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2023 Snapshot: Harrison

Harrison DL Kelyn Dallio (photo by Sandy Mahoney/Twitter: @InMotionBy Sandy)

After a third straight losing season and an end to six straight playoff appearances has Harrison football finds itself in a rare position of fighting its way from the bottom to the top. Before this current three-year slide in which the Wildcats are a combined 8-22 the program had grown accustomed to winning with just one losing season from 2006-2019 and just three campaigns under .500 dating back to 1995. With 18 returning starters now is the time to things around.

Head coach Derek Rehage doesn’t want to put any pressure on this group of seniors. He thinks this can be an enjoyable season. “This should be a fun year,” he states. With so much varsity experience on the field there is plenty of reason for Rehage to be excited.

So many things must get better from a year ago if Harrison is to get back to the playoffs. That all comes down to, attention to details and wanting it more than their opponents. Doing the little things will go a long way for the Wildcats.

Giving up the big play can be demoralizing, and Harrison’s pass coverage didn’t do itself any favors in that area by allowing 11 touchdown tosses of 41 yards or more (seven of 55-plus yards) with just one interception in 2022. That was basically in seven games because Edgewood, Ross and Clinton-Massie ran the ball so effectively that they completed just one pass between them, in their victories over the Wildcats. Harrison also gave up six non-offensive touchdowns (two PRs, one KR, two FRs, one IR). Clean that up that “messiness” and you will see the Wildcats confidence soar higher on a week-to-week basis.

Points were hard to come by for Harrison last fall. They averaged 16.7 points per game and only scored more than 17 twice. On defense, the Wildcats gave up 35.6 points per contest and yielded 31 points or more on seven occasions. There are too many veterans returning for those trends to continue. Expect this team have much better showings on both sides of the ball.

The schedule is loaded with competitive and winnable games including tilts with five schools in lower Divisions. The teams on the Wildcats slate were a combined 52-60 a year ago. Take Indiana Class 4A State Champion and rival East Central out of the equation and the other nine squads had a combined winning percentage of .402%. It all comes down to pride and focus, count on this group of seniors to avoid being the first since the Class of 1980 not have a winning season in any of their four years on the field.

Division II, Region 8
2022 RECORD: 1-9, 0-5 SWOC
COACH: Derek Rehage (34-29 at Harrison, six years; 34-29 overall)

HONOR ROLL
Cohen Hering, Jr, RB/DB – A dual threat out of the Harrison backfield who has the potential to rack up 2,000 all-purpose in a season. Herring ran for 568 yards, had 29 receptions for 207 yards and found the end zone eight times (seven, one rec) as a junior. He was named First Team All-SWOC.

Harrison RB Cohen Hering (photo by Sandy Mahoney/Twitter: @InMotionBy Sandy)

Joe Banks, Sr, OL/LB – The heart-and-soul and leader of the Wildcats. The slightly undersized Banks is carving out quite the career. He was named OPSWA Division II Second Team All-Southwest District (LB) and First Team All-SWOC (for a second straight year) as a junior. He’s has been all-league as an offensive lineman and a linebacker.

Kelyn Dallio, Sr, OL/DL – A OPSWA Division II Second Team All-Southwest District selection as a junior, Dallio still hasn’t had that “WOW” season. Expect that to change in 2023. He has SWOC Defensive Player of the Year talent.

Luke Rogers, Sr, WR – Will move back to receiver this fall. Rogers amassed 1,610 yards of total offense (891 pass, 719 rush) and accounted for 12 touchdowns (eight pass, four rush) on his way to Second Team All-SWOC accolades in 2022.

Harrison WR Luke Rogers (photo by Sandy Mahoney/Twitter: @InMotionBy Sandy)

Donny McKain, Sr, LB – Had a solid varsity debut as a junior. McKain was in on 60 total tackles with a forced fumble and a fumble recovery on his way to Honorable Mention All-SWOC acclaim.

Cole Koops, Jr, RB – Can dish out and take some punishment as a runner. Koops has a tremendous upside after running for 518 of his 550 yards and all four of his touchdowns over the final seven weeks of his sophomore season. He garnered a SWOC Sportsmanship Award for the work.

OTHER RETURNEES
Stryker Reverman, Sr, LB – Will be all over the field for the Wildcats defense. Reverman has 109 total tackles, two sacks and a fumble recovery in his two years as a starter. Don’t be surprised if he doubles those numbers as a senior.

Harrison LB Stryker Reverman (photo by Sandy Mahoney/Twitter: @InMotionBy Sandy)

Chris Loos, Jr, DL – A starter since his freshman year Loos, looks to take his game to the next level. The 6-foot-2, 240-pound lineman has 72 total tackles and a pair of sacks in this career.

Logan White, So, OL/DL- Friday night lights weren’t too big for White as a freshman. He recorded 19 total tackles, had a sack and forced a fumble to earn his first varsity letter.

NEWCOMERS
Reading transfer QB/LB Dickie Engel will slide in under center. Engel has thrown for 993 yards, slung nine passing touchdowns, ran for seven rushing scores, tallied 202 total tackles with seven sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery at the varsity level heading into his junior year.

A pair of sophomores RB/LB Dan Schlake and RB/LB Preston Flick have a chance to crack the starting lineup. Rehage would like to see the Class of 2026 develop some depth and have an impact on this season.

PLAYOFF HISTORY
(15 appearances, 8-15) – 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2014, 2013, 2011, 2010, 2006, 1997, 1989, 1988 (Regional Champion), 1987

2023 SCHEDULE
Fri – 08/18/23 – at Taylor (4-6 in 2022) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 08/25/23 – at East Central (13-2) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/01/23 – at Indian Hill (3-7) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/08/23 – WESTERN HILLS (5-6) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/15/23 – CLINTON-MASSIE (7-6) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/22/23 – CAMPBELL COUNTY (4-7) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/29/23 – at Mount Healthy (5-6) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/06/23 – at Talawanda (1-9) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/13/23 – NORTHWEST (6-5) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/20/23 – at Wooster (4-6) – 7:00 PM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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