Scarlet Hawks hope to be battle tested for postseason

By Chris Villani

This fall, the Milford High football team will face one of its toughest schedules in recent memory, with a run of upper division foes on deck that Head Coach Dale Olson is hoping will put his team in a strong position by the end of the year.

“We always have high expectations,” Olson said. “Ever since I took the job six years ago, we’ve wanted to compete against the best.”

While Milford competes in Division III when it comes to the state playoffs, most of its opponents this season are in either Division I or II. In addition to number two ranked King Philip and top-20 foe Franklin in the league, Milford will face Leominster, Wellesley, Natick, and Barnstable in a schedule loaded with ranked teams.

“We are going to be challenged,” Olson said. “I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

Despite lower-than-normal numbers across the program, Olson said he was pleased with the way his team played during the preseason ahead of the season-opener against Westfield. 

The Scarlet Hawks’ captains for the 2025 season are Riley Burns, Dylan Burns, Jason Stokes, and Joey McGee. Riley Burns is a 6-foot-5 tackle with half a dozen college offers. Dylan Burns, a tight end and inside linebacker, is a player his coach described as “high motor.” Stokes will be one of MHS’ playmakers as a wide receiver and running back.

“He is one of the best players in the Hockomock League,” Olson said. “He is another really good athlete who is going to end up playing college football.”

Olson said McGee is unlikely to play this year due to an injury suffered during the baseball season. McGee had been slated to be the quarterback. With his injury, Milford turns to sophomore Vincent Loscerbo. He will have some help up front. Milford has a strong, experienced line.

“Most of our guys up front are back and have played a lot of football,” Olson said. “And they are good players.”

Milford finished .500 last year with a similarly difficult schedule and advanced to the second round of the postseason. Olson is hoping his team will be primed for a deeper run this fall after a tough regular season.

He said, “Division III is harder this year with King Philip moving down and Barnstable moving down, but our schedule prepares us to go play in the DIII playoffs, if we can get through the gauntlet and make it.”