Scarlet Hawks bring back skilled roster from sectional finalist

By Chris Villani

Milford High School’s football team is looking for another strong campaign despite graduating a talented senior class last year, and head coach Dale Olson is happy with what he has seen from his team so far.

“We are looking good,” Olson said. “We graduated some good kids, but I think the program is just reloading every year.”

Milford’s preparation for the new season started early with a pair of camps, one at Nipmuc and one at the University of New England in Maine.

“We had a great offseason,” Olson said. “Our numbers are a little bit down but the guys we are going to put on the field this year at the varsity level are very good football players.”

Keith Lee, a two-year captain and three-year starter, is one of the team’s leaders this fall. He will move back to center for his final season after starting at guard on the offensive line last year, and will anchor the defensive line as the nose tackle.

Lee is one of several experienced linemen the Scarlet Hawks will feature. Tony Dew, another senior, is a returning starter at guard. Oliver McKee, another captain, is a veteran tackle.

“We have a lot of good linemen,” Olson said.

Milford will have plenty of experience at its skill positions as well. Senior captain Nick Araujo will play running back and linebacker and will once again be the team’s place kicker.

“He is a very good football player,” Olson said. “It looks like he is going to get an opportunity to kick in college at the Division I level.”

Aidan Watson returns in the secondary as a senior, while CJ Farrell is back after starting all 12 games as a freshman and Andre Rivera returns after playing every game last year at outside linebacker as a sophomore. Milford does enter the season with a question at the quarterback position; Olson said both Owen Callahan and Jack Buckley will have a chance to earn the spot.

“We have some talented kids,” the coach said. “Owen and Jack are going to battle it out to see who it’s going to be.”

Whoever gets the nod will be facing a tough slate that includes non-league games against Natick, Wellesley, and Bridgewater-Raynham as well as Hockomock League powers like Franklin, Attleboro, North Attleboro, and King Phillip. 

“There is no easy night in our schedule,” Olson said.