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Waynesville football powered by twin-threat QB

Luke Creditt big reason why Spartans are 11-0 and ready to face CJ.

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By Kyle Nagel, Staff Writer 11:15 PM Friday, November 11, 2011

Before last season, the Waynesville High School football program added move-in quarterback Luke Creditt.

He had grown up in Clinton County, but spent the previous year in Tennessee. As some of the Spartans attended a July camp, the coaching staff that created a solid dual-threat offensive scheme in the previous decade wondered how the all-around athlete would fit in.

“We got into our first practice,” Waynesville coach Brandon Philpot said, “and we weren’t sure what we had.”

The Spartans found out in a hurry. In two seasons as the starting quarterback, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound senior has helped Waynesville to a 19-3 record, a school-record 11 wins this season, a second-ever playoff win and a Division IV, Region 16 semifinal matchup with Chaminade Julienne tonight.

Heading into the 7 p.m. game against the surging Eagles (8-3) at Centerville High School, undefeated Waynesville (11-0) has used Creditt’s 162.8 passing yards per game, 106.1 rushing yards per game and 33 combined touchdowns to inspire its village and continue quarterbacking success at the school.

“I had come from places that had run the ball, and I was always kind of good at throwing it,” Creditt said. “It’s just different throwing it in a game, and I had to learn that.”

He learned quickly. After helping Waynesville to an 8-3 finish last season with a first-round playoff exit, Creditt led the high-scoring Spartans to a No. 1 regional seed, a No. 3 state ranking and a Southwestern Buckeye League Buckeye Division title.

Creditt follows a Waynesville quarterbacking line that includes standouts Joe Lamb (4,082 passing yards, 36 TDs from 2003-06) and Cory Young (3,722 yards, 37 TDs from 2006-09) in succession. Philpot wondered what the Spartans would look like when they graduated Young and all-time leading rusher Seth Millar (5,548 yards, 74 TDs) after 2009.

Creditt arrived, and Waynesville rolled. The players have kept traditions during their streak, including sitting in the same seats during meetings and bus rides and walking across the school’s campus to eat lunch with elementary school students as excitement has increased.

Creditt made the big play last week. Waynesville trailed Milton-Union 17-14 in the fourth quarter of its regional quarterfinal when Creditt turned a broken play into a 50-yard scoring pass to Ty Black with 8:24 left to seal a 21-17 victory and a regional semifinal appearance for just the second time.

“He’s a quiet leader, and he leads by example,” Philpot said. “He’s not a real vocal guy, but the guys know he means business.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7389 or knagel@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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