Milford rallied from a 27-point hole in the third quarter but could not complete the comeback, falling 39-29 to No. 17 Lebanon at VanDeGrift Stadium on Friday, Oct. 2.

Lebanon running back Logan Schmenk powered the Warriors' offense with 30 carries for 256 yards and two touchdowns, according to WLWT. He averaged 8.5 yards per carry.

The Eagles trailed 8-0 before sophomore quarterback Aiden Wehrum scored on a quarterback power run with 10:17 left in the second quarter. The play pulled Milford within 8-6 after a failed two-point conversion, according to the Milford Athletics game account on X.

Lebanon stretched the lead to 33-6 by the third quarter. Wehrum and receiver Caylob Brasington connected for a touchdown that trimmed it to 33-14. Then Wehrum hit Cam Barbro on a goal-line play as time expired in the third, and the Eagles trailed 39-21 after Lebanon tacked on another score between the two Milford touchdowns.

Barbro scored again in the fourth quarter. A successful two-point conversion pulled Milford within 39-29 with about 8:30 left.

Senior safety Jayden Bodley gave the Eagles one more shot. He delivered a hit and pass breakup that forced a fourth down, giving Milford the ball back with 4:53 remaining.

Wehrum scrambled out of a sack to extend a play, and receiver Reed Deniston hauled in a catch on fourth-and-20 to keep the final drive alive.

@milford_eagles: "A CLUTCH reception from #17 Reed Deniston on 4TH & 20 to keep your Eagles in the game"

Milford could not punch it in.

Deniston had also kept a first-half drive alive with a one-handed catch on third down.

The loss is the Eagles' fifth straight. Milford fell to West Clermont on a final-play score Sept. 18 and lost 58-14 to Anderson on Sept. 25. Through Week 5, the Clermont Sun reported Wehrum ranked second in the Eastern Cincinnati Conference in passing yards with 947 and led the league with 13 touchdown passes against one interception.

Head coach Tom Grippa's squad hosts Kings for Homecoming at Eagle Stadium on Friday, Oct. 9, at 7 p.m., according to Milford Schools. Through Week 5, the Clermont Sun reported Milford tied for 16th in the Division I, Region 4 computer rankings. The top 12 teams qualify for the OHSAA playoffs.