| Wayne / Centerville Rivalry |
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Wayne began playing varsity football in 1956. They matched up against Centerville in their third game ever. They met again the next year in week 3, and in 1958 Wayne joined Centerville in the Little Buckeye League (LBL)(1). The teams played annually as members of the LBL until it disbanded following the 1963 season(2). With the departure of the LBL, Wayne moved into the newly formed Western Ohio League starting in 1964. Centerville joined with other LBL teams to form the Dayton Suburban League. The schools did not play each other in 1964 or 1965, but reconvened in 1966 and 1967 on a non-league basis. In 1968 Centerville joined Wayne in the WOL.
Through 1980 the one-sided "rivalry" had been played 23 times with Centerville winning 15 (7 by shutout) including the last six by a margin of 228-36(3)(4).
In 1981, following an 0-10 season, Wayne hired head coach Mike Schneider, previously at Miamisburg. Schneider immediately turned the program around and in week 8 the 6-1 Elks, riding a 53 game WOL winning streak, came to Heidkamp Stadium to face the 5-1-1 Warriors(5). The game was an epic struggle with Centerville holding a 6-0 lead through three quarters. In the fourth quarter Schneider called for a fake punt from the Wayne 28-yard line. Ric Albani connected with Mike Krumnauer, and the resulting 72-yard touchdown put Wayne in the lead. A few minutes later Pat McGillivary would seal the deal with an interception return resulting in the 13-6 final score.
It was with this victory that Wayne began its ascent into one of the Dayton area's premiere programs.
Centerville would prevail the next two years, but the 1984 game was significant.
The 1984 squad was Wayne's first truly great team. Led by future WHS Hall of Famers Greg Shackleford on defense and Roosevelt Mukes on offense, they dominated their first nine opponents by a combined score of 294-62 en route to a #6 state ranking. Centerville was even better, ranked #2. Centerville hosted the season ending showdown and the Warriors went into the locker room with a 14-6 lead. The Elks would take charge after halftime, scoring 22 points in the first nine minutes, winning by a final score of 28-20. The victory would put Centerville into the playoffs, the first Dayton Area Division I team to do so(6).
Every Wayne / Centerville game from 1981-90 would decide the WOL title.
Wayne was victorious only twice (1981 & 1985) during Centerville's 12-year Decade of Dominance (1975-1986).
Since 1985 Wayne holds the edge in the series, having won 25 of 43.
The 1987 team was Wayne's first to go through the regular season undefeated and the first to make the playoffs. The Warriors made the playoffs each of the next three years as well, going 38-2 over the regular season in that four-year span.
In 1991, Centerville ran through the playoffs to the state championship game, achieving another first for Dayton Area Division I teams. They finished as state runners-up, losing out to Cleveland St. Ignatius, 24-21.
Probably the most memorable game since 1984 was the 1999 week 9 matchup of undefeateds, with Wayne under the direction of second year head coach Jay Minton and led by future NFLer Will Allen. An estimated crowd of 13,000+ packed 5,000 seat Heidkamp Stadium(7). Centerville prevailed 35-14, but it would be Wayne's only loss that year until the state championship game. This was the first Wayne game to be televised.
In 2005, in addition to the regular season game, the teams met in the second round of the playoffs at Paul Brown Stadium. Centerville led comfortably in the fourth quarter, 28-10, when Wayne switched to their two-minute drill and caught fire. Alex Earley threw three touchdown passes in a span of 4:19 as the Warriors shocked the Elks, 29-28. Centerville finished the year 10-2, with their only two losses being to Wayne.
Also noteworthy was the 2010 week 8 contest at Centerville, which was moved to Thursday night so it could be televised on ESPNU. Braxton Miller threw two TD passes as Wayne won that night. They would be victorious again four weeks later when the teams matched up in the second round of the playoffs at Welcome Stadium. The playoff game was one for the ages, a 35-34 double overtime thriller, with Wayne on the way to its second state championship game.
The 2014 season finale featured two 9-0 teams, the first time since the 1984 game that both teams were undefeated in a week 10 matchup. Centerville prevailed at home in a freezing rain, 19-14, with Wayne turning the ball over seven times. Similar to 1999, it would be Wayne's only loss until the state championship game, their third.
As a result of the Coronavirus pandemic, the 2020 regular season was shortened to six games. Wayne traveled to Centerville in week 3 and pulled out a 28-23 victory on a Cam Fancher 35-yard TD pass to Bryan Kinley with 14 seconds left in the game. Four weeks later, Centerville visited Wayne in a first-round playoff matchup. The teams were tied 7-7 at halftime, before Wayne pulled away in the second half for a 20-10 victory.
Fans at the season ending 2021 contest saw the Warriors put on a rushing clinic. Bryan Kinley went for 221 yards, (214 in the first half), and Jordan Ward nearly matched him with 184. Each had 3 rushing touchdowns as Wayne tallied 456 yards on the ground, winning by a score of 42-21.
In summary, Wayne and Centerville have met every year since 1956, with the exception of 1964 and 1965. It is the longest rivalry for either school. Through 2024 the teams have played 70 times in 69 years, with Centerville holding the edge 36-33-1.
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(1) Centerville was an inaugural member of the LBL, having joined when they started football in 1948.
(2) The LBL was composed of smaller schools. From 1961 to 1963 the other members were Carlisle, Covington, Dixie, Germantown, Jefferson, and West Alexandria. At the time Wayne and Centerville were both fairly small schools. Wayne's graduating class in 1961 was 111. Refer to Little Buckeye League
(3) Wayne's battle cry for the 1980 game was "44 no more", in reference to CHS' 44 game WOL winning streak.
(4) Wayne's primary rival to this point was Stebbins.
(5) The 1981 battle cry was "53 is all they'll see".
(6) 1984 was the last year that only two teams per region qualified for the playoffs. In 1985 the playoffs were expanded to four teams per region. Refer to OHSAA Classes & Divisions
(7) The fire marshal was not pleased.
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All data herein was compiled by Jim Becker, WHS '81
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