SETTING THE SCENE: It’s OHSAA Playoff time and the Milford Eagles, ranked seventh in Division I, Region 16 have drawn a home contest to open against No. 10 Western Hills. The Eagles are enjoying one of the best seasons in school history, entering the playoffs with an 8-2 mark and having finished third in the competitive Eastern Cincinnati Conference at 7-2. Milford features a high scoring, high powered offense and a defense that has improved all season long. They’ll face a Mustang squad that completed their regular season at 5-5.

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The match-up by the numbers

A look at the Milford-Western Hills match-up by the numbers (per game averages & conference team rankings):

• Milford scoring offense (4^th-36.7) vs. Western Hills scoring defense (N/A)

• Milford total offense (3^rd-377.7) vs. Western Hills total defense (N/A)

• Milford rushing offense (5^th-112.0) vs. Western Hills rushing defense (N/A)

• Milford passing offense (3^rd-265.7) vs. Western Hills passing defense (N/A)
• Western Hills scoring offense (N/A) vs. Milford scoring defense (4^th-24.6)

• Western Hills total offense (N/A) vs. Milford total defense (6^th-325.5)

• Western Hills rushing offense (N/A) vs. Milford rushing defense (4^th-127.2)

• Western Hills passing offense (N/A) vs. Milford passing defense (7^th-198.3)

Inside the numbers
A look at Milford’s statistical leaders:
Rushing Yards: Natwan Webster (806, 13 TDs)
Passing Yards: Austin Hardin (2607, 34 TDs)
Receiving Yards: Reece Davis (667, 12 TDs)
Tackles: Andrew Littrell (77)
Sacks: William Riesenberg (5.0)
Interceptions: Jacob Smith (6)
Punting Average: Jacob Luecke (34.2)
Kickoff Return Yards: Jacob Smith (657, 2 TDs)
Punt Return Yards: Jacob Smith (161, 1 TD)

A look at Western Hills’ statistical leaders:
Rushing Yards: N/A
Passing Yards: N/A
Receiving Yards: N/A
Tackles: N/A
Sacks: N/A
Interceptions: N/A
Punting Average: N/A
Kickoff Return Yards: N/A
Punt Return Yards: N/A

Notable 2022 Performances

• QB Austin Hardin started his senior year with a bang, leading Milford to a runaway 42-6 win over Edgewood. For the night, Austin completed 17 of his 23 passes for 326 and four touchdowns (to three different receivers), making his third career 300-yard passing performance. In the last two season-openers, both against Edgewood, Austin has thrown for 619 yards and eight touchdowns.
• Junior WR Reece Davis lit up the stat sheet in the Edgewood opener, capturing his second career 100-yard receiving night with 114 for the game, along with a pair of touchdowns. His other 100-yard game came in last year’s opener at Edgewood.
• Junior WR Landen Wisbey showed he’ll be a scoring threat for the Eagles this year as he hit paydirt twice against Edgewood. Through the air, he hauled in a 52-yard TD, while also scoring on an eight-yard run on the ground.
• Senior Jacob Smith played his way into the OHSAA Record Book during Week 2 vs. Lebanon. Jacob had a dynamic all-around performance returning both a kickoff and a punt for a touchdown, while also grabbing a game-preserving interception on the game's final play. For the night, Jacob finished with 232 total return yards, along with 10 tackles and the interception.
• Senior WR Cam Livingston was also a hero of the Lebanon win, finishing with three TD receptions, including the game-winner with less than a minute remaining.
• Austin Hardin continued his hot start in Week 3 against Loveland, tossing four TDs for the third straight game. He finished with 290 yards through the air against the Tigers.
• Junior LB Andrew Littrell finished the Loveland game with nine tackles (eight solo), including 2.5 for loss and put a jarring hit on a Tiger ball carrier to force a fumble.
• Senior RB Natwan Webster was chosen Mercy Health Player of the Game after scoring four touchdowns vs. Loveland. For the game, Natwan rushed for 39 yards and three touchdowns, while catching four passes for 44 yards and a fourth score.
• After throwing four TD passes in each of the first three weeks of the season, Austin Hardin tossed five in the Anderson win. He completed 28-of-39 passes for a career-high 372 yards.
• Luke Ray was the favorite target against Anderson, hauling in 10 passes for 169 yards, including an 81-yard catch-and-run touchdowns.
• Natwan Webster cracked the 100-yard plateau for the first time in 2022 with 133 yards against Anderson, making his fourth career 100-yard game.
• Reese Davis was electric against Little Miami, hauling in nine catches for a career-high 144 yards and three touchdowns.
• Andrew Littrell was a beast on defense against Walnut Hills, recording a 77-yard interception return, a fumble recovery for a touchdown and a sack.
• Earlier this season, Austin Hardin set school records for career completions (373), yards (4,870) and touchdowns (51). Austin has also set the single season touchdown passes record with 27.
• Jacob Smith had another beast performance against Winton Woods with nine tackles, including a sack, a forced fumble, an interception, a blocked field goal and 100 kickoff return yards.
• Juniors Magnus Boben and Will Reid led a defensive charge against West Clermont in each player's most extensive action of the season. Along the defensive line, Magnus ended the game with a team-high 10 tackles, including half a sack. Filling in as a starter at safety, Will totaled seven tackles, including 1.5 for loss, along with his first career interception.
• The Turpin game was full of standout performances by the Eagles:
• Austin Hardin eclipsed the 300-yard passing mark (301) for the fourth time this season and the sixth time in his career.
• Natwan Webster topped the century mark with 107 yards, giving him three 100-yard games this year and five for his career.
• Luke Ray had 105 yards receiving to earn his second career 100-yard game, while Cam Livingston finished with 115 yards; also the second time he’s gone over 100 yards.
• The Livingston-Ray duo also become the second set of Eagle receivers this year to each top 100 yards in the same game.