SETTING THE SCENE: In a week full of interesting developments, the Milford High School football team will return to Eagle Stadium for the second straight week when it hosts archrival Loveland on Friday night at 7 p.m. The Eagles now sport a 3-1 overall record (more on that below) and opened Eastern Cincinnati Conference play last week with a resounding 42-21 win over Walnut Hills. Friday night is slated to be Youth Football/Cheer Night, as well as a Military, Police and Fire recognition.

A CHANGE IN RECORD: The big development in area high school football this week was the announcement that Princeton, Milford’s Week 1 opponent, would be forced to forfeit its three victories this season as a result of using an ineligible player. As a result, the Eagles’ record is now 3-1 on the year.

A LOOK BACK: Milford scored five of its six touchdowns from at least 35 yards out and turned a six-point halftime lead into a runaway as the Eagles knocked off Walnut Hills 42-21 in the home and Eastern Cincinnati Conference opener. Junior QB Hunter Johnson threw for 261 yards and four touchdowns to key the Milford offensive attack.

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

A LOOK AT THE OPPONENT: A look at Loveland, Milford’s 2018 Week 5 opponent:

• Friday, Sept. 21 vs. Loveland, 7:00 p.m.
• 2018 Record: 1-3, 1-0 ECC (9^th Division II area coaches’ weekly poll)
• Top Offensive Player: Junior RB Liam Hamill (548 yards rushing, 30 yards rushing, 7 TDs)
• Top Defensive Player: Senior DB Natron Webster (4 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery)
• Last Meeting: 2017; Milford 41, Walnut Hills 6

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

• Milford scoring offense (1^st-32.3) vs. Loveland scoring defense (7^th-24.3)
• Milford total offense (4^th-341.8) vs. Loveland total defense (3^rd-278.3)
• Milford rushing offense (5^th-110.3) vs. Loveland rushing defense (5^th-203.3)
• Milford passing offense (2^nd-221.7) vs. Loveland passing defense (2^nd-75.0)
• Loveland scoring offense (6^th-16.0) vs. Milford scoring defense (6^th-24.2)
• Loveland total offense (5^th-321.3) vs. Milford total defense (5^th-335.0)
• Loveland rushing offense (1^st-264.8) vs. Milford rushing defense (6^th-252.3)
• Loveland passing offense (8^th-56.5) vs. Milford passing defense (3^rd-82.2)

INSIDE THE ECC: Week 4 brought the opening to conference play for this season and when the dust settled Loveland, Kings, Milford and Turpin were winners. In an interesting scheduling twist, those four teams are matched up among themselves in Week 5.

The Week 5 ECC schedule includes: Loveland at Milford, Anderson at Withrow, Kings at Turpin and West Clermont at Walnut Hills.

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

Rushing Yards: Cameron Kells (397)

Passing Yards: Hunter Johnson (920)

Receiving Yards: Dylan Hughes (332)

Tackles: Jacob Turner (37)

Sacks: Brian Stevens (2.0)

Interceptions: Owen Martin (2)

Kickoff Return Yards: Dylan Hughes (200)

Punting Average: Brian Stevens (39.2)

Punt Return Yards: Dustin Laudermilk (122)

POLL WATCH: The Eagles continue to receive votes in the Sept. 17 edition of the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Division I area coaches’ poll, as they to edge closer to rejoining the top-10. Colerain once again earned all of the first place votes (eight this week) to take first place. Elder, St. Xavier, Fairfield and Mason complete the top-five behind the Cardinals. West Clermont joins the Eagles in others receiving votes. In the Division II rankings, Kings is tops among ECC squads in third with one first place vote. Anderson is in a tie for sixth, Turpin is eighth, Loveland is ninth and Withrow is receiving votes. The coaches’ poll is released every Monday at Noon at preps.cincinnati.com/coachespolls.

PLAYOFFS? PLAYOFFS?: The first regular season installment of the OHSAA Computer Ratings which ultimately determines the playoff match-ups across the state have been released. The rankings are not reflective of the situation with Princeton, which was revealed after the rankings were announced. 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, Elder, Oak Hills, Princeton, Moeller/Lebanon (tie) and Sycamore. Milford resides in 13^th place.

In the Division II, Region 8 rankings, of which much of the ECC resides, Kings is showing as No. 1, with Anderson and Turpin on the outside looking in, each at 3-1.

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.