SECTION IV FOOTBALL: WAVERLY'S MILLER USING PRESEASON TO PREPARE FOR SEASON-OPENER AGAINST TROY (16 PHOTOS) (2025-08-18)
By TIM BIRNEYValley Sports ReportWAVERLY — Blessed with big numbers, Waverly coach Jason Miller and his staff will dedicate the entire, albeit abbreviated, 2025 preseason camp to prepare for its season-opener Aug. 30 against defending PIAA champion Troy.
"It's always exciting to be back on the field," said Miller. "We do so much in the summer, but it's good to have all the kids here.
"We have good numbers in the summer, but this is the first time we've had all 72 together.
"We have 40 on varsity, and we're still looking at a few more," added Miller.
Troy, which began its preseason camp Aug. 4, will have four weeks of practice, plus its season-opener at Sayre on Friday under its belt by the time it plays at Waverly.
"It's going to be an extremely fast preseason," said Miller. "We're just trying to be as basic as we can, yet develop a game plan that challenges (Troy) a little bit.
"They're a few weeks ahead of us, and we have some green kids.
"The entire preseason is dedicated to Troy," noted Miller. "It always that way with Week Zero, whoever we play, we focus on them — you really have to.
"There's an element of Xs and Os that you have to prepare for, especially for (Troy)," he said. "They do a lot of different things, and do them well.
"We've got young kids who have to get ready to be in that position," added Miller. "Fortunately, we have a core group that's been there and done it."
The Wolverines will bump up to Class B in 2025, which means it will need to get through Maine-Endwell to get to the state playoffs.
"We know we can compete," said Miller. "We look at every game as a one-game season.
"Our goal hasn't changed, we want to put ourselves in a position to have a home playoff game. I think it gives us a little advantage.
"I feel like we're definitely a team that can contend for a Sectional title, even up a class," he noted.
"Of course, that road block is always Maine-Endwell or Chenango Forks, it really doesn't change," added Miller.
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IN PHOTO 1: Waverly coach Jason Miller. IN TOP PHOTO: Waverly junior Ben Shaw. ... PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY.
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