SETTING THE SCENE: Winners of 13 consecutive regular season contests, Milford takes to the road, while also diving into the nine-week Eastern Cincinnati Conference grind when it travels to Walnut Hills for Week 2 action. MHS is coming off a convincing 33-3 win over Edgewood last week, while Walnut broke a 27-game losing streak with a 30-8 triumph over Western Hills. Milford has won the last four match-ups between the squads, including a 41-7 Homecoming victory during Week 7 of the 2023 campaign.
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The match-up by the numbers
A look at the Milford-Walnut Hills match-up by the numbers (per game averages & conference team rankings):
§ Milford scoring offense (3rd-33.0) vs. Walnut Hills scoring defense (5th-8.0)
§ Milford total offense (5th-369.0) vs. Walnut Hills total defense (5th-167.0)
§ Milford rushing offense (6th-105.0) vs. Walnut Hills rushing defense (6th-78.0)
§ Milford passing offense (3rd-264.0) vs. Walnut Hills passing defense (6th-89.0)
§ Walnut Hills scoring offense (5th-30.0) vs. Milford scoring defense (1st-3.0)
§ Walnut Hills total offense (6th-335.0) vs. Milford total defense (3rd-134.0)
§ Walnut Hills rushing offense (4th-156.0) vs. Milford rushing defense (2nd-53.0)
· Walnut Hills passing offense (6th-179.0) vs. Milford passing defense (5th-81.0)
A look at Milford’s statistical leaders:
Rushing Yards: Jordan Davis (81, 0 TDs)
Passing Yards: Luke Brand (2644, 4 TDs)
Receiving Yards: Caden Bailey (155, 3 TDs)
Tackles: Christian Felix (10)
Sacks: Jake Dixon (1.0)
Interceptions: None
Kicking Points: Mason Cooper (3)
Punting Average: Tyler McQueen (35.0)
Kickoff Return Yards: Jensen Davis (24, 0 TDs)
Punt Return Yards: Tim Dick (6, 0 TDs)
A look at Walnut Hills’ statistical leaders:
Rushing Yards: Ty Austin (124, 1 TD)
Passing Yards: Will Rivers (179, 3 TDs)
Receiving Yards: Mark Bronso (66, 1 TD)
Tackles: Jared Ross (11)
Sacks: Three tied (1.0)
Interceptions: None
Kicking Points: Colin Ross (4)
Punting Average: None
Kickoff Return Yards: Mark Bronson (14, 0 TDs)
Punt Return Yards: Christian Parker-Rowe (15, 0 TDs)
Notable 2024 Performances
Week 1
· New returnees on offense and a defensive newcomer all played important roles in Milford's season-opening win over Edgewood. Senior QB Luke Brand picked up where he left off last fall, completing 17-of-22 passes for 264 yards and four touchdowns, while adding a fifth score rushing. His favorite target was classmate Caden Bailey who finished with 10 catches for 155 yards and three touchdowns. On defense, junior Jake Dixon made his first start at LB a good one, as he finished with nine tackles and his first career sack.
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.