SETTING THE SCENE: Off to a 2-0 start in which they’ve outscored opponents by a 71-3 count, Milford will face its toughest test to date when it travels to Winton Woods for a Week 3 showdown. The Eagles have been flying high this season, but will take on a stout Winton Woods defense featuring several Division I college recruits. The two squads will take to the same field that produced a dramatic 3-0 Milford victory just one season ago. The Eagles feature a balanced offense behind senior QB Luke Brand and sophomore RB Jordan Davis, while the defense is tops in the Eastern Cincinnati Conference, yielding just 1.5 points per game through two weeks.
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The match-up by the numbers
A look at the Milford-Winton Woods match-up by the numbers (per game averages & conference team rankings):
Milford scoring offense (2nd-35.5) vs. Winton Woods scoring defense (2nd-5.5)
Milford total offense (4th-409.5) vs. Winton Woods total defense (3rd-174.5)
Milford rushing offense (4th-156.5) vs. Winton Woods rushing defense (3rd-70.5)
Milford passing offense (3rd-253.0) vs. Winton Woods passing defense (4th-104.0)
Winton Woods scoring offense (6th-17.5) vs. Milford scoring defense (1st-1.5)
Winton Woods total offense (10th-110.5) vs. Milford total defense (4th-178.5)
Winton Woods rushing offense (7th-68.0) vs. Milford rushing defense (2nd-69.5)
Winton Woods passing offense (9th-42.5) vs. Milford passing defense (5th-109.0)
A look at Milford’s statistical leaders:
Rushing Yards: Jordan Davis (220, 2 TDs)
Passing Yards: Luke Brand (451, 6 TDs)
Receiving Yards: Caden Bailey (266, 5 TDs)
Tackles: Jake Dixon (15)
Sacks: Jake Dixon (1.0)
Interceptions: Tim Dick (1)
Kicking Points: Mason Cooper (11)
Punting Average: Tyler McQueen (35.0)
Kickoff Return Yards: Jensen Davis (24, 0 TDs)
Punt Return Yards: Carter Ings (31, 0 TDs)
A look at Winton Woods’ statistical leaders:
Rushing Yards: Tyler Gooding (644, 0 TDs)
Passing Yards: Bryshawn Brown (85, 1 TD)
Receiving Yards: Seaonta Stewart, Jr. (23, 1 TD)
Tackles: Landen Anderson (13)
Sacks: Four tied (2.0)
Interceptions: Landen Anderson (2)
Kicking Points: None
Punting Average: Bryshawn Brown (35.0)
Kickoff Return Yards: N/A
Punt Return Yards: N/A
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.
Week 2
• Sophomore Jordan Davis, along with seniors Tim Dick and Mason Cooper, played starring roles in the Eagles' week two shutout victory over Walnut Hills. In just his second varsity game, Jordan had his breakout offensive performance, finishing with 175 yards from scrimmage (139 rushing and 36 receiving), while scoring two touchdowns. Tim helped the defense to a shutout by forcing a pair of turnovers, first a fumble, then later snagging his first interception of the year. He also added a tackle for loss. Mason showed why he's one of the area's top kickers by connecting on all five extra points and booting his first field goal of the year, a 27-yarder. In kicking off seven times, Cooper recorded six touchbacks with the other being fielded at the one-yard line.
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.