2026 Team Preview: Wayne Pioneers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 30% Off Your Subscription with Code PRZWV30 at Checkout!</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>2025 SEASON RECAP</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Biggest Losses: ATH Kaiden Hayton - RB/DB Jayden Wayman - WR/DB Jake Davis - DB Ashton Walker - OL/DL Eli Richards - OL/DL Garrett Adkins - TE Malachai Adkins - OL/DL Armando Batista - OL/DL John Vanatter</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wayne went 4-6 in 2025, marking the end of longtime head coach Tom Harmon's tenure as he retired after many years of leading the Pioneers. A coaching change now gives Wayne a fresh start heading into 2026, as David Adkins takes over to get the Pioneers back to the level of success they've been accustomed to in Class AA in years past. Wayne has a strong football tradition, and the new era will be about getting the program back to playing the kind of football that made it a perennial contender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>2026 SCHEDULE</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8/28: at Tolsia<br>9/4: vs Scott<br>9/11: at Mingo Central<br>9/18: vs Logan<br>10/2: vs Lincoln County<br>10/9: at Tug Valley<br>10/16: at Chapmanville<br>10/23: vs Sherman<br>10/30: at Williamstown<br>11/6: vs Sissonville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 Record:&nbsp;</strong>4-6<br><strong>2026 Prediction</strong>: 4-6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>2026 OUTLOOK</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wayne faces plenty of questions heading into the first season of the David Adkins era after graduating a large senior class that accounted for a lot of the program's recent production. Replacing that experience will be a challenge, especially with several new faces expected to step into important roles across the roster. That uncertainty also creates an opportunity for a new group of Pioneers to establish themselves and help shape the direction of the program under its new head coach. Expect plenty of new players to emerge as Wayne begins this new chapter and starts building toward its next era of success.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>COLLEGE PROSPECTS TO KNOW</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2247882"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a4a77091ca8e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>RETURNING STANDOUT</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wayne has an experienced returning player to lean on in 2027 RB/LB Donte Worrell as the Pioneers break in a new coaching staff and replace a large senior class. Worrell earned Honorable Mention All-State honors as a junior after a strong junior season, showing the athleticism and physicality that make him difficult to handle at 5'8 190. His compact build doesn't stop him from playing with plenty of strength and a downhill style that should translate well into an even bigger role as a senior. Worrell remains an under-the-radar name, but with so much production and leadership gone from last year's team, expect him to be one of Wayne's players who steps up even bigger in 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2135996"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a4a770920ebe"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>RETURNING STANDOUT</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wayne has a returning playmaker in 2028 WR/ATH Elias Haffer who can be used in several different ways within the Pioneers' offense. Haffer saw some time at quarterback as a sophomore while also contributing in other roles, showing the quickness and shiftiness to create when the ball is in his hands. He does a good job finding space and can turn a routine touch into a chunk play with his burst and ability to make defenders miss. That flexibility fits well in Wayne's Wing-T scheme and gives the Pioneers another athlete they can move around. Haffer's role should continue to expand as a junior, making him one of the more intriguing players to watch at Wayne.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtnOWkqyFR8","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtnOWkqyFR8 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2111879"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a4a770920f52"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>BREAKOUT CANDIDATE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2029 Wayne QB Trai Hayton saw a lot of varsity action as a freshman last season and showed flashes of developing into a standout player in time. Hayton already brings a strong 6'0 210 frame to the position, giving him a good base to continue developing physically as he gains more experience. As the younger brother of former Wayne standout Kaiden Hayton, he's been around the game for a long time, but now has the opportunity to build his own path as the Pioneers' quarterback. The more he settles into the position and gains varsity experience, the more his overall game will develop. Hayton has three more years ahead of him and will steadily develop into a future star for the program beginning this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>OTHER PLAYERS TO KNOW</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cobie Jackson - 2027 OL/DL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Brayden Lowe - 2028 LB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Brayden McCormill - 2028 TE/DL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Brady Collins - 2029 LB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Colby Brooks - 2029 OL/DL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Connor Adkins - 2029 OL/DL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jaxon Hodge - 2029 ATH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->