SETTING THE SCENE: The final week of the 2017 regular season has arrived and for the first time in 30 years, the Milford High School football team will get the opportunity to continue past Week 10 as they have clinched a playoff berth and a share of the Eastern Cincinnati Conference Championship. With Senior Night as the backdrop, the Eagles will look to close the regular season with a seventh straight victory as West Clermont comes to do battle. The first-ever match-up between the Eagles and Wolves is brimming with playoff implications as prognosticators have projected a Milford home playoff game if they win, while a West Clermont victory should guarantee the Wolves a playoff appearance. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. with Milford’s Senior Night celebration set to get underway at 6 p.m.
A LOOK BACK: Oct. 20 at Anderson: Cameron Kells scored the winning touchdown with just under three minutes remaining and the Milford defense turned away a late Anderson rally as the Eagles earned at least a share of the Eastern Cincinnati Conference title with a thrilling 41-40 victory over the Redskins. Kells accounted for 199 all-purpose yards and a pair of scores to lead the offense in the win. Milford improved to 8-1 overall and 6-0 in ECC play with the win, while Anderson slipped to 8-1, 5-1 ECC.
Bryce Dugan was a monster on defense for the Eagles, totaling 12 tackles, including a sack, forcing a fumble and returning an interception 38 yards for a touchdown. The win guarantees a pair of milestones for the Eagles as they have wrapped up a conference championship and earned a playoff berth, both for the first time since 1986.
Several local media outlets were on hand to cover the shootout. Click on the following links to read and view more: Cincinnati Enquirer, WKRC Local 12, Fox 19 and WCPO prep sports writer Mike Dyer.
Click here for the final Milford-Anderson game stats.
A LOOK AT THE OPPONENT: A look at West Clermont, Milford’s 2017 Week 10 opponent:
THANK YOU SENIORS: This Friday night will be Senior Night at Eagle Stadium with Milford’s 15-member senior class being honored. Senior Night festivities will begin at 6 p.m., with kickoff set for 7 p.m. Milford’s 2017 football seniors include: Adam Bartrum, Evan Baugh, Dillon Coleman, Mitchell Cox, Dax Creager, Luken Dalessandro, Bryce Dugan, Alex Garcia, Ryan Hezlep, Blake King, Bailey Knox, Max Lewis, Robbie McQueary, Sam Pickett and Trevor Wilking.
THE MATCH-UP: A look at the Milford-West Clermont match-up by the numbers (per game averages with conference team rankings):
INSIDE THE ECC: Milford has clinched at least a share of its first-ever ECC Championship in football and first at the school since 1986. An Eagles’ win on Friday night will give them an outright league crown, while a West Clermont win and an Anderson win will force a three-way championship.
The Week 10 ECC schedule includes: West Clermont at Milford, Anderson at Walnut Hills, Kings at Withrow and Loveland at Turpin.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: A look at Milford’s statistical leaders:
Rushing Yards: Cameron Kells (466)
Passing Yards: Blake King (1,886)
Receiving Yards: Dylan Hughes (564)
Tackles: Bryce Dugan (98)
Sacks: Bryce Dugan (6.0)
Interceptions: Evan Baugh (3), Adam Bartrum/Luken Dalessandro/Bryce Dugan/Dustin Laudermilk (1)
Kickoff Return Yards: Evan Baugh (312)
Punting Average: Robbie McQueary (39.2)
Punt Return Yards: Evan Baugh (204)
POLL WATCH: The win over Anderson pushed the Eagles up one spot in the latest Cincinnati Enquirer Division I area coaches’ poll. St. Xavier retains the top spot again this week with seven of the eight first place votes cast. No. 2 Colerain earned the other top nod with Elder, Mason and Sycamore completing the top-five. West Clermont of the ECC is ranked 10th this week.
In Division II, Anderson slips to No. 3 after losing to Milford. The final four spots in the top-10 all belong to ECC members with Kings, Turpin, Loveland and Withrow holding the spots. The coaches’ poll is released every Monday at Noon at preps.cincinnati.com/coachespolls.
PLAYOFFS? PLAYOFFS?: The next to last 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. Milford continues to find favor with the computers this week, jumping all the way up to No. 3 slot in the region after last week’s win at Anderson. The current top-eight in Region 4 by ranking are: St. Xavier, Colerain, Milford, Sycamore, Mason, Elder, Moeller and Fairfield. West Clermont is just outside a qualifying position in ninth.
In the Division II, Region 8 rankings, of which much of the ECC resides, Anderson in third is the only squad among the top-12.
DÉJÀ VU ALL OVER AGAIN: Two of Milford’s eight victories this season have been decided in the latter stages of the fourth quarter and both times senior QB Blake King and junior RB Cameron Kells have hooked up for the winning score. In the season-opening 42-39 win over Oak Hills, King found Kells from four yards out with just 13 seconds remaining to steal the win. In Week 9, the duo did it again, this time from eight yards out with 2:55 to play to secure a 41-40 win over Anderson. The irony of each play was the same winning play call on both occasions.
WHAT A SEASON: The first season under head coach Tom Grippa has included some major highlights including a win in the Skyline Chili Crosstown Showdown, the reclaiming of the Miami Township Victory Bell and long awaited wins over league foes Turpin and Kings. The victory over the Knights was especially big as it improved the Eagles’ season record to 6-1, clinching the first winning season by a Milford football team since 2000. Perhaps the biggest win, however came in Week 9 when the Eagles clinched at least a share of the 2017 ECC Championship with a thrilling victory over state-ranked Anderson.
“SPECIAL” TEAMS: Among the many positives to the start of the 2017 season for the Eagles has been the exception play of its special teams. Milford’s return teams have been game-changing, while the kick block squad has also made an impact. A look at some of the special teams highlights to date by game:
WHAT A DEBUT: When head coach Tom Grippa arrived in Milford, he did so with a reputation for favoring a high-octane offense and he wasted no time in unleashing it in the opener against Oak Hills. Against the Highlanders, Blake King (295 yards passing) and Jake Ayler (160 yards receiving) posted the best individual performances by a Milford player in those categories in at least a decade. King also did damage with his legs, becoming the first Milford player since Chase Witte last season to score four touchdowns.
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!