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Preview: West Clermont at #5 Milford

The Milford offensive line (photo by: Andrew Sichak / X: @photo_varsity)

The Blitz 5 Game of the Week tour is northeast to catch some of that Milford
mojo. The Eagles are 8-0 for just the second time in program history. The only
other time it happened was 66 years ago in 1957. Clermont County rival, West
Clermont looks to rain on its ECC rival’s parade. The visiting Wolves are going to
be bringing a big crowd to support the school’s upset aspirations.

WEST CLERMONT WOLVES (3-5, 3-4) at #5 MILFORD EAGLES (8-0, 7-0)
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m.
Milford Stadium
Follow on X: @TSFootball

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Hayden Jones is one of the rising stars in the ECC. The West
Clermont junior has 494 all-purpose yards and been in on 21 total tackles.
Promising sophomore Caillou Robinson leads the Wolves with 51 total tackles and
four sacks. Senior Carter Lucas has a team best six tackles for losses.

Tofa Luani is the poster boy for what Milford represents, offensively and
defensively. The senior epitomizes the Eagles toughness and determination on
both sides of the ball. He leads the team with 10.0 tackles for losses, has 51 total
tackles, three-and-a-half sacks, an interception as well as nine rushing
touchdowns on just 18 carries. Luani’s classmates Ashton Warther, Reece Davis
and JP Naylor have combined for 111 receptions, 1,568 yards receiving and 10
touchdown catches. Junior quarterback Luke Brand has been sensational getting
them the ball, throwing for 1,911 yards with 12 touchdowns passes, three rushing
scores and only two interceptions. Running back Nathan Webster has been a
workhorse with team highs of 777 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground.

TEAM TRENDS: The offense has gone south for West Clermont. The Wolves
averaged 31.5 points in their first four tilts of the season. They have averaged just
9.0 points per contest in their last four outings. They only have three offensive
touchdowns with a minus-seven turnover ratio in that span.

Milford has already clinched a top four seed in the playoffs with two weeks left in
the regular season. That means if the Eagles win their first-round home playoff
game they will host a second-round battle. They could be on campus for the next
four Friday nights. The defense has been stellar the last three weeks for Milford allowing just seven points with two shutouts. The Eagles offense has topped the 40-point mark five times.

HEAD COACHES:
West Clermont: Bill Leach (interim)

Milford: Tom Grippa (48-25 at Milford, seventh year; 223-124 overall, 32nd year)

PLAYOFF HISTORY:
West Clermont (four appearances, 0-4) – 2022, 2021, 2020, 2017

Milford (six appearances, 3-6) – 2022, 2021, 2020, 2018, 2017, 1986

WEST CLERMONT’S KEYS TO VICTORY: The offense will need to keep the chains
moving. The longer that the Wolves can keep the potent Milford offense off of
the field the more they enhance their opportunities to win the game.

MILFORD’S KEYS TO VICTORY: The Eagles must avoid the “let down” game. After
a big mentally and physically draining win last week over Winton Woods, Milford
must bring the same intensity on Friday night. An unbeaten regular season should
be more than enough to motivate this squad the last two games.

Prediction: Milford 35, West Clermont 10

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