WACO football in 2022

WAYLAND — WACO football was one of the best in the area to grace the field back in 2021.

While they will be without eight from last year’s team, the Warriors have an abundance of talent to be one of the top teams once again.

At quarterback, Isaac Oswald makes his return. The senior threw the ball for 827 yards and 10 touchdowns last season.

Oswald also had 283 yards and six touchdowns on the ground last year, which was third best on a stout WACO ground game.

Oswald will be the main man running the offense, but Simeon Reichenbach, who leads the Warriors in rushing, also has the potential to sling the ball.

Reichenbach also a senior, threw for 95 yards and two touchdowns.

On the ground, it’s Reichenbach leading the way. In 2021, he ran for a whopping 1,413 yards and 23 touchdowns on 195 carries. He was one of the best in the area and this year is looking like it will be the same.

The Warriors will be without their second leading rusher in graduate Jon Rice. Rice ran for 411 yards and 11 touchdowns last season.

On the bright side, junior Reece Oswald is back. He ran for 302 yards and three touchdowns.

Senior Drew Diers follows as the third Warrior to return that finished with over 100 yards rushing last fall. Diers had 170 yards and three touchdown last time around.

Diers was also WACO’s leading receiver as far as yards go. He caught eight balls for 202 yards and five touchdowns.

Reichenbach followed in the receiving column with 176 yards on 11 receptions.

Two big receiving losses from 2021 for the Warriors are Jonah Clark and Jon Rice. Rice led in 2021 with 12 total receptions and Clark finished with 11. Both had 155 yards each.

Clark was also a force on the defensive end as well. Clark finished with 43 total tackles.

Diers led the Warriors with 52.5 total tackles, followed by graduate Tyler Sutton, 44 total.

The Warriors schedule matches last years. WACO won each of its regular season games last season, but fell in the 8-Man Quarterfinal round to Audubon.

Aug. 20 vs. Southeast Warren in Martensdale

Aug. 26 vs. Springville

Sept. 2 vs. HLV

Sept. 9 at English Valleys

Sept. 16 at Iowa Valley

Sept. 23 vs. New London

Sept. 30 at Lone Tree

Oct. 7 vs. Winfield-Mount Union

Oct. 14 at Tri-County