2024 Snapshot: Harrison

From 1-9 to 9-4 and a trip to the Division II, Region 8 Semifinals, Harrison was one of the feel-good storied of 2023. No one saw that kind of turnaround coming and now it appears that, that success isn’t about to end anytime soon. The Wildcats welcome back a veteran and experienced core of seniors and juniors from last year’s team. They have even higher aspirations and expectations for this season.

“We return a lot of really good football players. We are excited about 2024,” head coach Derek Rehage states.

Many of the parts are already in place for Harrison. There aren’t many holes or big gaps to fill. “Our running game should be very strong. We return our top three rushers from year ago and three of our five linemen are back. Defensively, almost all of our front seven is back. Two of our four defensive backs are back, and the two new guys are very solid,” Rehage says.

Rehage goes on about his depth. “We will have young guys at wide receiver and in the secondary. They are very talented, just not Friday night test.”

How Harrison handles being the hunted and not the hunter is a big question. With players who have been through the wars the Wildcats should be more than up for the challenge. Getting to nine wins again is going to take some effort with a schedule that includes one state champion, one state runner-up and three schools that won at least 12 games in 2023.

One thing is for sure Harrison will be more than battle-tested once the playoffs start. That should bode well for the Wildcats come November.

Division II, Region 8
2023 RECORD: 9-4, 3-0 SWOC
COACH: Derek Rehage (43-33 at Harrison, seven years; 43-33 overall)

HONOR ROLL
Cohen Hering, Sr, DB – Whether it’s running the ball, running the secondary or returning kicks, Hering has excelled in everything he’s been asked to do in his three years as a starter. He was an OPSWA Division II Second Team All-Southwest District (DB) selection as a junior. Hering has run for 1,059 yards with 10 rushing touchdowns, has 39 receptions, 275 receiving yards, 2,021 all-purpose yards, 52 total tackles, 11 pass breakups and one interception in a Wildcats uniform.

Dickie Engel, Sr, QB – Adjusting to the speed of Division II football after transferring from Division V Reading was no problem for Engel. In his first year as the Wildcats starting quarterback, Engel threw for 1,857 yards, ran for 541 yards and accounted for 28 touchdowns (22 pass, six rush) to earn OPSWA Division II Second Team All-Southwest District (QB) honors as a junior. Engel has put up outstanding numbers in his three years as a varsity starter with 2,850 yards passing, 620 yards rushing, 31 touchdown tosses, 13 scores on the ground, 202 total tackles, seven sacks, three pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Cole Koops, Sr, RB – Emerged as one of the top backs in Region 8 in 2023. Koops ran for 1,379 yards, had 1,444 all-purpose yards, and found the end zone 20 occasions (18 rush, two rec). He had  110 yards or more rushing eight times in 12 games and had six games with at least two touchdowns scored. Koops was named OPSWA Division II Honorable Mention All-Southwest District for his work.

OTHER RETURNEES
Preston Flick, Jr, TB – A perfect complement to Koops out of the backfield. Flick is a hard runner who had six games of 58 yards or more rushing over the last 11 weeks of last season (high game of 84 yards at Indian Hill). He finished the year with 564 yards rushing and eight touchdowns (seven rush, one rec).

Dan Schlake, Jr, HB – A valuable cog in the offensive engine. Expect Schlake to have a bigger presence on offense as a junior.

Logan Bryant, Sr, OL – An anchor and leader on the offensive line. Bryant helped paved the way for a rushing attack averaged 212.8 yards per game and 6.7 yards per carry, last fall.

Travis Raines, Sr, OL – Like Bryant, Raines will be counted on for senior leadership and to be a pillar up front. He is a returning starter on an offensive line that was instrumental in piling up 357.8 yards of total offense and 33.2 points per game in 2023.

Jacob Dearwester, Jr, OL – A returning starter,on an o-line that cleared the pathway to the end zone 57 times (35 rush, 22 pass) for the Wildcats offense in 2023. Dearwester showed signs of all-league potential as a sophomore.

Scott Blair, Sr, DL – A menace and a load for opposing offensive lineman to handle with a 6-foot-0, 300-pound frame. Blair will be a key piece to the Wildcats success on defense.

Grant Dallio, Jr, DL – As a sophomore, this Dallio showed he has the potential to be as good as, if not better than, his namesakes that preceded him…and that’s saying something. Dallio recorded 32 total tackles, had three-and-a-half sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in his first year as a starter.

Logan White , Jr, DL – A rock-solid performer week in and week out. That consistency led to White putting up very respectable numbers as a sophomore. He was in on 37 total tackles and had four-and-a-half sacks.

Jayden Little, Sr, LB – All signs point to Little having a monster senior season. We wouldn’t be surprised if he isn’t in the conversation for SWOC Defensive Player of the Year when 2024 comes to an end. Little has 69 total tackles and two takeaways (one FR, One INT) in his career.

Ian Wuest, Sr, LB – A returning starter who should see his productivity increase as a senior. Wuest tallied 33 total tackles and three sacks last fall.

Hank Rotert, Sr, DB – A pleasant surprise as a junior, Rotert led the Wildcats with six takeaways (five INTs, one FR). He scored Harrison’s first touchdown of the 2023 season on a pick-six at Taylor, in his first varsity start.

NEWCOMERS
The coaching staff feels that senior DB Jackson Williams, juniors DB Brycen Deller, DB Thomas Cummings, WR Cooper Rotert, OL Colby Quinlan, and sophomore WR Ben Markarian all have a chance to be impact players this fall. The 6-foot-4, 300-pound Quinlan has a real good shot at joining classmate Dearwester as a starter on the offensive line. Williams has had a few moments to shine as a receiver and defensive back at the varsity level. Rotert showed glimpses of his bright future with 11 receptions for 200 yards and two touchdowns (one rush, one rec) in 2023.

PLAYOFF HISTORY
(16 appearances, 9-17) – 2023, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2014, 2013, 2011, 2010, 2006, 1997, 1989, 1988 (Regional Champion), 1987

2024 SCHEDULE
Fri – 08/23/24 – LOVELAND (5-6 in 2023) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 08/30/24 – EAST CENTRAL (IN)(15-0) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/06/24 – INDIAN HILL (9-3) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/13/24 – at Western Hills (4-7) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/20/24 – at Clinton-Massie (12-1) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/27/24 – at Campbell County (KY)(3-8) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/04/24 – MOUNT HEALTHY (8-3) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/11/24 – TALAWANDA (2-8) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/18/24 – at Bishop Watterson (14-2) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/25/24 – NORTHWEST (1-9) – 7:00 PM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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