They’ve been so close to winning the school’s second state title the past two years at Anderson. The Raptors followed up a 2023 Division II state semifinalist appearance with a state runner-up finish a year ago. The returnees from the last two campaigns are hungry to close the deal and also do something the program has never done before, win a third straight regional championship.
Division II, Region 8
2024 RECORD: 15-1, 9-0 ECC
COACH: Evan Dreyer (85-28 at Anderson, nine years; 129-55 overall, 16 years)
HONOR ROLL
Antwoine Higgins, Jr, OLB – A dominating player whose best still lies ahead. Higgins was an OPSMA Division II Second Team All-Ohio and Second Team All-TriState Football selection as a sophomore. He heads into his junior year with 106 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 12.5 tackles for losses, nine pass breakups and two interceptions in 31 varsity games.
Ashton “Ace” Alston, Jr, DB – One of the nation’s best secondary players in the Class of 2027. Alston was named OPSMA Division II Second Team All-Ohio and Second Team All-TriState Football after getting in on 46 tackles, with 2.0 tackles for losses, two forced fumbles, 10 pass breakups, four takeaways (three INTs, one FR) and a pick-six as a sophomore.
Ke’Maury Tye, Sr, DB – Became a lockdown defensive back as a junior. Tye registered 59 tackles, had 2.0 tackles for losses, 17 pass breakups and a pair of interceptions on his way to OPSMA Division II Honorable Mention All-Southwest District accolades.
Reid Baker, Sr, LB – Back for his third season as a starter, Baker has been a beast in the middle of the Raptors defense. He was named OPSMA Division II Honorable Mention All-Southwest District as a junior. Baker has 156 tackles, 13.0 sacks, 28.5 tackles for losses, one forced fumble and four pass breakups in his career.
Brady Kuhn, Sr, LB – The “Kuhn-dog” busted out as a junior with 78 tackles, 5.0 sacks, 11.5 tackles for losses, one fumble recovery and seven pass breakups. He was named Honorable Mention All-ECC for his efforts.
OTHER RETURNEES
Tanner Holt, Sr, DL/LB – Provides much needed senior leadership on the defensive side of the ball. Holt was in on 20 tackles, had 2.0 sacks, 3.0 tackles for losses and an interception as a junior.
Quinn Gagen, Jr, C – A returning starter and leader of a young offensive line. Gagen helped pave the way for a Raptors offense that found the end zone 96 times (51 pass, 46 rush) in 2024.
Cooper Kathman, Jr, WR – Primed for a breakout campaign in 2025. Kathman had seven games with at least three catches and finished with 29 receptions for 434 yards and five touchdowns as a sophomore. In the first two rounds of the 2024 playoffs he combined to catch nine balls for 248 yards (27.5 yards/rec) and a pair of scores.
NEWCOMERS
A quartet of polished and proven junior transfers DB Mark Madden, WR Tysin Weaver, OL/DL Teegan Haretuku and RB Jordan Davis will fill major voids left by graduation. Madden was named OPSMA Division Second Team All-Southwest as a sophomore for Withrow. He has 59 tackles, a sack, an interception, 22 receptions, 282 yards receiving and three touchdown catches in his career. Weaver was named Second Team All-NKY a year ago at Simon Kenton. In two campaigns as a Pioneer he caught 106 balls for 1,617 yards and found the end zone 19 times (15 rec, four pass). Haretuku played in 20 games at Highlands. Davis was named Second Team All-ECC in 2024 after running for 671 yards, with five touchdowns rushing, 22 receptions and 122 receiving yards for Milford.
Already in the program and now ready to make weekly contributions at the varsity level are juniors QB Owen Scalf, WR Tegan Jallick, WR Nick Rosiello, DL Brayden Black and senior OL Bram Hermans. Scalf threw for 576 yards with eight touchdown tosses in a back up role as a sophomore. Rosiello ran for 165 yards, had eight receptions for 122 yards and three touchdowns (two rec, one rush) in 10 games a year ago.
OFFERS AND COMMITMENTS
Brady Kuhn, Sr, 6-4/220 – committed to the Air Force Academy.
Ke’Maury Tye, 5-11/190 – offers from Bowling Green, Eastern Kentucky, Eastern Michigan, Fordham, Kent State, Mercyhurst, Miami (OH), Ohio & Toledo.
Jordan Davis, Jr, 5-10/190 – offers from Kent State, Miami (OH) & Toledo.
Mark Madden, Jr 5-10/165 – offers from Central Michigan, Eastern Kentucky, Indiana, Kent State, Kentucky, Marshall, Miami (OH), UMass, Temple, Toledo & West Virginia.
Antwoine Higgins, Jr, 6-3/215 – offers from Alabama, Arizona State, Arkansas, Auburn, Boston College, Cincinnati, Duke, Eastern Kentucky, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Indiana, Kent State, Kentucky, Louisville, Maryland, UMass, Michigan, Michigan State, Missouri, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Pitt, Purdue, Sacramento State, Tennessee, Toledo, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech, West Virginia & Wisconsin.
Ace Alston, Jr, 5-11/175 – offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Boston College, Bowling Green, UCLA, Cincinnati, Duke, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Indiana, Kent State, Kentucky, LSU, Maryland, UMass, Miami (OH), Michigan, Michigan State, Missouri, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio, Ohio State, Oregon, Pitt, Purdue, Sacramento State, USC, Southern Mississippi, Temple, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Toledo, Vanderbilt, West Virginia & Wisconsin.
PLAYOFF HISTORY
(17 appearances, 30-16) – 2024 (State Runner-up), 2023 (Regional Champion), 2022, 2021, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2009, 2008 (State Runner-up), 2007 (State Champion), 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1996, 1994, 1992
2025 SCHEDULE
Fri – 08/22/25 – COOPER (14-1 in 2024) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 08/29/25 – WEST CLERMONT (7-4) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/05/25 – at Little Miami (1-10) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/12/25 – LEBANON (7-4) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/19/25 – at Kings (9-3) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/26/25 – MILFORD (4-7) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/03/25 – at Turpin (4-7) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/10/25 – WALNUT HILLS (1-10) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/17/25 – at Winton Woods (10-2) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/24/25 – LOVELAND (3-7) – 7:00 PM
2025 Active Leaders: ECC
A SEASON TO REMEMBER
Anderson was clicking on all cylinders in 2024. The Raptors lit up the scoreboard, scoring 726 points (45.4 PPG), fifth most in a season in Ohio history (the most ever in a 16-game season). Twelve times they scored 40 or more points and 50 plus on six occasions.
The defense was equally as good allowing just 10.8 points per contest. They held nine foes to seven points or less with three shutouts.
LIGHTING UP THE SCOREBOARD
In 113 games under Dreyer, the Raptors have scored 40 points or more 68 times. Anderson is averaging 39.3 points per game with Dreyer as the head coach.
