Scarlet Hawks eyeing a deep postseason run

The Milford High football team won all three of its games in September, including a last-second field goal to beat King Philip for the first time in six years. Head coach Dale Olson is pleased with how his team looked through the first month.

“The kids are playing well,” Olson said. “King Philip graduated a lot from last season, but they are still a very good program, and we were able to beat them.”

Milford also knocked off Framingham and Natick during the first month, buoyed by strong offensive performances. Senior skill player Eli Rosenberg has been particularly impactful with seven touchdowns through the first three games.

“He is one of our best skill kids,” Olson said. “He has touchdowns through the air, some on the ground. He has been our most dynamic kid overall.”

Another senior captain, quarterback Vince Loscerbo, tossed eight touchdown passes in helping the Scarlet Hawks to their 3-0 start.

“He is playing at a high level,” Olson said.

On defense, linebacker Wanderson Dos Santos led the team in tackles through the early part of the season. Up front, 6-foot-5 tackle John Raney is an anchor for Milford on both sides of the line. Jaxson Finnimore, a wideout and defensive back, and Adam Tourtellot, a two-way linemen, are two more players that Olson said have been integral to the team’s success.

Olson said athleticism and physicality are two of Milford’s biggest strengths. One challenge has been working with a relatively young team.

“We only start three seniors, we have five sophomores, and the rest are juniors,” he said. “So it’s about getting the younger guys, who don’t have a lot of game experience, it’s about getting them up to speed on how we do things, and what a Friday night looks like.”

Olson added, “It’s a bit of a baptism by fire.”

The schedule doesn’t make things easier. Heading into October, Milford still had dates with top powerhouses like Barnstable and Franklin on the docket. Still, Olson said his team “can be as good as they want to be.” He said his players, not the coaching staff, are the ones who set the expectations for the season.

“They are the ones who have to go out and do it,” Olson said. “They want to win the Hockomock League championship, and they want to make the playoffs.”

A date in the Super Bowl at the home of the New England Patriots is also on his players’ minds.

“The ultimate goal,” the coach said, “is to be at Gillette.”

Eli Rosenberg has been one of Milford's most "dynamic" players, according to his coach. Photo taken by Olga Lyubkin