SETTING THE SCENE: The dawn of the 2025 high school football season has arrived and with it a Week 1 trek to an old foe for the Milford Eagles. Withrow High, a member of the ECC from 2014-2019, will serve as host for the Eagles ninth season under head coach Tom Grippa. A bevy of new faces will lead the Eagles into the new year. Returning veterans include CB Isaiah Caranza, WR Joey Dahmer, RB/LB Jake Dixon, WR/DB David Kittrell, OL Spencer Larkin and OL/DL Sione Lolo. Junior Jayden Bodley will assume the controls of Eagle offense at QB. Milford will be out to extend its Week 1 winning streak to six consecutive seasons.
Click here for full preview.
The match-up by the numbers
A look at the Milford-Withrow match-up by the numbers (2024 per game averages & conference team rankings):
§ Milford scoring offense (8th-18.1) vs. Withrow scoring defense (N/A)
§ Milford total offense (7th-271.7) vs. Withrow total defense (N/A)
§ Milford rushing offense (6th-81.8) vs. Withrow rushing defense (N/A)
§ Milford passing offense (3rd-189.9) vs. Withrow passing defense (N/A)
§ Withrow scoring offense (N/A) vs. Milford scoring defense (7th-25.6)
§ Withrow total offense (N/A) vs. Milford total defense (5th-302.3)
§ Withrow rushing offense (N/A) vs. Milford rushing defense (5th-139.8)
· Withrow passing offense (N/A) vs. Milford passing defense (5th-162.5)
A look at Milford’s returning statistical leaders:
Rushing Yards: Jackson Hopkins (22, 0 TDs)
Passing Yards: Jayden Bodley (96, 0 TDs)
Receiving Yards: Jensen Davis (263, 0 TDs)
Tackles: Jake Dixon (105)
Sacks: Jake Dixon (3.0)
Interceptions: Isaiah Carranza/David Kittrell (2)
Kicking Points: Tyler McQueen (3)
Punting Average: Tyler McQueen (34.3)
Kickoff Return Yards: Jensen Davis (133, 0 TDs)
Punt Return Yards: None
A look at Withrow’s returning statistical leaders:
Rushing Yards: Sa’Vion Davis (193, 3 TDs)
Passing Yards: Sa’Vion Davis (507, 5 TDs)
Receiving Yards: Charles Alexander, Jr. (114, 0 TDs)
Tackles: Christion Browner (46)
Sacks: Jamier Bryant (2.0)
Interceptions: Javion Achoe/Dantrell Moses (2)
Kicking Points: None
Punting Average: None
Kickoff Return Yards: N/A
Punt Return Yards: N/A
Notable 2024 Performances by 2025 Returnees
Week 1
· In the season-opener against Edgewood, Jake Dixon made his first start at LB a good one, as he finished with nine tackles and his first career sack.
Week 4
· In Milford's victory in the Skyline Chili Crosstown Showdown against Loveland, Sione Lolo played the entire game on the offensive line, along with several plays on defense as well. He finished with four tackles and one half sack. Punter Tyler McQueen was outstanding on special teams, averaging 47 yards per kick on his three punts with a long of 50.
Week 7
· LB Jake Dixon paced the defense with a career-high 15 tackles, marking the third time this season he’s reached double digit stops in a game in the Eagles' heartbreaking loss to Lebanon.
Week 10
· David Kittrell had a big performance in the Eagles' regular season finale against Turpin. Forced into action as a defensive back for the first time this season, responded with a pair of interceptions along with six tackles. He also played snaps on offense, adding a pair of catches for 11 yards.
Preseason Notebook
Dahmer recognized
Cincinnati.com increased its preseason coverage of local high school football, identifying top players in the Tri-State by position. Junior WR Joey Dahmer was tabbed as one of the publication’s wide receivers to watch this fall.
Caranza, Dixon nominated
Keeping with its annual tradition, Tristatefootball.com released its annual preseason team. While no Eagles made the final voted teams, senior DB Isaiah Caranza and senior LB Jake Dixon were both nominees.