SETTING THE SCENE: Milford, the defending Eastern Cincinnati Conference Champions, will open defense of its crown, will seeking a fifth straight season culminating in a playoff berth, when it kicks off its 2024 season in Week 1 against Edgewood. This marks the fourth straight campaign the Eagles and Cougars have matched up in the season-opener with Milford winning the first three by an average of nearly 33 points per game. The Eagles are led by record-setting, gun-slinging QB Luke Brand who threw for over 2,000 yards and 13 TDs during Milford’s magical 2023 season.
Click here to read full preview.
The match-up by the numbers
A look at the Milford-Edgewood match-up by the numbers (2023 per game averages & conference team rankings):
§ Milford scoring offense (2nd-34.6) vs. Edgewood scoring defense (9th-32.0)
§ Milford total offense (2nd-352.3) vs. Edgewood total defense (N/A)
§ Milford rushing offense (4th-138.3) vs. Edgewood rushing defense (N/A)
§ Milford passing offense (3rd-214.0) vs. Edgewood passing defense (N/A)
§ Edgewood scoring offense (6th-21.8) vs. Milford scoring defense (2nd-14.8)
§ Edgewood total offense (7th-283.9) vs. Milford total defense (3rd-266.3)
§ Edgewood rushing offense (7tht-195.2) vs. Milford rushing defense (2nd-79.4)
· Edgewood passing offense (7th-88.7) vs. Milford passing defense (4th-186.9)
A look at Milford’s returning statistical leaders:
Rushing Yards: Luke Brand (37, 3 TDs)
Passing Yards: Luke Brand (2049, 13 TDs)
Receiving Yards: Ethan Melgard (367, 4 TDs)
Tackles: Tim Dick (36)
Sacks: Christian Felix (2.0)
Interceptions: Tim Dick/Carter Ings/Daniel Walker (1)
Kicking Points: Mason Cooper (59)
Punting Average: None
Kickoff Return Yards: Caden Bailey (64, 0 TDs)
Punt Return Yards: Carter Ings (38, 0 TDs)
A look at Edgewood’s returning statistical leaders:
Rushing Yards: Kyle Franke (896, 11 TDs)
Passing Yards: Ryan French (972, 11 TDs)
Receiving Yards: Isaac Rosenfelder (219, 3 TDs)
Tackles: Roman Smith (50)
Sacks: Carter Smith/Corben Wiggins (3.0)
Interceptions: None
Kicking Points: None
Punting Average: None
Kickoff Return Yards: Miller Fall (135, 0 TDs)
Punt Return Yards: None
Notable 2023 Performances by 2024 Returnees
· Returning 2023 All-Eastern Cincinnati Conference selections: Luke Brand (2nd), Mason Cooper (HM)
Week 2
· In just his second start at QB, Luke Brand had a big night at Lebanon, connecting on three TD passes. He finished the night 20 of 37 for 240 yards passing.
· LB Christian Felix made his first big impact play of the season on defense against Lebanon with a sack/forced fumble that set up an Eagles' touchdown. He finished with three tackles on top of the strip sack.
Week 3
· Luke Brand had a record-setting performance in the Eagles' big win over rival Loveland. For the night, Brand set a Milford school record with 423 passing yards, connecting on 34 of 46 passes and a pair of touchdowns. He also added a pair of rushing touchdowns.
· K Mason Cooper connected on all seven of his extra point attempts, as well as his first career field goal, a 31-yard try against Loveland. He also kicked off a total of eight times with four resulting in touchbacks.
Week 5
· The Eagles improved to 5-0 with a win over Kings as QB Luke Brand was phenomenal under center once again for the Eagles, completing 22-of-28 passes for 356 yards and two touchdowns.
Week 7
· QB Luke Brand and WR Ethan Melgard, both played key roles in Milford's Homecoming win over Walnut Hills. Brand was outstanding once again, completing an efficient 14-of-19 passes for 224 yards and three touchdowns, while also adding a rushing touchdown. Melgard finished with a career-best 70 receiving yards on three catches, including a 33-yard touchdown.
Week 8
· Milford's huge ECC win over Winton Woods had many key performances, but K Mason Cooper, in a pressure-packed situation, connected on the only points of the night, a game-winning 22-yard field goal with just over two minutes to play.
Week 10
· Super sub Caden Bailey made the most of his first career start at quarterback, connecting on 18-of-29 passes for 239 yards and four touchdowns. He'd played extensively as a wide receiver entering Week 10.
One last look at 2023
Milford’s 2023 season was unlike any in school history. A quick look at the accomplishments:
· Completed the first perfect regular season at Milford since 1957, while setting school records for wins (11) and conference wins (9)
· Captured the school’s first outright league championship since 1986 and first in football since sharing the 2017 ECC crown
· Finished the regular season ranked #4 in Ohio in the AP poll
· Earned the No. 1 seed in the D1, Region 4 playoffs
Preseason Notebook
Honors galore
Cincinnati.com increased its preseason coverage of local high school football, identifying top players in the Tri-State by position. Milford was well-represented on the lists by the following key players:
• Senior Caden Bailey: on the radar WR
• Senior Luke Brand: #16 overall player and top QBs list
• Senior Mason Cooper: top special teams players list and receiving votes for the preseason All-Ohio team presented by USA Today
• Senior Tim Dick: on the radar DBs list
• Senior Carter Ings: on the radar DBs list
• Junior Sione Lolo: on the radar DL list and #24 player in the junior class locally
• Senior Ethan Melgard: on the radar WR list
• Senior Daniel Walker: top DL list
Nice to see you again
The Eagles’ roster received a boost in the off-season with the addition of sophomore RB Jordan Davis, a transfer from LaSalle High School. Davis attended junior high school in Milford, but spent his freshman year with the Lancers. He’ll don jersey #5, the same number that adorned Milford’s last two running backs, brothers Nathan and Natwan Webster. Nathan Webster rushed for 1,281 yards last year, after Natwan turned in seasons of 336, 774 and 904 from his sophomore through senior years.
Nice to see you again….part 2
Milford’s coaching staff saw the addition of two new, but familiar faces in the off-season as former Eagles Chase Witte and Austin Hardin came on-board. Witte (Class of ’17) played receiver, running back and quarterback as an Eagle before going on to a playing career at Case Western Reserve. He’ll assist with the wide receivers this fall.
Hardin (Class of ’23) spent a year playing at Otterbein after a record-setting run as Milford’s QB. He’ll work with the Eagle freshman this year.
The duo join Andrew Johnson (Class of ’17) as recent Milford grads on staff. Johnson played collegiately at the University of Sioux Falls and will mentor the Eagle offensive line again this year.