2025 Snapshot: Harrison
- Updated: May 12, 2025
Harrison WR Josh Adelsperger (photo by: Sandy Mahoney/X: @InMotionBySandy)
My goodness, how the fortunes have changed for Harrison football. In 2022, the Wildcats hit rock bottom finishing 1-9, their worst record since going 0-10 in 1977. Their rebound from that low point over the last two seasons has been more than inspiring!
Harrison responded from those doldrums with back-to-back regional semifinals appearances, four playoff victories (three on the road) and 19 total wins (the most in a two-year span since going 12-1 in 1988 and 10-1 in ‘89). Last fall the Wildcats set a school record 488 points in a season and the program had its first 10-win campaign since 1989. The 2025 squad is ready to raise the bar and rock out its encore performance with its run.
Maintaining that level of success isn’t going to be easy having to replace the SWOC Offensive Player of the Year, running back Cole Koops, two-year starter at quarterback, Dickie Engel and load of battle-tested veterans at linebacker and in the secondary. “Defensively, we are inexperienced on the backend,” Harrison head coach Derek Rehage says.
Harrison returns six starters on both sides of the ball and Rehage loves those players “toughness.” The Wildcats have some proven and accomplished commodities at most all of their position groups, on both sides of the ball, The coaching staff will rely on them for leadership. If the youngsters step up and fill in the voids on the depth chart, and there is no reason to think that they won’t, Rehage and his 2025 team will continue this program’s upswing.
Harrison Head Coach Derek Rehage (photo by: Sandy Mahoney/X: @InMotionBySandy)
Division II, Region 8
2024 RECORD: 10-3, 3-0 SWOC
HEAD COACH: Derek Rehage (53-38 at Harrison, eight years; 53-38 overall)
HONOR ROLL
Logan White, Sr, DL – A disruptive force in opposing backfields, White set the SWOC single season record with 15.5 sacks in 2024. He also tallied 83 tackles on his way to OPSMA Division II First Team All-Ohio, SWOC Co-Defensive Player of the Year and TriState Football Cincinnati Defensive Player of the Year Finalist accolades. White has 139 tackles and 21.0 sacks in his career.
Harrison OL/DL Logan White (photo by Sandy Mahoney / X: @InMotionBySandy)
Josh Adelsperger, Sr, WR – An explosive weapon, who was one of the most pleasant surprises in Division II, Region 8 last season. Adelsperger burst onto the scene with 49 receptions, 956 yards receiving, 13 touchdown catches (12 of 20 yards or more, five of 53 yards or more), one passing touchdown, one punt return for a score and 1,171 all-purpose yards. He was named OPSMA Division II Honorable Mention All-Ohio for his work. In the playoffs against Troy, Adelsperger reeled in 10 catches for 273 yards and four touchdowns.
Colby Quinlan, Sr, OL – Buried just below the surface, Quinlan is a gem. He is one of the Class of 2026 top o-linemen who doesn’t have an FBS offer. The 6-foot-6, 300-pounder was an OPSMA Division II Honorable Mention All-Ohio selection as a junior.
Grant Dallio, Sr, DL – One of the leaders of the defense, Dallio was a First Team All-SWOC selection last fall. He has 90 tackles, 9.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries in his career.
Brycen Deller, Sr, LB – Came into his own as a junior recording 73 tackles and an interception. Deller will be called upon to bring a bigger veteran presence this fall.
Ben Markarian, Jr, DB – A rising star who is just scratching the surface of who he can become. Markarian was in on 43 tackles, had five interceptions,148 interception return yards and a pair of pick-sixes (against SWOC Offensive Player of the Year Jahmier Spain, Mount Healthy) as a sophomore. Those efforts earned him OPSMA Division II Honorable Mention All-Southwest District accolades. This offseason Markarian has picked up offers from Miami (OH), Eastern Michigan and Kent State.
Zeb Warrington, Sr, OL – Not the largest of the Wildcats o-linemen physically but maybe the biggest of heart. Warrington was a Second Team All-SWOC selection a year ago.
Preston Flick, Sr, RB – A touchdown making machine when healthy. In seven games as a junior, Flick touched the ball 44 times on offense and found the end zone on 12 occasions (seven rush, five rush). He was named Honorable Mention All-SWOC for the work. Flick has 807 yards rushing, 17 receptions for 314 yards (18.7 yds/rec), 1,121 all-purpose yards and 20 touchdowns (14 rush, six rec) in his career.
Harrison RB Preston Flick (photo by: Sandy Mahoney / X: @InMotionBySandy)
OTHER RETURNEES
Dan Schlake, Sr, LB – Back for his second year as a starter, Schalke had 27 tackles as a junior.
David Baldock, Jr, LB/K – A valuable commodity on last season’s team. Baldock had 21 tackles and one interception on defense. He connected on 18/22 extra points on special teams.
Jacob Dearwester, Sr, DL – The 6-foot-4, 250-pound Dearwester is a long and menacing force for opposing o-lines to deal with. He could put up All-District numbers with the attention that White and Diallo are going to get.
Harrison DL Jacob Dearwester (photo by: Sandy Mahoney/X: @InMotionBySandy)
NEWCOMERS
The coaching staff believes that sophomores TE/DE Christian Roether, WR/DB Dillon Witt and OL/DL Ayden Branditz will all be contributors on Friday nights. Two of Roether’s three receptions as a freshman came in playoff wins at Troy and at Xenia.
PLAYOFF HISTORY
(17 appearances, 12-17) – 2024, 2023, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2014, 2013, 2011, 2010, 2006, 1997, 1989, 1988 (Regional Champion), 1987
2025 SCHEDULE
Fri – 08/22/25 – at Loveland (3-7 in 2024) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 08/29/25 – at East Central (IN) (8-4) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/05/25 – BEAVERCREEK (3-7) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/12/25 – WESTERN HILLS (1-9) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/19/25 – ROSS (4-7) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/26/25 – at CHCA (9-2) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/03/25 – at Mount Healthy (10-3) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/10/25 – at Talawanda (3-8) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/17/25 – COLUMBUS De SALES (9-3) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/24/25 – at Northwest (2-8) – 7:00 PM
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