An intriguing team to keep an eye on this fall will be Waynesville. The future is promising but how fast can the Spartans turn potential into rewarding results is the big question. Here is why the ‘Ville is so intriguing.
Waynesville returns 10 starters on offense and nine on defense yet there are only five seniors on the roster. Very few players on this team made an impact on the 2024 squad that went to the regional finals. Last season, the young Spartans finished 4-6 against a schedule that saw eight opponents finish the year with winning records. They went 2-6 in those battles. If the underclassmen can step up in leadership roles this could be a pleasantly successful campaign.
Expect the Waynesville offense to vastly improve when it comes to putting points on the board after averaging just 17.8 points per game in 2024. The pitch-and-catch combo of quarterback Gregory Marlow and receiver Tyce Rutledge have already established themselves as one of the best in the Class of 2028. 39% of Marlow’s completions went to Rutledge a year ago. They combined for 13 of the team’s 22 touchdowns (Marlow, eight rush; Rutledge, five rec), a year ago. The Spartans running game needs to find its identity to compliment the passing game for offensive balance.
Attention to detail, doing all the little things better than they did a year ago will be the difference between a good and great 2026 for Waynesville. The Spartans just missed out on the playoffs last fall but youth and inexperience weighed down their ability to close out games. Don’t expect that to be a problem this season.
Division V, Region 20
2025 RECORD: 4-6, 2-4 SWBL Buckeye
COACH: Ben Johnson (32-27 at Waynesville, six years; 70-63 overall, 13 years)
TOP RETURNEES
Tyce Rutledge, Jr, WR/DB, 6-1/185
2025 Honors: OPSMA Division V Honorbale Mention All-Ohio (WR)
2025 Stats: 43 rec., 792 ReYds, 5 ReTDs, 408 KR/PRYs, 1,200 APYds, 66 Tkls, 1 FR, 4 PDs & 1 Int
Gregory Marlow, Jr, QB, 5-11/195
2025 Honors: OPSMA Division V Honorable Mention All-Southwest District
2025 Stats: 1,534 PaYds, 11 PaTDs, 290 RuYds, 8 RuTDs, 113 KRYs & 403 APYds
Mac Sullivan, Sr, TE/LB, 6-2/220
2025 Honors: Honorable Mention All-SWBL Buckeye
2025 Stats: 34 Tkls, 1.5 TFLs, 3 PDs, 2 Ints, 30 IRYs, 1 IRTD, 5 RuYds, 13 rec., 133 ReYds & 1 ReTD
Hudson Back, Jr, LB, 5-8/170
2025 Honors: Honorable Mention All-SWBL Buckeye
2025 Stats: 82 Tkls, 1.0 sack, 4.5 TFLs, 1 FF, 2 PDs, 2 Ints, 9 IRYs, 48 RuYds, 1 rec. & 5 ReYds
Hayden Harrison, Sr, OL/LB
2025 Stats: 61 Tkls & 1.0 TFL
Career Stats: 88 Tkls & 3.0 TFLs
Harrison Byrd, Sr, WR/DB, 6-0/170
2025 Stats: 4G, 7 rec., 62 ReYds, 1 ReTD, 3 Tkls & 1 Int
Luke Wiley, Jr, LB
2025 Stats: 27 Tkls, 1.0 TFL, 2 PDs, 39 RuYds, 4 rec., 29 ReYds & 17 KRYs
John Baker, So, TE/LB
2025 Stats: 39 Tkls, 1.5 TFLs, 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 PD, 93 RuYds, 1 RuTD, 9 rec., 107 ReYds & 1 ReTD
Daltan Taylor, So, DL
2025 Stats: 35 Tkls, 6.0 sacks, 6.0 TFLs, 1 FF, 1 rec., 9 ReYds & 1 ReTD
Hunter Shear, Sr, OL
Benny Bingle, Jr, OL
Landry Garner, So, OL, 6-2/285
Chase Kazmierski, So, DB
2025 Stats: 3G, 32 RuYds, 4 rec., 77 ReYds, 55 KR/PRYs, 6 Tkls & 0.5 TFLs
PLAYOFF HISTORY
(14 appearances, 5-14) – 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2016, 2015, 2010, 2009, 2004, 2001, 1984, 1980
2026 SCHEDULE
Fri – 08/21/26 – CLINTON-MASSIE (10-2 in 2025) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 08/28/26 – at Greeneview (7-4) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/04/26 – HILLSBORO (5-6) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/11/26 – BROOKVILLE (10-2) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/18/26 – at Oakwood (6-4) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/25/26 – at Dayton Christian (6-5) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/02/26 – at Carlisle (10-3) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/09/26 – MADISON (1-9) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/16/26 – EATON (2-8) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/23/26 – at Valley View (11-2) – 7:00 PM
