SETTING THE SCENE: With the 2016 prep football season winding down, the Milford High School football team returns to the friendly confines of Eagles Stadium for the final time this week as they host Anderson on Friday (Oct. 21) for Senior Night. The Eagles are coming off a crushing 32-31 overtime setback to Withrow last week that ended with the Tigers converting a game-winning two-point conversion. Milford (2-6, 1-4 ECC) will try to bounce back against the Eastern Cincinnati Conference team that has posted the biggest turnaround this year, Anderson (5-3, 3-2 ECC). Senior Night festivities will get underway at 6 p.m., with kickoff one hour later.

A LOOK BACK: Oct. 14 at Withrow: For the second time this season, a Milford High School football game came down the very end and for the second time, the Eagles came up just short as they dropped a heartbreaking 32-31 overtime decision to Withrow in Eastern Cincinnati Conference action on Oct. 14. After Milford forced overtime with a field goal with 14 seconds remaining and then scored first in OT, Withrow answered the touchdown and subsequently scored the game-winning two-point conversion to steal the win.

After the two teams traded touchdowns on their first possessions of the night, the Eagles (2-6, 1-4 ECC) were forced to play from behind for the bulk of the night as Withrow (2-6, 1-4 ECC) stayed ahead until the final minute. The Eagles fell despite a sizable advantage in total offense (403-262), including 394 yards on the ground. Senior do-everything-man Chase Witte relieved an injured Tyler Smith at quarterback during the second quarter and responded with 267 yards on the ground, his second 250+ yard game of the season.

The game had the makings of a shootout early on as Withrow marched right down the field after the opening kickoff and went up 6-0 after a 21-yard rush by Justin Standifer. The rush capped an 11-play, 83-yard drive for the Tigers. The Eagles countered with a nine-play, 63-yard drive that finished when Smith raced in from 11 yards out on a quarterback keeper.

Withrow would go on to score on its next scoring drive as well and again it was Standifer doing the honors as he plunged in from a yard out. After an unsuccessful PAT try following its first score, Withrow opted for a two-point try but came up short as they would for all but its final attempt of the night. After forcing a Milford punt, Jon Murray connected with Dare Moffet from 17 yards out on fourth and nine to put the hosts in from 18-7 with just over six minutes to go before the half.

The scoring promptly continued as the Eagles eased within four points on its next drive, a 10-play, 64-yard jaunt. On the drive, Smith left with an injury and Witte quickly picked up where he left off, finishing the drive with a 10-yard scoring run to make it 18-14 with 2:12 to go before the half.

The two defenses finally settled in for awhile from there and it was the Tigers defense that actually made the game’s next big play. After starting inside the Withrow 30 following a short punt, the Tigers’ Donzell Tuggle plucked a Witte pass attempt out of the air and rumbled 82 yards down the sidelines to push his team up 10 at 24-14.

Needing a score to stay close, the Eagles did that and quickly as Witte broke loose on the fourth play from scrimmage after the pick-six, darting 58 yards to paydirt. That left the score at 24-21 in favor of the home team as the third quarter wound down.

After a succession of punts, the Eagles looked poised to drive for the win when they took possession at midfield with under four minutes to go. Milford methodically moved into scoring position and appeared to take the lead when Witte scored from 14 yards out, but an illegal block wiped the score off the board. Two plays later, the Eagles settled for the game-tying 31-yard field goal from Dillon Coleman.

As some football fans are aware, the key to overtime is winning the coin toss, but unfortunately for the Eagles the flip went to the Tigers which allowed them to play defense first. On its possession, the Eagles did what they needed to as Witte scored his third touchdown of the game on a five-yard rush and Coleman converted the PAT. On its first possession, Withrow needed just two plays and it was Tuggle scoring for the second time as he raced in from 16 yards out. Following a timeout, Withrow elected to go for the winning two-point conversion and it was Stephen Wheeler crashing past the Milford front line for the win.

Click here for the final Milford-Withrow stats.

THANK YOU SENIORS: This Friday night will be Senior Night at Eagle Stadium with Milford’s 17-member senior class, along with members of the marching band being honored. Senior Night festivities will begin at 6 p.m., with kickoff set for 7 p.m. Milford’s 2016 football seniors include: Max Brewer, Zack Buhler, Jeremy Dentino, Adam Hensely, Andrew Johnson, Graham Martin, Andrew Miller, Justin Potter, Eric Richey, Jacob Riesenberg, Nick Schaefer, Jakob Schwartz, Dawson Slone, Hayden Sluder, Tyler Smith, Daniel Wilson and Chase Witte.

A LOOK AT THE OPPONENT: A look at Anderson, Milford’s 2016 Week 9 opponent:

• Friday, Oct. 21 vs. Anderson, 7:00 p.m.
• 2016 Record: 5-3, 3-2 ECC (6^th Division II area coaches’ weekly poll)
• Top Offensive Player: Junior QB Jay Volpenhein (2572 yards passing, 565 yards rushing, 39 TDs)
• Top Defensive Player: Junior DL Trent Rogers (2 forced fumbles, 1 sack)
• Last Meeting: 2015; Milford 28, Anderson 14
• Capsule look at the Redskins: After a very un-Anderson like 1-9 record last year, the Redskins have turned it around this year behind one of the most high octane offenses in the area.

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

• Milford scoring offense (5^th-23.6) vs. Anderson scoring defense (5^th-31.4)
• Milford total offense (5^th-299.6) vs. Anderson total defense (N/A-302.3)
• Milford rushing offense (2^nd-238.8) vs. Anderson rushing defense (N/A-149.3)
• Milford passing offense (7^th-60.9) vs. Anderson passing defense (N/A-153.0)
• Anderson scoring offense (1^st-42.3) vs. Milford scoring defense (7^th-32.5)
• Anderson total offense (1^st-490.1) vs. Milford total defense (N/A-372.9)
• Anderson rushing offense (5^th-152.8) vs. Milford rushing defense (N/A-238.1)
• Anderson passing offense (1^st-337.4) vs. Milford passing defense (N/A-120.9)

INSIDE THE ECC: Turpin is still atop the Eastern Cincinnati Conference standings as they stay unbeaten at 5-0 and 8-0 overall. Kings and Loveland still remain in contention, each at 4-1 in ECC play.

The Week 9 ECC schedule includes: Anderson at Milford, Glen Este at Turpin, Loveland at Kings, and Walnut Hills at Withrow.

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

Rushing Yards: Chase Witte (870)

Passing Yards: Tyler Smith (267)

Receiving Yards: Max Brewer (240)

Tackles: Hayden Sluder (72)

Sacks: Eric Richey (1.5)

Interceptions: Luken Dalessandro/Jeremy Dentino (1)

Kickoff Return Yards: Chase Witte (197)

Punting Average: Chase Witte (34.1)

Punt Return Yards: Sam Pickett (93)

POLL WATCH: Milford did not receive any votes in the latest Cincinnati Enquirer area Division I area coaches’ poll, released on Oct. 17. Colerain earned all seven of the first place votes and the No. 1 position, with Elder, St. Xavier, Mason and Fairfield completing the top-five for the second week in a row. The ECC continues to be well represented in the Division II rankings, headlined by Turpin the No. 1 overall team with four of the five first place votes. Kings is just behind in third, with Anderson ranked sixth, Loveland in ninth, Walnut Hills in 10^th and Withrow receiving votes. The coaches’ poll is released every Monday at Noon at preps.cincinnati.com/coachespolls.

WHAT THE COMPUTER SAYS: The latest 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, Lebanon, Elder, Mason, St. Xavier, Springboro, Sycamore and Fairfield. Milford is currently ranked 15^th in the region.

In the Division II, Region 8 rankings, of which the balance of the ECC resides, Turpin (first) and Kings (fifth) are in qualifying positions, with Anderson just outside in 10^th.

OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION: Milford’s offense had a big night in the Eagles’ Week 3 win over Norwood. On a night that featured 100 points and over 1,000 yards of combined offense in a 52-48 Milford win, the Eagles finished with 449 yards of total offense, the most by an MHS team in nearly a decade. The 52 points were the most since the Eagles put up the same amount against Woodward in Week 5 of the 2010 season.

ON THE TUBE: Local cable access channel ICRC-TV will broadcast a pair of Milford home contests involving this fall for tape-delayed replay. The first of the two scheduled games was against Turpin on Sept. 9 and the cameras will return for the Oct. 21 match-up vs. Anderson.

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!