It’s homecoming at Anderson and the Blitz 5 Game of the Week crew is there to check out all the festivities. The visiting Milford Eagles aspire to play spoiler and end their current three-game losing streak. Ending the skid won’t be easy as the red-hot Raptors are looking for their 22nd consecutive regular season win.
MILFORD EAGLES (1-4, 1-3) at #3 ANDERSON RAPTORS (5-0, 4-0)
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m.
Paul Brown Stadium
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PLAYERS TO WATCH: The Milford offense is led by Jayden Bodley. The junior has thrown for 800 yards and accounted for 11 touchdowns (eight pass, three rush). Classmate Joey Dahmer has 26 receptions for 357 yards and seven touchdowns.
Senior Jake Dixon and Sione Lolo pace the Eagles defense. Dixon is averaging 14.0 tackles per game and has forced two fumbles. Lolo has a team high 7.5 tackles for losses.
Anderson junior Owen Scalf is off to a hot start with 1,722 yards and 18 touchdowns passing (only three interceptions). His classmates Tysin Weaver and Tegan Jallick are Scalf’s top two targets. Weaver has 31 receptions for 467 yards and 10 touchdowns. Jallick has caught 27 balls for 400 yards and five scores.
Raptors linebacker Brady Kuhn, an Air Force commit, has been a beast. The senior leads the team with 47 tackles, 3.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for losses.
TEAM TRENDS: Milford is only averaging 48.8 yards per game rushing and 3.0 yards per carry. The Eagles are putting up 19.2 points per contest. The Eagles defense is allowing 348.0 yards per game.
The Anderson offense is averaging 491.6 yards of total offense and 49.0 points per game (393.0 passing), with 31 touchdowns (20 pass, 11 rush). The Raptors defense has been stellar against both the run and the pass. The unit is allowing 101.8 yards and 3.0 yards per carry rushing. Opponents are completing just 46.0% of their passes, averaging pn;y 70.8 yards with just one touchdown passing against Anderson.
HEAD COACHES:
Milford: Tom Grippa (56-37 at Milford, ninth year; 230-138 overall, 35th year)
Anderson: Evan Dreyer (90-28 at Anderson, 10th year; 134-55 overall, 17th year)
PLAYOFF HISTORY:
Milford (eight appearances, 4-8) – 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2018, 2017, 1986
Anderson (17 appearances, 30-16) – 2024 (State Runner-up), 2023 (Regional Champion), 2022, 2021, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2009, 2008 (State Runner-up), 2007 (State Champion), 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1996, 1994, 1992
MILFORD’S KEYS TO VICTORY: The Eagles are going to have to be ultra-focused. They can’t afford to make any mistakes. Milford needs to establish the run early and keep the high-powered Anderson off the field as long as possible. The fewer the possessions, the better the chances for a potential win.
ANDERSON’S KEYS TO VICTORY: Stay true to who you are and not turn the ball over. Getting out to a quick two touchdown lead will put immense pressure on Milford.
Prediction: Anderson 42, Milford 7
