SETTING THE SCENE: An always entertaining rivalry will be renewed this week when Milford travels up I-71 to visit Lebanon. Both teams enter the contest 3-3 overall and part of a four-way tie for fifth in the Eastern Cincinnati Conference at 2-3. Each of the regular season match-ups since the schools became conference foes in 2020 has been decided by one touchdown or less including last year’s 34-29 Milford win. The Eagles, who have dropped back-to-back contests for the first time since 2021, will be looking to get back in the win column and avoid the program’s first three-game skid since the 2019 campaign. The Warriors have dropped three of their last four, including a 38-7 loss at Kings last week.
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The match-up by the numbers
A look at the Milford-Lebanon match-up by the numbers (per game averages & conference team rankings):
§ Milford scoring offense (5th-20.0) vs. Lebanon scoring defense (7th-24.0)
§ Milford total offense (4th-308.7) vs. Lebanon total defense (6th-267.2)
§ Milford rushing offense (6th-113.7) vs. Lebanon rushing defense (9th-146.8)
§ Milford passing offense (3rd-195.0) vs. Lebanon passing defense (5th-134.3)
§ Lebanon scoring offense (8th-16.7) vs. Milford scoring defense (6th-23.8)
§ Lebanon total offense (5th-292.8) vs. Milford total defense (7th-285.5)
§ Lebanon rushing offense (3rd-149.8) vs. Milford rushing defense (8th-144.3)
· Lebanon passing offense (6th-143.0) vs. Milford passing defense (6th-141.2)
A look at Milford’s statistical leaders:
Rushing Yards: Jordan Davis (489, 4 TDs)
Passing Yards: Luke Brand (1089, 9 TDs)
Receiving Yards: Caden Bailey (426, 7 TDs)
Tackles: Jake Dixon (53)
Sacks: Jake Dixon/Daniel Walker (2.0)
Interceptions: Isaiah Carranza/Tim Dick (1)
Kicking Points: Mason Cooper (18)
Punting Average: Tyler McQueen (36.2)
Kickoff Return Yards: Carter Ings (81, 0 TDs)
Punt Return Yards: Tim Dick (64, 0 TDs)
A look at Lebanon’s statistical leaders:
Rushing Yards: Daniel Wallace (514, 3 TDs)
Passing Yards: Luke Faler (826, 6 TDs)
Receiving Yards: Cam Williams (334, 1 TD)
Tackles: Hunter Davis (37)
Sacks: Regan Bonny (6.0)
Interceptions: Jake Sako (2)
Kicking Points: Logan Lane (20)
Punting Average: Logan Lane (31.4)
Kickoff Return Yards: Daniel Wallace (145, 0 TDs)
Punt Return Yards: Jacob Riehle (27, 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.
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.
Week 3
· Senior LB Christian Felix recorded his second double-figure tackles game of the season during week three against Winton Woods. Against the Warriors, Christian had a career-high 11 tackles, including one for loss.
Week 4
· Four Eagles turned in standout performances in Milford's victory in the Skyline Chili Crosstown Showdown. Senior DB Landon Gorton was the game's MVP in the best game of his career. While roaming the secondary and keeping Loveland in check, he finished with four tackles and a pass break-up. Up front, classmate Daniel Walker had one solo sack and two half sacks, among his nine total tackles. Junior Sione Lolo played the entire game on the offensive line, along with several plays on defense as well. He finished with four tackles and one half sack. Junior punter Tyler McQueen was outstanding on special teams, averaging 47 yards per kick on his three punts with a long of 50.
Week 5
· After beginning the year as a starter on defense, senior Carter Ings had team-highs seven receptions for 68 yards, including a long of 24 against West Clermont. Jordan Davis got loose for a career-high 147 rushing yards and a touchdown against the Wolves, while also catching a pass for 30 more yards. But two costly fumbles by the sophomore plagued the otherwise standout performance.
Week 6
· Senior Carter Ings once again showed his game-changing ability in Milford's game against Anderson. On just the second play of the game, he caught a short pass and outraced the defense for a 78-yard touchdown, the first of his career. Carter finished the game with 93 yards on just four catches and added 81 yards on four kickoff returns with a long of 29.
A Historic Win
Now in his eighth year at Milford, head coach Tom Grippa has led the Eagle program to new heights with two conference champions, seven playoff appearances (including the program’s first-ever playoff victory) and who came forget last season’s memorable undefeated regular season. Now, Grippa has another distinction as Milford’s win over Loveland on September 13 produced his 54th victory on the Eagle sideline, making him the winningest coach in program history. He passes Jim Prather who accumulated 53 wins from 1984-96.
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