HARRISON — The goal within Harrison High School’s football team is to keep the positive surge going.
The Wildcats have won 19 games the last two seasons and will be seeking their third straight Southwest Ohio Conference championship in 2025.
“It’s a fun place to be right now, and when you return as much talent as we do, it’s exciting as a coach,” said HHS coach Derek Rehage, beginning his ninth season at the helm. “This group is enjoyable to be around, and for me, that’s half the battle. They work hard and get after it.”
Harrison lost two major offensive cogs in quarterback Dickie Engel and running back Cole Koops, but a lot of key players return this season. Three returnees — senior wide receiver Josh Adelsperger (5-10, 180), senior defensive end Logan White (5-10, 250) and senior offensive tackle Colby Quinlan (6-4, 290) — earned Division II All-Ohio mention in 2024.
The Wildcats scrimmaged Turpin and Colerain, then ended the preseason against Western Brown.
“The offseason has been a very good one for us,” Rehage said. “We are as strong as we were a year ago in the weight room and probably faster. Having a lot of guys playing 7-on-7 was a huge help for us, and I really like some of the sophomores that are going to play. We’ve always known that this sophomore class was really talented, and four or five of them are already sniffing at the door to play.”
Junior Brady Lawhon (6-1, 190) has stepped into the starting quarterback role. He was the junior varsity QB last year and completed 8-of-11 passes for 67 yards with the varsity, also catching a TD pass.
“He’s played varsity basketball the last two years and is a great leader,” Rehage said. “He’s probably put on 30 pounds since last year at the end of the season. He’s a dual-threat guy, but he’s going to be a really good runner with the ball in his hands. He reads blocks real well and understands the running part of it.”
Senior Preston Flick (5-11, 190) has returned from a knee injury in Week 7 last season and is a big-play guy in the running and passing games. Juniors Ben Markarian (6-0, 175) and Wyatt Dennis (5-7, 155) are also in the backfield mix along with sophomore Colton Rehage (5-10, 170).
Adelsperger grabbed 49 balls for 956 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2024, missing the playoff loss to La Salle with an injury. Senior Parker Conley (5-10, 155) and junior Kyle Davidson (5-10, 160) are also part of the talented receiving corps, as are sophomores Dillon Witt (6-0, 160) and Aaron Davis (5-10, 150). Another sophomore, Christian Roether (6-3, 180), is a versatile tight end.
“When you’ve got talented dudes out there as receivers, it’s very tempting to call pass plays,” Derek Rehage said. “But we don’t want to sit there and chuck it down the field every play. We still want to run the ball with Preston and RPO off that.”
Quinlan and senior guard Zeb Warrington (5-8, 220) return on the offensive line. Senior Jacob Dearwester (6-4, 250) started at tackle as a sophomore and is back in that spot this year after playing defensive tackle last season.
Senior Logan Sellet (5-10, 200) and sophomore Aydan Branditz (5-10, 220) are playing center and guard, respectively.
“Our guards are very athletic and our tackles are very big,” Rehage said. “We want our guards to be agile, mobile and hostile. They’ll be pulling a lot.”
The Wildcats will use a 3-4 defense after being more of an even-front team last year. White and senior Grant Dallio (6-1, 220) should be forces up front at the end positions. Dearwester and juniors Hayden Schlake (5-8, 195) and Henry Hickey (6-0, 200) will rotate in the middle of the line.
Senior Brycen Deller (6-1, 175) and junior David Baldock (6-1, 180) bring some experience to the outside linebacker spots. Senior Dan Schlake (5-10, 220) was an inside linebacker and offensive guard last season … he’s still at linebacker and will likely be playing H-back on offense in 2025. Junior Wyatt Roudebush (5-10, 195) is a first-year starter at inside linebacker.
“We feel very good about our front seven,” Rehage said. “They’re just a big, burly, physical group.”
Markarian returns at safety and will be joined there by senior Cooper Rotert (5-10, 185), who was a starting receiver last year. Senior Thomas Cummings (6-0, 160), junior Jack Denier (5-8, 150) and Colton Rehage are the cornerbacks.
“We’re a little nervous about our back end,” Derek Rehage said. “It’s still a work in progress, but they can be really good when they figure it out.”
Sophomore Griffin Musgrove got some varsity work last year and will be the place-kicker. Davis is the punter.
The Wildcats have about 90 players in grades 9-12.
HARRISON WILDCATS FACTS
Head Coach: Derek Rehage, ninth season (53-38)
Assistant Coaches: Drew Banks, Justin Berry, Joe Conley, Kyle Funk, Sam Heimkreiter, Carl Huber, Steve Kucera, Lucas Parks, Danny Rehage, Adam Roether, Nick Roth
Offensive Coordinator: Danny Rehage
Defensive Coordinators: Drew Banks, Carl Huber
Special Teams Coordinators: Drew Banks, Derek Rehage
2024 Record: 10-3 overall, 3-0 SWOC (first place)
OHSAA Designation: Division II, Region 8
Playoff History: 11-16 record in 16 appearances (1987, 1988, 1989, 1997, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024)
2025 SCHEDULE
WEEK 1
FRIDAY, AUG. 22
Matchup: Harrison Wildcats at Loveland Tigers, 7 p.m.
Series: Harrison leads 16-6
First Meeting: 1947, Loveland 14-0
Last Meeting: 2024, Harrison 40-7
Highest-Scoring Game: 2009, Harrison 41-34 (3OT)
Lowest-Scoring Game: 2003, Loveland 7-0
Notable: Harrison has won six of the last eight meetings.
WEEK 2
FRIDAY, AUG. 29
Matchup: Harrison Wildcats at East Central (Ind.) Trojans, 7 p.m.
Series: Harrison leads 24-22-1
First Meeting: 1973, Harrison 54-0
Last Meeting: 2024, Harrison 35-28
Highest-Scoring Game: 2000, Harrison 34-33
Lowest-Scoring Game: 1982, 0-0 tie
Notable: Harrison ended a five-game losing streak in the series with last year’s win.
WEEK 3
FRIDAY, SEPT. 5
Matchup: Beavercreek Beavers at Harrison Wildcats, 7 p.m.
Series: First meeting
Notable: Beavercreek is 12-60 since its last winning season in 2017 (6-4).
WEEK 4
FRIDAY, SEPT. 12
Matchup: Western Hills Mustangs at Harrison Wildcats, 7 p.m.
Series: Harrison leads 3-0
First Meeting: 2022, Harrison 35-24
Last Meeting: 2024, Harrison 49-0
Highest-Scoring Game: 2022, Harrison 35-24
Lowest-Scoring Game: 2023, Harrison 42-0
Notable: Western Hills hasn’t had a winning season since going 5-3 in 2020.
WEEK 5
FRIDAY, SEPT. 19
Matchup: Ross Rams at Harrison Wildcats, 7 p.m.
Series: Harrison leads 20-6
First Meeting: 1948, Harrison 46-0
Last Meeting: 2022, Ross 28-17
Highest-Scoring Game: 2020, Ross 49-35
Lowest-Scoring Games: 1967, Harrison 8-0; 1965, Ross 8-0
Notable: This will be Harrison’s homecoming … Ross has won the last three meetings.
WEEK 6
FRIDAY, SEPT. 26
Matchup: Harrison Wildcats at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy Eagles, 7 p.m.
Series: First meeting
Notable: CHCA won the Miami Valley Conference Scarlet Division title and went 9-2 last season.
WEEK 7
FRIDAY, OCT. 3
Matchup: Harrison Wildcats at Mount Healthy Owls, 7 p.m.
Series: Harrison leads 20-8
First Meeting: 1947, Mount Healthy 26-6
Last Meeting: 2024, Harrison 49-26
Highest-Scoring Game: 2016, Harrison 49-48
Lowest-Scoring Game: 1966, Harrison 18-0
Notable: Harrison has been victorious in eight of the last nine matchups.
WEEK 8
FRIDAY, OCT. 10
Matchup: Harrison Wildcats at Talawanda Brave, 7 p.m.
Series: Harrison leads 19-3
First Meeting: 1980, Harrison 15-6
Last Meeting: 2024, Harrison 56-15
Highest-Scoring Game: 2014, Harrison 45-39
Lowest-Scoring Games: 1980, Harrison 15-6; 1995, Talawanda 14-7
Notable: Harrison has won three of the last four matchups.
WEEK 9
FRIDAY, OCT. 17
Matchup: Columbus DeSales Stallions at Harrison Wildcats, 7 p.m.
Series: Harrison leads 1-0
First Meeting: 2019, Harrison 42-7 (Division II playoffs)
Notable: DeSales finished 9-3 last season and beat two Southwest Ohio teams, Badin (17-3) and Northwest (38-6).
WEEK 10
FRIDAY, OCT. 24
Matchup: Harrison Wildcats at Northwest Knights, 7 p.m.
Series: Harrison leads 25-9
First Meeting: 1977, Northwest 13-0
Last Meeting: 2024, Harrison 42-6
Highest-Scoring Game: 2000, Harrison 55-47
Lowest-Scoring Game: 1977, Northwest 13-0
Notable: Harrison has won seven of the last eight meetings.
