2025 Snapshot: Oak Hills
- Updated: March 31, 2025
Oak Hills DL Julian Harris (photo from X: @JulianHarris_26)
It has been 19 years since Oak Hills has finished above .500 (6-4 in 2006) and despite that futility the program has shown signs of being on the upswing. The Highlanders have made the playoffs in each of the past five seasons. Progress is headed in the right direction, now it’s time to take the next steps by putting together a winning campaign and nabbing the schools first ever postseason victory.
“As a program, we are as athletic as we have ever been. Every year our program continues to improve and gain respect. We are a combined 12-15 in conference games over the last three season. We feel confident that we can play with anybody on most evenings. We just need to continue to improve in the weight room,” head coach Justin Roden says.
Roden sees plenty of positives and potential in the 2025 Highlanders. “We have a number of exciting young skill players and a solid amount of returning players with experience. We should be solid in the box on defense. We return a good portion of our d-linemen and linebackers. We also have some guys in the secondary with experience. On offense, we return two quarterbacks who played significant minutes last season.”
Play in the trenches will play a major role in Oak Hills 2025 success. “The offensive line is our biggest concern. We need to solidify our o-line and have some of our young guys develop quickly. We have a good amount of youth, but we lack size and experience,” Roden states.
Oak Hills is on the cusp of changing the perception of the program. Every varsity and junior varsity player now understands what coach Roden and his staff expects of them. If the Highlanders handle the challenges and adversity that comes their way this fall, and they will be more than prepared to do so, it will be the breakthrough season that has eluded Oak Hills for the last two decades.
Oak Hills Head Coach Justin Roden (photo courtesy of Oak Hills Football)
Division I, Region 4
2024 RECORD: 4-7, 3-6 GMC
COACH: Justin Roden (16-37 at Oak Hills, five years; 68-72 overall, 12 years)
HONOR ROLL
Max Rhodes, Sr, ILB – One of the most under-heralded players in Hamilton County. Rhodes is the schools all-time leader in tackles with 321 (227 solo) to go along with 6.0 sacks, 21.5 tackles for losses, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in his career. An OPSMA Division I Second Team All-Southwest District selection as a junior, Rhodes offers include Toledo, Eastern Kentucky, Penn, Gardner Webb and Youngstown State.
Julian Harris, Sr, DL – Back for his third season as a starter Harris earned Second Team All-GMC honors in 2024. He has 100 tackles, 2.0 sacks, 16.5 tackles for losses and an interception in his career.
Jeremy Bader, Sr, OT – The anchor and leader of the offensive line. The 6-foot-2, 250-pound Bader was named First Team All-GMC as a junior.
Oak Hills OL Jeremy Bader (photo courtesy of Oak Hills Football)
OTHER RETURNEES
Theorie Troxell, Sr, DL – a three year starter, the 5-foot-11, 245-pound Troxell has 38 tackles and 2.0 sacks in his career.
J’Sean Dorsey, Sr, DB – A key component of a very good Highlanders secondary. Dorsey has 48 tackles, nine pass breakups and a pair of interceptions in an Oak Hills uniform.
Anthony Young, Sr, SS/PR – A three year starter at strong safety and punt returner, Young will also see time on offense this season. He has 100 tackles, 6.5 tackles for losses, three forced fumbles, six pass breakups and four interceptions in his career.
Oak Hills SS Anthony Young (photo courtesy of Oak Hills Football)
Fletcher Kenkel, Jr, OLB – Had a solid varsity debut and was one of the team leaders in tackles as a sophomore. He finished the year with 53 tackles, a sack, 9.5 tackles for losses, two pass break ups and two fumble recoveries.
Jarrard Harper, Jr, DE – Teams with Harris and Troxell to give the Highlanders a formidable d-line. Harper was in on 34 tackles, had 2.0 sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery as a sophomore.
Lincoln Schreiber, Jr, QB – A three-sport standout, Schreiber started the last three games a year ago. He finished with 637 yards and two touchdowns passing.
Oak Hills QB Lincoln Schreiber (photo courtesy of Oak Hills Football)
Yann Bouda, Jr, DB – Showed promise last fall recording 14 tackles in five games as a sophomore.
Grant Walker, Jr, OG – One of the few guys with size and experience up front. The Highlanders will rely heavily on the 6-foot-0, 260-pound Walker to help bring along the younger linemen.
Owen Schmalz, Jr, OT – Like Walker, Oak Hills will lean on Schmalz for guidance on the o-line.
NEWCOMERS
Junior WR Demetri Vetter along as well as sophomores ATH Cordell Ball, slot Tyson Watt and LB Mylz Cunningham will get their opportunities to crack the starting lineup. Ball is a multi-sport athlete, who has the talent to be a two-way standout for the Highlanders.
Oak Hills WR Tyson Watt (photo from X: @tysonwatt6)
PLAYOFF HISTORY
(six appearances, 0-6) – 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 1999
2025 SCHEDULE
Fri – 08/22/25 – at Edgewood (3-8 in 2024) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 08/29/25 – at Lakota East (8-4) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/05/25 – MIDDLETOWN (5-6) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/19/25 – at Colerain (0-10) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/26/25 – HAMILTON (9-3) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/03/25 – at Sycamore (1-10) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/10/25 – PRINCETON (10-3) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/17/25 – at Lakota West (11-2) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/24/25 – FAIRFIELD (2-9) – 7:00 PM
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