Waite football makes history

By: 
J. Patrick Eaken

History was made this football season at Waite High School. The Indians, for the first time, qualified for the playoffs.

Yes, the playoffs were expanded from eight to 16 teams per region, and yes, Waite was blown out by Medina Highland, 57-0, in a first-round game. Highland went on to defeat Anthony Wayne, 38-14, and lost to Central Catholic, 23-20, in the regional semifinals.

But every tradition must have its roots somewhere to become a tradition.

“Waite hasn’t been in the playoffs for a long time, so we are making history over here. I’m glad to be a part of making history,” said Waite 5-foot-10, 155-pound senior defensive lineman Jaiden Cope.

Waite coach Aaron Peacock added, “They were excited about it. It is something, turning the culture around, and building to win games and participating in stuff like this on a yearly basis. It’s great for them, it’s great for us and it’s great for Waite.”

Despite what seems like a lack of size, Cope was voted an Alan Miller Jewelers All-Press second team pick after garnering 40 tackles, including eight sacks and one fumble recovery. That’s not easy when many of the other 10 coaches voting did not even play Waite, but he made a name for himself on the offense and defensive line.

Cope wants to play college football, badly.

“I grew up loving this game. I’m probably not going to make it out of here if I don’t do well in football, so that’s really been my drive finding my way out of here because this place is terrible,” says Cope, adding that no one should take wordage too literally. He just wants to do bigger and better things.

“Jaiden Cope, honestly, I hope to see him playing at least D-II or D-I next year,” said Waite coach Aaron Peacock.

 

Indians show resilience

Waite finished 4-5, but 4-1 in the Toledo City League, which was the same as conference champion Start, but the Spartans defeated the Indians 34-15 to claim the title.

Waite lost three non-league games to open the season, then found itself with a 32-26 win over Rogers, 45-8 win over Woodward, 26-18 win over Scott, and 47-29 win over Bowsher. Scott had opened with four straight wins, defeating Cleveland John Hay, 22-14, Lorain Clearview, 34-22, Columbus Linden McKinley 31-20, and Vermilion, 25-13. For Waite, it was about getting the entire roster on gameday.

“Honestly, we were just healthy. We were pretty banged up at the beginning of the year,” Peacock said. “We lost a couple guys, got a couple guys back at the end of the year so we were just then getting healthy. That truly is what contributed to those wins.

“I just noticed the team cohesion and they were coming together. They finally got a chance to gel together. When you put different lineups in every week it is just so hard to actually do what we had to do. That was the first time we had the same lineup working together, so I think that is what it was and just getting the opportunity to be in the playoffs.”

In the win over Scott, 5-8, 250-pound senior running back Antwuan Ullis had a big day.

“We were just sticking to our game plan. Antwuan Ullis had 223 yards rushing and two touchdowns. The kid is amazing,” Peacock said. “Blocking was hands down. That has been our strength the last two years. They opened nice holes for him, and he was capitalizing on them.”

Ullis finished the season with 793 yards rushing on 102 carries, averaging 7.8 per carry, with 10 TDs. He also caught five passes for 32 yards and on defense had 15 tackles, including three sacks.

Peacock says he will be blessed because many on his offensive line will be back next year.

“Terrance Holbert and Rudy Walker, two juniors that are going to be coming back next year, plus Isiah Hyde, a 6-4, 270 sophomore is coming back next year, so we have solid lineman,” Peacock said.

Walker is 6-0 and 300 pounds, Hyde is 6-4, 270, and on defense he had a 5-10, 185-pound freshman linebacker, D’Angelo Haynes, who was voted second team All-Press after getting 27 tackles, seven sacks and a forced fumble.

Overall, Peacock said he loves his team’s resilience, winning four of their last six games.

“We actually were playing together. We were gelling and everything was working out,” Peacock said. “The guys were fighting all year long and they never gave up. They’ve been a tough group of kids and they haven’t given up at all. I really appreciate this team because they could have folded up a long time ago, but they didn’t.”

Cope said Peacock made practices challenging, and fun, and that made all the difference.

“So, I feel like we came together because we were focusing on team bonding because the losses that we had early in the season really hurt our confidence. So, we did some little competition things to help bring back the confidence in practice and make practice more fun,” Cope said.

Not only did Waite make the playoffs, but so did Rogers, Scott and Start, but all failed to win first round playoff games. In Division I, Start lost to Whitmer, 42-7, in D-III Rogers fell to Rocky River, 42-6, and in D-IV, Scott lost to Port Clinton, 47-0. Peacock says just getting the opportunity was half the battle.

“That is a big thing for us. I mean, the league that everybody says is not competitive has been really competitive the last few years,” Peacock said. “Now to see us have the opportunity to be in the playoffs, and it is not just us, it is multiple teams from the City League, I think is just wonderful for TPS.”

 

 

 

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