2025 Team Snapshot: Western Brown
- Updated: June 25, 2025
Western Brown OL Emmanuel Gibbs (photo from: wbfootballrecruiting.weebly.com)
They will be playing with a chip on their shoulder at Western Brown. The Broncos saw injuries decimate what could have been a great 2024 campaign. The team lost six of its last seven games with five of those defeats by 21 points or more on the way to back-to-back losing seasons for the first time since 2018-19. It also saw a school record, four straight playoff appearances also come to an end. Motivation is not going to be a problem for the men of Mount Orab.
“Our guys have a bad taste in our mouths from last year with the amount of injuries that we had after starting 3-0,” head coach Nick Osborne states. “We return a lot of guys with playing experience from last season who had to step up when we had guys go down.”
Despite the struggles in ‘24 Osborne has reason to be very optimistic about what lies ahead this fall.”We return a lot of three-year starters with this senior class. Our sophomore and junior classes have really good talent that we are excited for over the next few years.”
The Western Brown roster is strewn with players that have had some moderate success and glimpses of greatness at the varsity level they just haven’t done for a full 10-game schedule. If those players can put it all together and get clicking on the same page the Broncos will be tough for opponents to corral.
Division III, Region 12
2024 RECORD: 4-6, 1-4 SBAAC American
HEAD COACH: Nick Osborne, 34-22 at Western Brown, five years; 34-22 overall)
HONOR ROLL
Tye Spaulding, Sr, LB – The leader and heart-and-soul of the Broncos defense. Spaulding was named OPSMA Division III Second Team All-Southwest District and First Team All-SBAAC American (for a second straight season) as a junior. He has 284 tackles, 4.0 sacks, 14.5 tackles for losses, one fumble recovery and three interceptions including a pick-six in his career. Offensively, Spaulding has also caught 13 balls for 144 yards, ran for 77 yards and found the end zone six times (five rec, one rush).
Western Brown LB Tye Spaulding (photo from: wbfootballrecruiting.weebly.com)
Emmanuel Gibbs, Jr, OL – In two seasons as a starter Gibbs has allowed just four sacks on 625 pass attempts. The 6-foot-1, 245-pound rising star earned OPSMA Division III Second Team All-Southwest District accolades as a sophomore.
Carter Saylor, Sr, LB – A breakout junior year saw Saylor be named Second Team All-SBAAC American. He tallied 60 tackles, 4.5 sacks and had 7.0 tackles for losses.
OTHER RETURNEES
Justin Morgan, Sr, RB – Injuries cut what was looking to be a promising junior year short for Morgan. He has amassed 1,122 all-purpose yards which includes 513 yards rushing, 355 yards receiving on 21 receptions while finding the end zone 10 times (seven rush, three rec) at the varsity level.
Western Brown RB Justin Morgan (photo from: wbfootballrecruiting.weebly.com)
Brayden Harmon, Sr, WR – Slowed by injuries in 2024, Harmon still managed to have at least two receptions in all seven games in which he played. He finished with 27 receptions for 410 yards and seven touchdowns. Harmon has 60 receptions for 844 yards and nine scores in his career.
Zaiden Nichols, Sr, ATH – A gifted player who is an asset no matter where he lines up on the field. Nichols real prowess has come on defense where he has 71 tackles, five pass breakups, three interceptions and 104 interception return yards in a Broncos uniform. He has an offer from McPherson College.
Elijah Valdez, Sr, ATH – An underappreciated player who can make a difference on both sides of the ball. Valdez has 42 receptions for 422 yards, three touchdown catches, 27 tackles and an interception in his career.
Western Brown WR/B Elijah Valdez (photo from: wbfootballrecruiting.weebly.com)
NEWCOMERS
Junior TE Adam Pena and sophomore ATH Deon Bradford should slide right in and be contributors on Friday nights. Pena had three receptions for 26 yards and a touchdown in four games last fall.
PLAYOFF HISTORY
(seven appearances, 6-7) – 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2014, 2013, 2008
2025 SCHEDULE
Fri – 08/22/25 – at Hillsboro (4-6 in 2024) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 08/29/25 – SIMON KENTON (KY)(4-7) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/05/25 – at Chillicothe (2-8) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/12/25 – JACKSON (9-3) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/19/25 – MIAMI TRACE (7-4) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/26/25 – at Wilmington (7-5) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/03/25 – BATAVIA (8-3) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/10/25 – at New Richmond (5-6) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/17/25 – at Clinton-Massie (9-3) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/24/25 – GOSHEN (2-8) – 7:00 PM
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