Note: At the time this went to print, Milford Academy was getting set to play Wagner College. On Sunday night, the Falcons picked up the win against the Seahawks by a final score of 20-6. Full recap of the game will appear in a later edition of The Evening Sun.

NEW BERLIN – Milford Academy Falcons head coach Bill Chaplick is entering his 20th season (21st year) at the helm of a winning football program that sits in the former New Berlin School on the hill. He has amassed a winning record of 171-48 (.781 winning percentage) as the fierce leader of the program with a long-standings tradition.
A native of Ansonia, Connecticut and a former Boston College stand-out on the offensive line, Chaplick was an very influential part of the a preparatory school making the move to the small village in Chenango County.
Adjusting their mission in recent years, Milford Academy has now targeted the needs of high school senior as well as post-graduate student-athletes who require additional educational guidance while receiving athletic training to play at the next level.
These students, in general, are gifted and talented football players who have the opportunity to attain four-year athletic scholarships at major universities of all different levels throughout the country.
Over the past ten years, the Milford Academy has developed a rewarding program as the student-athletes meet both their educational and athletic goals.
For the past three years, Milford Academy has sent approximately 98-percent of its student body on to colleges – including more than two-thirds of the graduates receiving a four-year scholarships to continue their football playing career.
Following the conclusion of the 2017 season, 15 players from the roster were offered either a NCAA Division-IA or Division-IAA scholarship.
The Falcons saw 10 players from their 2013 and 2014 classes be invited to try out or offered a contract with an NFL team this offseason as well as other alumni be on the field or on the sidelines throughout the league.
“The kids come for the history of Milford Academy,” said Chaplick. “Our history is second to none and it continues to grow each year.
“What also helps is that every time we turn the television on Saturday and Sunday, there are Milford guys all over. And it’s not only players, it’s coaches too. Both aspects bring those kids who want their chance to us.”
This year, the Falcons have players from 13 different states on the roster.
Chaplick contributes that to their winning tradition year after year. Eight of his 20 seasons have had 10-plus wins with the past three years being included in that tally – one of which was a perfect 11-0 record in 2016.
“The 2019 season is no different for us,” said Chaplick. “One of our goals for this season is we are looking to make it four consecutive seasons with 10 or more wins.
The Falcons already have one win under their belt with their second half comeback against Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC) on August 21.
Trailing 13-0 in the third quarter, Milford put together several successful drives offensively as well as key stops on the defensive side of the ball to put up 28 unanswered point to pull out the win.
With his strong men in the trenches up front on both sides of the ball, Milford Academy has a good shot of reaching double digits in the win column. The offensive line is averaging 325 pounds per lineman up front and were a big contribution to the win against HVCC.
To go along with their offensive and defensive lines, Chaplick commented that he the offense is very talented. “We have two Division-1A capable quarterbacks along and at least four scholarship worthy running backs,” said Chaplick. “We have a great wide receiver group as well.”
Taking a look at the schedule for the 2019 season, the Falcons know it is only going to get tougher week after week.
“We are just looking to take it one game at a time,” said the Milford head coach. “That is all you can do to be have a successful season.”
Milford Academy does not have a home field site to host a game so all their games will be on the road. Next on the schedule for Milford is game number two of the season and will takes the Falcons down to Staten Island to take on Wagner College.
Chaplick stated that it is always competitive with the Seahawks because two of their coaches – Wagner’s head coach as well as their defensive line coach – are products of the Milford Academy program with one being a former player and the other is a former member of the Falcons coaching staff.
“[Wagner] puts a great team out on the field and it’s always a really hard game,” Chaplick said. “If we can come away with a win in that one, it will be nice. Then again we just have to continue to take it one game at a time.”
The head coach of Milford Academy added that getting the win against the Seahawks on Sunday will not only give his team a two-game win streak but get his guys to understand the difference between a junior community college and a NCAA Division-1AA program.
With all other games being important to the season, the two most notable on Milford’s schedule are against Navy on October 18 in Annapolis and the season finale at West Point when the face Army.
“Army and Navy are a big rivalry game for us every year,” said the Falcons head coach. “They are both Division-1A schools and we get to play at Annapolis and at West Point in their stadiums you see on Saturdays.
“Both Army and Navy treat us like a regular foe for the week while we make it feel like a bowl game so it makes these two games are pretty special to our season.”
The Falcons play against both SUNY Cortland (10/13) and Ithaca College (10/27) for two games within 80 miles of the campus this season. The two what could be considered local games take place Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.
The upcoming contest against Wagner is slated for Sunday at 6 p.m.