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Milford Improves To 5-0 With Big Road Win at Kings
For the first time since 1957, the Milford Eagles are 5-0 after griding out a 40-21 win at Kings in a battle of Eastern Cincinnati Conference heavyweights. The Eagles got bigtime contributions from a pair of seniors who had career nights in J.P. Naylor and Ashton Warther, along with another stellar performance from QB Luke Brand to key the win. It also marked the first Milford win over Kings since 2017.
The night started slow for both squads as the first four possessions featured three punts and a turnover on downs. Kings struck first when broken coverage allowed the Knights’ Nate Lyman to break free for a 48-yard to open the nights scoring late in the first. Less than a minute into the second quarter, Tofa Luani plowed in from a yard out to tie the game on a drive aided by a pair of Kings unsportsmanlike conduct penalties and a Brand to Naylor 35-yard pass.
A fourth down trick play resulted in another Kings TD, but Warther broke loose from 17 yards out less than two minutes later for another Milford score. Kings was able to block the extra point though, leaving Milford trailing 14-13. That didn’t last long however as Brand found Naylor once again, this time for a 55-yard catch-and-run TD for the senior to send the Eagles into the break up 20-14.
The only score of the third quarter came on the opening drive of the frame when on fourth and 21, Brand found Ja’Mario Sebastian for a sensational 32-yard TD reception.
Milford put the game away in the fourth quarter on the strong back of Luani who scored two more short touchdowns to give him three for the night. Carson Lindholm bulled in from one-yard out for the final Kings score in the frame as well.
Brand was phenomenal under center once again for the Eagles, completing 22 of 28 passes for 356 yards and two scores. But the night belonged to a pair of under the radar but important pieces of the Eagle offense in Naylor and Warther. Naylor was Brand’s favorite target on the night catching eight passes for 133 yards. Warther meanwhile finished with 172 all-purpose yards, made up of 86 rushing, 61 receiving and 25 in kick return yards. Milford posted 459 yards of total offense for the night.
Milford’s defense was impressive in allowing Kings just 31 yards rushing for the game. In addition to his three TDs on offense, Luani shared team-high in tackles with eight, while recording a sack and his second career interception. Cole Miller tacked on eight stops for Milford.
After playing four of the first five games of the season on the road, Milford finally returns home next Friday for the first of two straight home games as they play host to Little Miami.
Click here for final game stats.
