WAYNESBORO – It used to be that winning was the exception for the Waynesboro Area Senior High School varsity football team.
Now, it’s the expectation.
Since 2014 (after more than two decades of losing seasons), the Indians have reeled off seven winning seasons, including last season’s 9-3 campaign that included the program’s first-ever District 3 playoff victory.
The road to another winning season begins Friday on the road against the same team that defeated Waynesboro in the 2021 district quarterfinals – Spring Grove. The Rockets pulled away to a 21-6 win after holding a 7-6 lead late in the second half.
The week before, Waynesboro rolled past Daniel Boone, 42-20 after spotting the Blazers a 14-0 lead.
“I expect we are going to make great strides in the first few weeks with our inexperienced guys, and we have game-changers in the skill positions,” said Waynesboro head coach Josh Sprenkle.
The Tribe has some positions to fill with the graduation of its starting quarterback (Louis Lindsay), 1,000-yard running back (Aidan Mencia) and game-changing wide receiver/returner (Brodie Rhodes), not to mention some hard-nosed defensive players.
Turnover is a fact of life in high school football, and that means the 2022 team will have to dispense with thinking about the memories of the previous season and get down to the business of putting the pieces together for a memorable 2022.
When the Indians take the field tonight in York County, senior Jaylon Bean will line up behind center at quarterback.
Blocking for Bean and running backs Cody Tharp, Mikel Holden and Wesley Bonebrake will be Parker Hull, Scott Campbell, Devin Topping, Ben Williams and Owen Long. Garrett Lowans, Robert Howard and Calvin Myers will be Bean’s targets at wide receiver.
Waynesboro will have a good number of two-way starters. Holden, Bean and Lowans will play the defensive back position, with sophomore Bryan Benedict also joining them in the defensive backfield.
Tharp and Hull will play linebacker, as will Rakim Gibbs.
On the line will be Williams and Long, along with Kaden Ditch and Kean Baumgardner.
Assistant coaches for the season will be William Dayhoff (offensive coordinator), Gabe Lesher, Brad Belford, Pat Reed, Ben Petrie, Gary Peck and Erica Vincent-Ondecko.
THE ROSTER
Seniors – Mikel Holden (fullback), Cody Tharp (guard/middle linebacker), Marcus Smith (defensive tackle/nose guard), Chase Aughinbaugh (wide receiver/cornerback), Kaden Ditch (guard/defensive end/defensive tackle), Jaylon Bean (quarterback/wide receiver/free safety), Wesley Bonebrake (running back), Garrett Lowans (wide receiver/cornerback), Devin Topping (guard/middle linebacker), Joe Quesada, Tristan Franklin (nose guard/defensive end)
Juniors – Robert Howard (free safety/slot back), Truitt Belford (inside linebacker), Jeramey Blanks (running back), Logan Lowans, Casey Brown (tight end/tackle), Parker Hull, Noel Castillo (middle linebacker/guard), Owen Long (defensive end/tackle), Jacob Ulrich (center/defensive tackle/nose guard), Nate Bennett (wide receiver/cornerback), Nick Brill (cornerback/wide receiver)
Sophomores – Ethan Alldredge (quarterback/running back/slot back), Nathan Nolan (running back/strong safety), Hayden Bullard-Richards (tight end/strong safety), Owen Shockey (wide receiver/outside linebacker/cornerback), Hayden Nolan (wide receiver/strong safety), Alex Torbica (tight end/outside linebacker/kicker), Cody Morgan (defensive end), Bryan Benedict (fullback/middle linebacker), Colby Smith (center), Ben Williams (tackle/defensive end), Kyler Hutchins (guard/defensive end), Quinton Welsh (free safety/cornerback), Brett George (tight end/strong safety)
Freshmen – Galen Myers (running back/outside linebacker), Mick Torbica (guard/defensive tackle), Kean Baumgardner (defensive tackle)
THE SCHEDULE
(* indicates Mid-Penn Colonial Division game)
Aug. 26, at Spring Grove, 7 p.m.
Sept. 2, at Hershey, 7 p.m.
Sept. 9, Chambersburg, 7 p.m.
Sept. 16, at *Greencastle-Antrim, 7 p.m.
Sept. 24, *Northern York, 1 p.m.
Sept. 30, at *Susquehanna Township, 7 p.m.
Oct. 7, *Gettysburg, 7 p.m.
Oct. 14, at *Mechanicsburg, 7 p.m.
Oct. 21, *Shippensburg, 7 p.m.
Oct. 28, *East Pennsboro, 7 p.m.
