SETTING THE SCENE: One week after a tough loss at Kings, but still very much in the hunt for an Eastern Cincinnati Conference Championship and an OHSAA Playoff berth, the Milford High School football team is headed to West Clermont for a Week 9 clash. The Eagles stand at 6-2 on the year and are 4-1 in the ECC, still with an outside shot for a piece of the league crown with at least one Kings loss. Milford enters this week rated No. 6 in Division I, Region 8 with hopes of an unprecedented second straight playoff berth in site. Kickoff between the Eagles and Wolves (4-4, 3-2 ECC) is set for 7 p.m.

A LOOK BACK: Kings took advantage of two Milford third quarter fumbles in their own territory in a one minute span, turning a three-point edge into an insurmountable 17-point lead as the Knights scored a wild 64-40 victory over the Eagles in an Eastern Cincinnati Conference shootout. In a game that more resembled a heavyweight boxing fight, the Eagles and Knights traded blows all evening, before Kings finally wore down the visiting team in the last 15 minutes of the game. The Eagles’ Cameron Kells had another stellar game in defeat, rushing for over 200 yards and scoring three more touchdowns.

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

A LOOK AT THE OPPONENT: A look at West Clermont, Milford’s 2018 Week 9 opponent:

• Friday, Oct. 19 at West Clermont, 7:00 p.m.
• 2018 Record: 4-4, 3-2 ECC (RV Division I area coaches’ weekly poll)
• Top Offensive Player: Senior RB Ryan Cann (685 yards rushing, 169 yards receiving, 2 TDs)
• Top Defensive Player: Senior DL Joseph Wahl (3.5 sacks, 1 fumble recovery)
• Last Meeting: 2017; West Clermont 35, Milford 28

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

• Milford scoring offense (1^st-43.0) vs. West Clermont scoring defense (1^st-17.1)
• Milford total offense (2^nd-387.4) vs. West Clermont total defense (2^nd-278.5)
• Milford rushing offense (5^th-158.9) vs. West Clermont rushing defense (1^st-132.0)
• Milford passing offense (2^nd-228.5) vs. West Clermont passing defense (6^th-145.6)
• West Clermont scoring offense (6^th-17.8) vs. Milford scoring defense (5^th-26.0)
• West Clermont total offense (6^th-238.6) vs. Milford total defense (4^th-300.3)
• West Clermont rushing offense (3^rd-185.3) vs. Milford rushing defense (8^th-219.4)
• West Clermont passing offense (8^th-53.4) vs. Milford passing defense (1^st-80.9)

INSIDE THE ECC: Kings’ big win last week over Milford put the Knights in the driver’s seat in the ECC at 5-0. Should the Knights slip in the last two weeks, the Eagles are just one game back at 4-1. Anderson, Turpin and West Clermont remain mathematically alive for a share of the league crown, but will need two Kings losses for a chance.

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

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

Rushing Yards: Cameron Kells (1,125)

Passing Yards: Hunter Johnson (1,818)

Receiving Yards: Dylan Hughes (645)

Tackles: Jacob Turner (63)

Sacks: Brian Stevens (4.0)

Interceptions: Owen Martin (3)

Kickoff Return Yards: Dylan Hughes (235)

Punting Average: Brian Stevens (38.6)

Punt Return Yards: Dustin Laudermilk (127)

POLL WATCH: Despite the loss at Kings, the Eagles remain eighth in the Cincinnati Enquirer Division I area coaches’ poll. As has been the case for weeks, Colerain remains the top rated squad, earning all seven first place votes. The rest of the top-five is made up of Fairfield, Moeller, Elder and St. Xavier. West Clermont from the ECC is one of two squads receiving votes.

In the Division II poll, Kings fell from first all the way to fourth, despite another win and is replaced at the top by Winton Woods. Anderson slides into third in front of the Knights, with Turpin in sixth and Withrow in ninth. The coaches’ poll is released every Monday at Noon at preps.cincinnati.com/coachespolls.

PLAYOFFS? PLAYOFFS?: The fifth 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, Fairfield, Moeller, Mason, Elder, Milford, Lebanon and Lakota East.

In the Division II, Region 8 rankings, of which much of the ECC resides, Kings is showing as No. 1 and Anderson is fourth, 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 teams 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.