SHELBY — Welcome to Richland Source’s 2025 high school football preview. Over the coming days, we’ll preview all the schools across the county. Each preview features key players, this season’s schedule and what fans can expect under the Friday night lights.
Today, we preview the Shelby Whippets. Find all of our 2025 high school football previews here.
Graham Auto Mall is proud to back our area’s local athletes and help Richland Source provide fans in-depth coverage of the upcoming high school football season.
Shelby Whippets 2025 Preview
Division: IV
Region: 14
Conference: Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference
Coach: Rob Mahaney
Last year: 12-1
Schedule 📅
Aug. 22 — at Madison
Aug. 29 — LEXINGTON
Sept. 5 — at Bellevue
Sept. 12 — GALION
Sept. 19 — HIGHLAND
Sept. 26 — at River Valley
Oct. 3 — CLEAR FORK
Oct. 10 — at Ontario
Oct. 17 — PLEASANT
Oct. 24 — at Marion Harding
BY THE NUMBERS 📊
132
Total touchdowns quarterback Brayden DeVito has accounted for in his first three seasons under center. The senior has thrown for 85 TDs and rushed for 47.
8.8
Wins per season in six years under coach Rob Mahaney. The Whippets were 12-1 last year after going 10-3 in 2023.
5
Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference championships in coach Rob Mahaney’s six seasons. Shelby won the title outright last fall after sharing it with Ontario in 2023.
16.3
Points per game allowed by the Whippets last fall, the fewest in Mahaney’s six seasons at the helm. Shelby boasted the MOAC’s top-rated pass defense during the regular season, allowing 132.3 yards per game through the air.
PLAYERS TO WATCH 💪
BRAYDEN DEVITO
The Air Force Academy-bound quarterback will go down as one of the greatest passers in Ohio high school history. A two-time first-team All-Ohioan, DeVito has thrown for 9,645 yards through three seasons and is one pace to become just the fifth quarterback in state history to throw for more than 12,000 career yards.
BRADY BOWMAN
A junior receiver, Bowman led the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference with 78 catches for 1,477 receiving yards and 14 TDs. He was an All-Ohio first-team pick in Division IV.
CRYSTAL BALL 🔮
With Air Force recruit Brayden DeVito leading the charge, the sky is the limit for Shelby. DeVito will have an arsenal of talent at his disposal with the additions of transfers Carter Kessler (Mansfield Senior), Landon Foltz (Ontario) and Gavin Baker (Madison). That influx of talent will join a core that includes Brady Bowman, Michael Shepherd, Sam Gwirtz and Brayden Schartiger. It should be a season to remember. Until proven otherwise, the road to the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference championship runs through Shelby.
Love high school football? So do we! 🏈
Stay ahead of the game with exclusive updates, behind-the-scenes coverage, and expert analysis from veteran sports reporter Curt Conrad.
