest of the top-five includes Colerain, Fairfield, Elder and Sycamore. West Clermont from the ECC comes in 10^th this week.

The ECC is also well represented in the Division II rankings with Anderson in second and Turpin, Kings and Loveland in slots seven through nine. Withrow also received votes this week. 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. Milford continues to find favor with the computers this week, earning the No. 4 slot in the region. The current top-eight in Region 4 by ranking are: St. Xavier, Colerain, Fairfield, Milford, Sycamore, Moeller, Lakota East and Mason. West Clermont is just outside a qualifying position in 10^th.

In the Division II, Region 8 rankings, of which much of the ECC resides, Anderson in third is the only squad among the top-12.

WHAT A SEASON: The first season under head coach Tom Grippa has included some major highlights including a win in the Skyline Chili Crosstown Showdown, the reclaiming of the Miami Township Victory Bell and long awaited wins over league foes Turpin and Kings. The victory over the Knights was especially big as it improved the Eagles’ season record to 6-1, clinching the first winning season by a Milford football team since 2000.

“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.
• Turpin: senior Robbie McQueary took over the punting duties for the first time, averaging nearly 40 yards in three punts, including a long of 47.
• Loveland: Evan Baugh continued his heroics returning kicks, totaling 107 yards between four combined kick and punt returns.
• Walnut Hills: Evan Baugh returned punts for 31 and 22 yards, each setting up a touchdown. Meanwhile, Robbie McQueary averaged 43.5 yards per punt, including a season-long of 52 yards.
• Kings: Robbie McQueary’s stellar punting continued as he averaged 42.7 yards on three kicks, while placing three inside the Knights’ 20.

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!