Dayton Team of the Year: Wayne

It was another outstanding season for Wayne (11-1) despite falling short of its ultimate goal – a state title. The Warriors finished the regular season unbeaten for a second straight year. They will go into the 2017 campaign on a 19-game regular season win streak.

Wayne Head Coach Jay Minton (photo by Mike Noyes/TriStateFootball.com)

Wayne fell in the Division I, Region 3, Regional final to Pickerington Central. The Warriors were in control but 10 unanswered points in the final 5:12 of the fourth quarter by Pick Central snatched the potential win away from Wayne. It was the first time in three seasons that the Warriors failed to bring home a regional title. Still, it doesn’t take away from the accomplishments of head coach Jay Minton and his troops.

Minton praised this team’s work ethic and unselfishness. The talented squad could have could have let egos and stats get in the way but they shelved all that for the betterment of their brotherhood. Those are characteristics that have become commonplace for Wayne players under Minton.

Every Friday night when Wayne took the field, more often than not, position by position, the Warriors had the better player lining up across from their foes. It was never more evident than in the month of September. Wayne beat Moeller (4-6), Lakota West (2-8), Miamisburg (10-3), Northmont (4-6) and Centerville (5-5) in route to a 5-0 start. The Warriors won those affairs by an average of 32.8 points per contest.

Their supremacy continued in October and through the first two weeks of the playoffs with six more wins. As the competition got better Wayne rose to the occasion. The last four of those victories were over postseason teams who finished the year a combined, 34-14 (including their four losses to Wayne). The average margin of victory for the boys from Huber Heights in those games was 30.5 points.

Wayne DE Alex Reigelsperger (photo by Greg Shoemaker/TriStateFootball.com)

That kind of domination was the norm on both sides of the ball earned Wayne its third consecutive TriState Football Dayton team of the year honors. The Warriors continue to set the bar high in the Gem City and Southwest Ohio. The program has elevated itself to one of the best in the Buckeye state.

MILESTONES AND MORE
–Head coach Jay Minton has compiled a record of 170-55 in 20 years with the Warriors. His overall record is 224 and 77 in 26 seasons.

–Over the past three seasons the Warriors have gone a combined 10-3 in the playoffs. Wayne made its 19th postseason appearance this past fall up their record to 24-19 all-time in November and beyond.

–Wayne scored 50 points or more five times in 12 games. The Warriors defense only allowed more than 17 points once all year. They allowed just 10.9 points per contest for the season.

–For the second straight season OL Ben Jackson was named First Team All-Southwest District. Jackson also earned Second Team All-Ohio honors as a senior. Minton calls Jackson “one of the best centers in Ohio.” Classmates OL Max Morgan-Elliot and DL Mazon Walker were also First Team All-Southwest District members. Walker, who has a 3.6 GPA will play college ball at Lehigh.

Wayne WR L’Christian “Blue” Smith-Cochran (photo by Mike Noyes/TriStateFootball.com)

–Junior WR L’Christian Smith was a First Team All-Ohio honoree. The 6-foot-5, 215 pound Smith will head into his senior season with 109 receptions for 2,323 yards and 28 touchdown catches as a Warrior. His offers include Kentucky, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue and Tennessee, to name a few.

–A pair of seniors WR/DB Matt Wilcox and RB Fred Pitts were named Third Team All-Ohio. Pitts ran for 1,265 with 19 touchdowns. A four year varsity starter, Wilcox amassed 3,695 all-purpose yards (2,530 receiving, 978 rushing), had 188 receptions while finding the end zone 47 times (25 receiving, 22 rushing) as a Warrior. Wilcox who has verbally committed to Bowling Green was a part of Wayne teams that went 49-6 while he was in uniform.

–Junior DE Alex Reigelsperger was a Second Team All-Southwest District pick. His offers include Kentucky, Purdue, Rutgers and Western Michigan.

–Second Team All-Southwest District selection QB Rashad McKee threw for 2,257 yards, ran for 377 more with 23 touchdown tosses. McKee is only a sophomore.

–Three players were also named First Team All-GWOC National East – seniors LB Dewayne Morris, DL Wendell Wheeler and junior DB Demetrius Ross.

Join us as we recognize Wayne and team of the year winners from Kentucky, Cincinnati & Indiana, Player of the year finalists from all of those areas, WCPO Player of the Week winners and all members of the 2016 Postseason All-TSF squad as they will be recognized at our upcoming TSF Year in Review Show on Monday, February 20th at The Holy Grail – Banks in downtown Cincinnati.

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