Seven straight playoff appearances is an outstanding accomplishment but there is some emptiness in that achievement for the Roger Bacon seniors. They have not been a part of a MVC Scarlet championship or a postseason victory (no playoff wins since 2022, 0-4). The drive is there to rectify that situation but there are some big shoes to fill in order to make those goals happen for this class.
Gone is quarterback Bubba Smart who graduated as the school’s all-time leader in passing yards. His predecessor has yet to be determined. Also lacking experience is the offensive line. Head coach Mike Blaut will turn to captain Hunter Pauley to provide leadership up front. The good news is that the skill positions are loaded and deep with talent behind the likes of Liam Vargo, Jerome Smith and Evan Otto.
Defensively, the Spartans are a veteran group. Juniors Max DeFranco, Johnny Maisel and Miles Harris are all talented enough to play at the next level. Look for Harris to have a monster breakout campaign.
CHCA has been a thorn in the side of Roger Bacon’s league title hopes having lost the last three to the Eagles by an average margin of 14.3 points. Their Week 9 battle will be a great barometer of what we can expect from the Spartans as they head into the playoffs.
Division IV, Region 16
2025 RECORD: 5-6, 2-1 MVC-Scarlet
HEAD COACH: Mike Blaut (66-53 at Roger Bacon, 11 years; 66-53 overall)
HONOR ROLL
Liam Vargo, Sr, WR/DB, 5-11/185
2025 Honors: OPSMA Division IV Second Team All-Southwest District (DB)
2025 Stats: 42 rec., 365 ReYds, 7 ReTDs, 291 KR/PRYs, 58 Tkls, 2.0 TFLs & 5 PDs
Career Stats: 65 rec., 600 ReYds, 10 ReTDs, 23 RuYds, 333 KR/PRYs, 956 APYds, 115 Tkls, 2.0 TFLs, 1 FR & 6 PDs
Hunter Pauley, Sr, OL/DL, 6-2/305
2025 Honors: OPSMA Division IV Honorable Mention All-Southwest District
Tom Bedinghaus, Sr, TE/LB
2025 Honors: Second Team All-MVC Scarlet (for a second straight year)
3035 Stats: 64 Tkls, 2.0 sacks, 12.0 TFls & 1 FR
Career Stats: 129 Tkls, 2.0 sacks, 20.0 TFLs, 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 PD, 2 Ints & 10 IRYs
Evan Otto, Sr, WR/DB/P, 6-1/170
2025 Honors: Second Team All-MVC Scarlet
25 rec., 452 ReYds, 4 ReTDs, 17 Tkls, 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 PD & 2 PDs 26/31 XPs, 1/2 FGs, Lng 25 for 29 KPts, 35.6 on 30 punts, Lng 57, 9 In20
Career Stats: 27 rec., 521 ReYds, 5 ReTDs, 46 KR/PRYs, 19 Tkls, 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 PD, 2 PDs, 1 Int, 28/34 XPs, 1/2 FGs, Lng 25 for 32 KPts, 33.5 on 49 punts, Lng 57, 13 In20
Max DeFranco, Jr, TE/DE, 6-0/200
2025 Honors: Second Team All-MVC Scarlet
2025 Stats: 32 Tkls, 1.0 sack, 7.0 TFLs & 1 FR
Career Stats: 56 Tkls, 2.0 sacks, 11.5 TFLs & 3 FRs
OTHER RETURNEES
Miles Harris, Jr, TE/LB, 6-3/217
Career Stats: 23 Tkls, 1 PD & 1 FR (includes stats from freshman year at CHCA)
Nolen Murphy, Sr, WR/DB, 6-1/185
30 Tkls, 2.0 TFLs, 2 PDs, 2 Ints, 16 IRY, 4 rec., 52 ReYds & 1 ReTD
Caree Statsr: 46 Tkls, 1.0 sack, 3.0 TFLs, 2 PDs, 2 Ints, 16 IRYs, 7 RuYds, 5 rec., 59 ReYds, 1 ReTD & 9 KRYs
Johnny Maisel, Jr, TE/DE, 6-6/200
2025 Stats: 20 Tkls, 2.0 sacks, 3.0 TFLs & 1 PD
Xander Robertson, Jr, WR/DB, 5-10/155
2025 Stats: 6G, 20 Tkls, 3 PDs & 33 KRYs
Jerome Smith, Sr, RB/DB
2025 Stats: 5G, 346 RuYds, 5 RuTDs, 4 rec., 5 ReYds, 1 ReTD, 120 KRYs & 2 Tkls
Career: 994 RuYds, 13 RuTDs, 11 rec., 76 ReYds, 1 ReTD, 273 KR/PRYs & 1,343 APYds
NEWCOMERS
Eli Stenger, Jr, LB
RonDaez Allen, Sr, LB
Career Stats: 58 RuYds, 1 RuTD, 6 Tkls & 0.5 TFLs
Grant Speed, Sr, OL/DL
2025 Stats: 4 Tkls, 1.0 sack & 1.0 TFL
Brayden Blum, So, OL/DL
Layne Walsh, OL/DL
PLAYOFF HISTORY
(12 appearances, 9-12) – 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 (Regional Champion), 2019, 2010, 2005, 2001, 1998, 1997
2026 SCHEDULE
Fri – 08/21/26 – INDIAN HILL (13-1 in 2025) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 08/28/26 – at Western Hills (3-7) – 7:00 PM
Th – 09/03/26 – at Hughes (4-6) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/11/26 – McNICHOLAS (7-5) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/18/26 – at Bishop Ready (5-5) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/25/26 – HARVEST PREP (4-5) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/02/26 – at Williamsburg (10-1) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/09/26 – SUMMIT COUNTRY DAY (5-6) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/16/26 – CHCA (10-2) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/23/26 – at Purcell Marian (4-6) – 7:00 PM
