SETTING THE SCENE: The Milford High School football team will kick off the 2016 season in a big way as the Eagles will Hamilton in a game included in the annual Skyline Crosstown Showdown on Friday night (Aug. 26). Kickoff from Eagles Stadium is set for 7 p.m. The two teams, who have opened the last three seasons as Week 1 opponents, each finished last season 4-6 and will be striving for improvement and higher finishes in their respective conferences this year. The Eagles, under the leadership of seventh-year head coach Shane Elkin, return six all-conference selections from a year ago.
A LOOK AT THE EAGLES: The Eagles are poised to continue the steady improvement it has enjoyed over the last several years due in part to the return of several key playmakers on both sides of the ball. The Milford offensive line figures to be a team strength this year and is anchored by senior left tackle Andrew Johnson. Johnson and his mates up front will be paving the way for the talented backfield duo of quarterback Tyler Smith and running back Dawson Slone. Both were second team All-Eastern Cincinnati Conference selections a year ago in each player’s first full varsity season. Smith’s favorite targets figure to be senior wideout Max Brewer and junior tight end Dax Creager who came on strong throughout 2015. On defense, the hard-hitting linebacker duo of Eric Richey and Hayden Sluder will be the anchors. Speedy defensive back Chase Witte, also a dangerous return man for the Eagles is also back in action in 2016.
A LOOK AT THE OPPONENT: A look at Hamilton, Milford’s 2016 Week 1 opponent:
- Friday, Aug. 26 vs. Hamilton, 7:00 p.m.
- 2015 Record: 4-6, 3-4 GMC (10th Division I area coaches’ preseason poll)
- Top Returning Offensive Player: Senior WR Vince Sanford (1st team All-GMC 2015; 662 yards receiving, 7 TDs)
- Top Returning Defensive Player: Junior DL Jason Smith (2nd team All-GMC 2015)
- Last Meeting: 2015; Hamilton 34, Milford 14
- Capsule look at the Big Blue: After entering last season having dropped 19 consecutive games, Hamilton seemed to turn the corner last season, finishing 4-6 and 3-4 in the tough Greater Miami Conference. The Big Blue return four All-GMC selections from a year ago.
THE MATCH-UP: A look at the Milford-Hamilton match-up by the numbers (2015 per game averages with conference team rankings):
- Milford scoring offense (5th-21.5) vs. Hamilton scoring defense (7th-25.0)
- Milford total offense (5th-305.9) vs. Hamilton total defense (9th-370.2)
- Milford rushing offense (4th-183.6) vs. Hamilton rushing defense (9th-230.5)
- Milford passing offense (6th-122.3) vs. Hamilton passing defense (6th-139.7)
- Hamilton scoring offense (6th-25.4) vs. Milford scoring defense (6th-27.9)
- Hamilton total offense (2nd-386.8) vs. Milford total defense (7th-383.6)
- Hamilton rushing offense (8th-148.6) vs. Milford rushing defense (6th-209.3)
- Hamilton passing offense (2nd-238.2) vs. Milford passing defense (7th-174.3)
INSIDE THE ECC: The battle for the 2016 ECC Championship should be another battle to the conclusion of Week 10 as several squads will be vying for the crown. Last season’s co-champions, Kings (6-1) and Turpin (6-1) both should be back in the thick of the race again this year. Loveland (5-2), who started last season slow, but finished strong will also be in the thick, along with the final squad ever to come out of Glen Este High School (5-2). The balance of final conference standings from 2015 includes Withrow (3-4), Milford (2-5), Anderson (1-6) and Walnut Hills (0-7).
The Week 1 ECC schedule includes: Hamilton at Milford, Glen Este at Princeton, Lebanon at Kings, Loveland at Lakota East, Woodward at Walnut Hills, Anderson at Fenwick and Withrow at Dunbar.
Milford final team rankings within the ECC in 2015: points per game-offense (5th-21.5), total yards per game-offense (5th-305.9), rushing yards per game-offense (4th-183.6), passing yards per game-offense (6th-122.3), points per game-defense (6th-27.9), total yards per game-defense (7th-383.6), rushing yards per game-defense (6th-209.3), passing yards per game-defense (7th-174.3).
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: A look at Milford’s top returning statistical leaders:
Rushing Yards: Dawson Slone (788)
Passing Yards: Tyler Smith (1182)
Receiving Yards: Max Brewer (209)
Tackles: Eric Richey (80)
Sacks: Bryce Dugan/Eric Richey (2.5)
Interceptions: Evan Baugh/Bryce Dugan (1)
Kickoff Return Yards: Chase Witte (401)
Punting Average: Tyler Smith (42.9)
Punt Return Yards: Chase Witte (112)
POLL WATCH: The preseason coaches’ poll for area Division I squads was recently released and Colerain with all three first place votes was the unanimous top team. The GCL South is well represented among the leaders with St. Xavier, Elder and Moeller comprising positions two through four. Mason rounds out the top-five, while Milford did not receive any votes in this poll. All seven of the other ECC squads are represented in the Division II rankings, headlined by second-place Kings, who received one first place vote. The other ECC rankings include Turpin (3rd), Loveland (5th), Anderson and Glen Este (tied-6th), Walnut Hills (9th) and Withrow (others receiving votes). The coaches’ poll is released every Monday at Noon at preps.cincinnati.com/coachespolls.
ON THE TUBE: Local cable access channel ICRC-TV will broadcast a pair of Milford home contests involving this fall for tape-delayed replay. The first of the two scheduled games is against Norwood on Sept. 9, with cameras returning for the Oct. 21 match-up vs. Anderson.
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!