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Wayne QB shows old form in win over Centerville

Miller has a breakout effort against Centerville, with 4 TDs in returning Warriors to playoff contention.

Wayne High School quarterback Braxton Miller breaks into the open for a first-quarter touchdown against visiting Centerville in a Greater Western Ohio Conference showdown Friday, Oct. 23. It also was the Dayton Daily News Game of the Week.

Staff photo by Jim Witmer Wayne High School quarterback Braxton Miller breaks into the open for a first-quarter touchdown against visiting Centerville in a Greater Western Ohio Conference showdown Friday, Oct. 23. It also was the Dayton Daily News Game of the Week.

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By Kyle Nagel, Staff Writer 2:04 AM Saturday, October 24, 2009

HUBER HEIGHTS — Braxton Miller might have been back in rhythm when he ran for a 49-yard touchdown on the game’s second play.

Or, it might’ve been the Wayne High School junior quarterback’s 23-yard touchdown strike to Seth Stuart in the second quarter that passed through the Centerville defense into the back of the end zone. Maybe it was Miller’s 51-yard touchdown run to seal it.

It took none of them, he said, for him to feel back to form.

“It was when we won the coin toss,” Miller said. “I got a big smile on my face, and I was just like, ‘Yeah, this is it.’ ”

Miller, considered one of Ohio’s top recruits in his class, busted out from his subpar statistics and a thigh bruise injury that kept him out of two games and slowed him for two others to run for 165 yards and four touchdowns, and throw for 155 yards and another score in leading Wayne to a 42-20 defeat of Centerville on Friday, Oct. 23.

He was aided by running back Anthone Taylor, who gained 122 yards, and the Warriors defense that stopped Centerville on fourth down three times in the red zone.

But Miller, with his legs and arm, broke out from his midseason malaise to aid Wayne (6-3, 3-1) to a tie with the Elks (7-2, 3-1) in the Greater Western Ohio Conference Central Division.

“I’ve said for two years he’s the best high school football player I’ve ever seen,” said Centerville coach Ron Ullery. “That’s playing against us, on TV, anywhere.”

Miller scored twice, on runs of 49 and 2 yards, in the game’s first 1:53 to give Wayne a quick 14-0 lead. Centerville rallied to tie the game at 14 with two scoring runs (4 and 10 yards) from quarterback Zak Bertram.

Wayne, though, got the Miller pass to Stuart before halftime and two more Miller fourth-quarter scores (6 and 51 yards) to make the playoffs a real possibility.

On the 51-yard run, with 7:08 left in the game to give Wayne a 42-14 lead, there was one person in the stadium who nearly matched him step for step: Wayne coach Jay Minton charging down the sideline.

“I think I had him beat,” Minton said. “We’ve been waiting for it all year, that explosion.”

Miller’s best game

Stat	Average	Friday
Completion pct.	43.2	75
Pass yards	98.2	155
Rush yards	21.1	165
Yards per carry	2.3	11.8

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Braxton Miller is my hero

Spaceman
1:54 PM, 10/28/2009

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We beat the snot out of the grass chewers. Yay Wayne. Thanks to the Wayne team. I hate the elks and am so happy when they eat dirt in Heidkamp Stadium. To bad for the yellow team from the south.

77
9:00 AM, 10/27/2009

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Wayne Alum.I thougth u would know they will not get any point off of beat fairmont because they do not have any to give.Region 4 in Div.1 is some big boys it;s goning to be hard for them to get back in playoff this year.everyone in region 4,is play below 500 teams excpet Wayne who;s playing a 6-3 team like them and if Wayne lose they will fall no lower then 8.

football fan
10:22 PM, 10/26/2009

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Coach Minton is a good coach. It is sad to see that alot more players are not used. Isn't a coach suppose to bring out the best in every player, not just a few. You could really produce a power house team if utilizing all your talented players. Even the newspaper/media give all glory to or two players. The whole team needs to be built up and know they are needed.
dennis

deninis combs
2:14 AM, 10/25/2009

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Once again a Ron Ullery coached team chokes in a big game. How many more of these losses will have to happen before the A.D. decides it's time for a change. And when they make the playoffs, they get crushed by more balanced teams.
Oh wait, the A.D. is Ullery. D'Oh.

joe
1:52 PM, 10/24/2009

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