Luke Waddell shatters a nearly half-century-old Loveland High School rushing record
Oak Hills, Ohio – Luke Waddell said that he didn’t know he smashed Loveland High School’s 49-year-old, single-game rushing record until record keeper and facilities manager, Kevin Taylor told him after the game. “I was honestly shocked. I knew I had a good game, but didn’t know I broke any records. So, it was pretty exciting,” said Waddell.
The 5 foot 8 inch, 165 lb. Junior, eclipsed the record by 73 yards in the 45-14 win over Oak Hills on
September 11. The previous record of 308 yards was set in 1966 by Loveland High School Hall of Famer Jack McCoy.
Waddell ran 19 times for 383 yards, and scored 5 touchdowns. He also had 2 receptions and 6 receiving yards making his total for the game, 389. His average run over Oak Hills was 20.2 yards.
Waddell said, “That night, I really didn’t think much about any records. When I was told how many yards I had, I was surprised I had that much. I was just happy we played so well on both sides of the ball to get the win.
Loveland Athletic Director Julie Renner said, “Luke Waddell is a smart and talented student-athlete. He is also a team player who enjoys and supports his teammates.” Renner says that you can tell Waddell loves being a Loveland Tiger and representing his school and community.
In 3 games of the young season, Waddell has racked up 641 (213.7 avg.) rushing yards and 7 rushing touchdowns. Add to that, in 3 games Waddell has 3 receiving touchdowns and an extra 250 receiving yards. His total offensive output for the season is 892 yards.
In 2014, Waddell surpassed the 48-year-old school record of 1358 rushing yards in a single season set by McCoy in 1966.
Photographer David Burig was at the game shooing stills for Loveland Magazine, and often shoots from the opposing team’s sideline. He described one play from last week’s record setting game. Burig said, “Oh no’, is all one of the Oak Hills coaches could mutter in quiet resignation as Luke was handed the ball from quarterback Drew Plitt. Luke looked for a hole in the line that wasn’t there, then bounced to the outside before squaring his shoulders and accelerating from a casual trot to full speed in three steps on his way to his fifth touchdown of the game.” Burig said he’s heard a lot of things said about Luke while anonymously photographing games from the sidelines. “Superlatives by most; expletives by others, and utter disbelief by some of the players who’ve tried to catch him from behind.” These are Burig’s photographs from the game, and one from Waddell’s four touchdown performance against Lakota East in the season opener.
Renner said that Waddell has not commented to a college yet. “He is being recruited by several who are interested in him coming to their school as a baseball player and student.” As a Sophomore, Waddell was named to First Team in the Eastern Cincinnati Conference for baseball and batted 0.462. He went to the third round of the prestigious,Connie Mack World Series this Summer with the Midland Redskins. “Luke is a performer in his respective sports and in the classroom. Luke gives his best effort in many areas of his life,” said Renner.
Waddell was a valuable member of the Tiger’s 2013 State Champion football team as a Freshman, with 175 yards on 19 carries and a touchdown, in the championship game in Canton.
