A back-and-forth battle ended in disappointment for Milford as Turpin scored the game-winning touchdown with just under three minutes remaining to pull out a 24-21 win over the Eagles in the regular season finale for both squads. The Eagles were able to overcome a 17-7 halftime deficit to take an early fourth quarter lead, but couldn’t hold on against a pass-happy Spartan offense.

The Eagles (4-6, 3-6 ECC) actually got the ball back twice after the go-ahead Turpin (3-7, 3-6 ECC) score but couldn’t find the game-winning magic. The first series resulted in a turnover on downs, while the second wrapped on a game-ending sack of QB Luke Brand. Milford actually got near midfield with one play remaining, before Brody Nickerson’s third sack of the game ended the affair.

The defeat overshadowed a second straight big game for Brand who finished 23 of 43 passing for a season-high 310 yards and two touchdowns. Carter Ings hauled in both of the TD tosses, finishing with 167 yards on eight catches.

While the Milford offense put up 363 total yards, a Turpin offense led by record-setting QB Devan Nigam put up 386. On a night he became Turpin’s all-time leading passer, Nigam was 17 of 29 for 250 yards and three touchdowns. He was intercepted three times, including twice by first-time defensive starter David Kittrell.

The Eagles would open the night moving the ball into Turpin territory only to come up short on a fourth and six attempt. Turpin answered with a field goal and after another defensive stop, Nigam connected on his first touchdown of the night to give the Spartans a 10-0 lead after one quarter.

Milford finally got on the board exactly halfway through the second quarter when Brand rushed in from three yards out to cap a 10-play, 80-yard scoring drive. The big play of the series belonged to Ings who hauled in a 43-yard reception to inside the Turpin 20-yard line.

Turpin proved undeterred by the Milford score however as they used a 10-play, 71-yard march to take a 17-7 lead with a minute remaining following a short Nigam TD pass.

It took until about midway through the third quarter until the next big play arrived and it was Kittrell trying to give Milford the momentum. Forced into action at defensive back, Kittrell stepped in front of a Nigam throw at the Turpin 23-yard line and appeared headed for the end zone when he was hit and fumbled at the Spartan four. Turpin was able to recover, but just three plays later, Isaiah Carranza matched Kittrell with a pick to hand the ball back to Milford.

A quick Brand to Ings 20-yard reception got Milford humming, but on a night when the Eagles went three of 12 on third-down conversions and one of five on fourth-down tries, the latter happened inside the Turpin 20. The Eagles would continue to battle though, and after a Turpin punt, Brand found Ings on a quick slant route for a 46-yard scoring catch and run with 37 seconds to play in the third. Heading into the fourth the Eagles trailed just 17-14.

Milford’s first drive of the fourth was another good one and ultimately pushed them in front for the first and only time of the night. With just over nine minutes remaining, Brand used an inside flip pass to Ings for another TD connection, this time from seven yards out.

But like they had all night, Nigam and the Spartans responded, with time chewing over six minutes off the clock on a game-winning 14-play, 78-yard drive that ended with 2:59 on the clock. This time, Nigam connected with Evan Overholser for a nine-yard touchdown pass.

Milford Athletics

2024-2025 Varsity Football

Fri, Aug 23 vs. Edgewood High School FALL SPORTS NIGHT W 33-3 Milford Eagle Stadium Powered By Cullen Electric

Fri, Aug 30 at Walnut Hills High School * W 38-0 Walnut Hills High School

Fri, Sep 06 at Winton Woods High School * L 3-22 Winton Woods High School

Fri, Sep 13 vs. Loveland High School * HOMECOMING W 19-12 Milford Eagle Stadium Powered By Cullen Electric

Fri, Sep 20 at West Clermont High School * L 21-49 West Clermont High School

Sat, Sep 28 vs. Anderson High School * L 6-57 Milford Eagle Stadium Powered By Cullen Electric

Fri, Oct 04 at Lebanon High School * L 16-22 Lebanon Junior High School

Fri, Oct 11 vs. Kings High School * JUNIOR HIGH NIGHT L 0-45 Milford Eagle Stadium Powered By Cullen Electric

Fri, Oct 18 vs. Little Miami High School * SENIOR NIGHT W 42-7 Milford Eagle Stadium Powered By Cullen Electric

Fri, Oct 25 at Turpin High School * L 21-24 Turpin High School

Fri, Nov 01 at St. Xavier High School OHSAA Playoffs L 0-41 St. Xavier High School