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Milford shocks Anderson 41-40

CINCINNATI,Ohio – Last season, some would have said this sounded crazy: the Milford Eagles are the 2017 Eastern Cincinnati Conference football champions. Believe it or not, it is a likely possibility with one regular season game left.

“I just want to be ECC champs,” said Milford head coach Tom Grippa.

Grippa inherited a 2-8 football team this season in his first year as head coach of Milford. However, he had them going into their game against the 8-0 Anderson Redskins on Friday with a 7-1 record and undefeated conference record. The winner of the matchup would claim first place in the ECC.

In the beginning, it looked as if it was going to be all Anderson. The Redskins jumped out to a 28-7 lead with 5:51 remaining in the second quarter after running back Kyle Blaha and quarterback Jay Volpenhein scored two touchdowns each.

Milford was not going to just lay down and let Anderson get the easy win, though.

The Eagles scored twice before halftime, both coming within a minute of each other, to cut their deficit to seven points when they went into the locker room. The big, momentum changing play came when linebacker Bryce Dugan picked off Volpenhein and returned it to the end zone for six.

“[Dugan] is ECC Defensive Player of the Year, no doubt about it,” Grippa said.

The third quarter started sloppy for both teams. After a Milford punt on the opening possession, the Eagles and Redskins traded three straight turnovers. They also traded touchdowns, though, as the score was 34-28 heading into the fourth quarter.

The fourth is where the game started getting interesting.

With 8:55 remaining in the game, Milford claimed their first lead of the night, 35-34, on a nine-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Blake King to wide receiver Sam Pickett.

Less than three minutes later, Anderson responded. Volpenhein found wide receiver Austin Watt for the third time in the game, reclaiming a 40-35 lead over Milford.

However, the game did not end there. Milford then trimmed 4:27 off the clock and took the lead once more on another King touchdown pass. The Eagles led 41-40 with only 2:55 remaining.

Anderson had one more opportunity to earn the win, but Milford’s defense stopped them on fourth down at the 20-yard line with only 31 seconds left, securing the win.

“We’ve worked really hard for this,” Grippa said. “I’m so proud to be a part of it, I’m honored, actually to be a part of this.”

A big factor in the win was Milford’s defense forcing Volpenhein into three interceptions. Volpenhein had only thrown six interceptions all year prior to meeting the Eagles.

“We had a unique game plan,” Grippa said. “I give credit to [my son.] My son Jimmy’s my defensive coordinator, how cool is that?”

Volpenhein finished 31-for-47 passing for 341 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions.

On the other hand, Milford’s King three for 227 yards on 17-of-29 passing for two touchdowns and one interception. King also had two touchdowns on the ground.

“It felt great,” King said. “It’s the best feeling in the world right now, honestly,”

Milford is 8-1 with one game left against West Clermont on Oct. 27, coming after their eight-loss season in 2016.

“I can’t wait to see what’s in the future for us,” Grippa said. “Because our football program is only going to get better.”

If the Eagles defeat West Clermont, they will be outright 2017 ECC Champions.

“[We need to] just take care of business next week, have a good week of practice and go out in win,” King said.

 

A: 7-21-6-6-40

M: 7-14-7-13-41

 

A: Volpenhein 46-yard pass to Watt (Bushman kick good)

M: Kells 14-yard run (Coleman kick good)

A: Blaha two-yard run (Bushman kick good)

A: Volpenhein five-yard pass to Jones (Bushman kick failed)

A: Blaha seven-yard rush (Volpenhein run, two points)

M: King five-yard run (Coleman kick good)

M: Dugan 45-yard interception return

A: Volpenhein nine-yard pass to Watt (failed two-point)

M: King one-yard run (Coleman kick good)

M: King nine-yard pass to Pickett (Coleman kick good)

A: Volpenehein 16-yard pass to Watt (two-point failed)

M: King eight-yard pass to Kells (two-point failed)

 

RECORDS: Milford (8-1); Anderson (8-1)

UP NEXT: Milford vs. West Clermont (6-3); Anderson vs. Walnut Hills (3-6)

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