Beloit High School
Last Season: 6-4
Beloit enters 2026 with high expectations after a 6-4 season and a playoff win over Lakin before falling to Garden Plain in the regional round. Head coach Brad Gober, now in his 10th year at Beloit, returns a deeply experienced team with eight offensive starters and seven defensive starters back.
Sophomore quarterback Truitt King gives the Trojans a major building block after throwing for 1,820 yards and 14 touchdowns while earning honorable mention all-state recognition. He has proven targets in first-team all-league receiver Jacob Hand, senior Joel Fuller and senior Kanean Olson, while Paxton Fouts adds balance after rushing for 263 yards and four touchdowns and catching seven passes for 194 yards and two scores.
The line should be a major strength with Griffin Johnson and Kross Kemmerer leading the way in the trenches, joined by Kale Wessling and several physical newcomers. Defensively, Kemmerer posted 52 tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks, while Fuller had 44 tackles and two interceptions and Colton Adolph added 49 tackles.
“We are very excited about the 2026 Football season as we have a lot of experience back from last fall,” Gober said, adding that the Trojans expect to take a big step forward but must keep working every day to improve. With a young quarterback already producing at a high level and veteran help around him, Beloit looks like a serious threat in 2A.
Chaparral High School
Last Season: 5-4
Chaparral heads into 2026 with momentum after a five-win turnaround season and returns enough experience to believe another jump is possible. Veteran coach Justin Burke begins his 30th year in coaching and 22nd as a head coach, and he inherits a Roadrunners team that brings back 11 starters and 11 lettermen.
Senior quarterback Daniel Schmidt is the centerpiece as a three-year starter with speed, athleticism and the ability to impact the game at free safety. He is joined by senior Kenny Diaz, a tough runner and standout kicker, plus a big offensive front anchored by Brody Flores, Nick Brittain, Brandon Jones and other returning linemen.
Chaparral also has returning weapons in junior receiver/cornerback Trace Hadsall, junior H-back/linebacker Mason Walker and junior tight end/defensive end Ian Whisman. Burke points to good size in the trenches and an excellent kicking game as strengths, while depth at the skill positions, new schemes and replacing pieces in the linebacker and defensive backfield remain concerns.
“Coach Burke returns to Chaparral and will try to get the Roadrunners back to the top of the CPL and being a contender in Class 2A,” the outlook states, noting a strong summer turnout with 37 players at camp and an average of more than 35 high school players per day in the weight room. If the offensive line comes together and the defense settles in around new faces, the Roadrunners have the pieces to be a factor in the Central Plains League again.
Douglass High School
Last Season: 3-6
Douglass heads into 2026 believing experience can translate into real progress after a 3-6 season and a play-in loss to Garden Plain. Head coach Drew Carder begins his sixth year at DHS and third overall as a head coach, with the Bulldogs returning eight offensive starters and seven defensive starters.
Senior quarterback Kane Ast leads the way after throwing for 1,040 yards and 11 touchdowns last season while earning honorable mention all-league and all-district recognition at quarterback and defensive back. He will once again have senior tight end/linebacker Bronsyn Knisley, who caught 27 passes for 645 yards and eight touchdowns, and senior wide receiver/defensive back Wyatt Moore, who added nine catches for 92 yards.
The Bulldogs also hope to get a full season from senior Carter Green, who rushed for 712 yards and 14 touchdowns in just 5.5 games before suffering a torn ACL and still made first team all-league and all-district at running back/linebacker. Up front, Logan Spradling, Tanner Allan, Trevor Allan and Cale Bahm give Douglass four returning linemen with starting experience.
“The goals and expectations for this team are high heading into the 2026 season,” Carder said. “We will rely on a battle-tested senior group with plenty of varsity experience to help lead us throughout the year. We are also excited about the development of our incoming juniors and sophomores as they step into larger roles and gain valuable Friday night experience this season.”
Ellsworth High School
Last Season: 5-4
Ellsworth enters 2026 with experience, leadership and a large junior class expected to carry the load after a 5-4 finish last fall. Ninth-year head coach Josh Homolka said the Bearcats have had a strong summer in the weight room, and he believes the returning players who have taken meaningful snaps over the last two seasons give this team a solid foundation.
Junior quarterback Carson Jacobs headlines the offense after rushing for 727 yards as a sophomore and earning MVP nominee honors from the program. “Carson is a great leader. Had a really good season as a Sophomore at QB. He brings leadership both vocally and by example,” Homolka said, adding that Jacobs reminds him of past standout leader Will Cravens.
Ellsworth returns six offensive starters and will operate from a spread two-back, power spread system. Jacobs is joined by junior Bo Kyler at tight end/fullback, senior lineman Drew Davis, junior Ret Bohl and receivers Liam Stone and Jace Thomasson, giving the Bearcats a balanced mix of skill players and experience up front.
Defensively, Ellsworth also brings back six starters and will stay with an attacking 4-4 scheme built on pursuit, physical play and gap responsibility. Bohl returns after 21 tackles, Kyler had 16, Jacobs added 13 tackles and two interceptions, and Thomasson picked off two passes, while Homolka also singled out sophomore Gage Laas as an underclassman to watch after a strong JV season and key special teams contributions.
Garden Plain High School
Last Season: 9-2
Garden Plain enters 2026 off a 9-2 season and another deep playoff run, and head coach Todd Rice believes the Owls’ returning experience gives them a chance to do it again. Rice said last year’s team was very young, and while this group may be even younger, the amount of returning starters should help Garden Plain navigate another difficult schedule.
Junior Braylen Dold is the focal point after rushing for 641 yards and five touchdowns while also catching three passes for two more scores. Dold was also a playmaker on defense with 39 tackles, two interceptions and a touchdown, and the program nominated him as an MVP candidate entering his third year in the program.
The Owls’ flexbone attack returns multiple key pieces, including Trevor Catlin, Brock Randolph, Easton Pauly, Hunter Kampling and Carter Tasset. Rice said Garden Plain wants to establish a physical running game after averaging 280 rushing yards per game last season, and the triple option allows multiple players to touch the ball while demanding a team-first mentality.
Defensively, Garden Plain returns seven starters in a 4-2-5 that emphasizes stopping the run and avoiding big plays. Randolph had 45 tackles and four tackles for loss, Kampling had 47 tackles and two interceptions, Pauly made 52 tackles, and Wyatt Stulhsaltz added 46 more, giving the Owls a strong core for another push in 2A.
Halstead High School
Last Season: 2-7
Halstead heads into 2026 believing the experience gained during a difficult 2-7 season can pay off this fall. Fourth-year head coach Derek Racette said the minutes younger players were forced to take last year should help a Dragons team that now features a strong senior class backed by talented underclassmen.
Junior quarterback Damien Whillock leads the offense after throwing for 1,147 yards and seven touchdowns, while senior fullback Reece Carmichael rushed for 504 yards and four scores. Junior running back Edric Zorn is another centerpiece after totaling nine touchdowns, including seven rushing and two receiving, while also earning all-league recognition.
Halstead’s flexbone offense returns a solid front with Cruise Davison, Hudson Harrington, Noah Brantley, Cooper Hobbs and Greyson Swift all back. Racette said the Dragons’ ability to move players around and get athletes in space will be vital to offensive success.
Defensively, Halstead will operate out of a 4-2-5 and try to use multiple fronts and team speed to dictate the game. Carmichael returns after posting 83 tackles and eight tackles for loss, Zorn and Wyatt Hobbs each had two interceptions, and Jacob Bennett forced a fumble, giving the Dragons a core of experienced defenders to build around.
Haven High School
Last Season: 7-3
Haven comes into 2026 with plenty of proven firepower after a 7-3 season, and the Wildcats return six offensive starters and five on defense. Co-head coaches Thomas Cooprider and Drew Thalmann have veteran production back at the skill spots, led by senior quarterback Brogan Wray and junior running back Cole Brawner.
Wray stepped into the starting quarterback role last year and produced 1,444 passing yards and 11 touchdowns while adding 431 rushing yards and five more scores. “Brogan stepped into the starting QB role last year as a junior and executed the offense well. He’s very coachable, understanding the offense and serves as a coach on the field for us,” the coaches said.
Brawner gives Haven a true workhorse after rushing 232 times for 1,586 yards and 23 touchdowns, while senior receivers Kolton Altvater and Zade Turner combine for experience and production on the perimeter. The Wildcats describe themselves as a spread rushing team that is working to throw the ball more effectively, and with Cody Holzrichter back up front, the offense has a strong core in place.
Defensively, Jon Williams returns after posting 65 tackles, three sacks, four tackles for loss and an interception, while Wray added 59 tackles and four interceptions from the secondary. Turner and Holzrichter give Haven more experience on the second and third levels, and with this much proven production back, the Wildcats have the pieces to stay in the Central Plains League mix.
Kingman High School
Last Season: 2-7
Kingman heads into 2026 looking for a jump after taking its lumps with a young lineup during a 2-7 season in 2025. Head coach Tanner Hageman, now in his seventh year at the school, said the Eagles return nearly all of their key skill players but must rebuild much of the offensive line.
Junior quarterback Logan Birkenbaugh is the centerpiece after passing for 1,255 yards and 12 touchdowns while rushing for 404 yards and eight scores, earning honorable mention recognition at quarterback. He will again have proven targets in senior Trent Clark, who led the team with 21 catches for 384 yards and six touchdowns, plus Jaxson Campbell and Chris Hepburn, who combined for 35 catches, 484 yards and five scores.
Boston Beck adds versatility after contributing as a runner, receiver and return man, while Brennan Van Wyhe gives the line an all-league anchor up front. Kingman’s spread offense should have enough skill talent to stress defenses if the line develops quickly around returning and emerging players.
Defensively, the Eagles run a 3-3 stack and bring back first-team linebacker Boston Beck, first-team free safety Birkenbaugh and productive linebackers Campbell and Clark. Hageman said Kingman must take a giant step forward in competitive spirit, practice habits and fundamentals, and if that happens, the returning talent gives the Eagles a chance to make real progress in 2026.
Marion
Last Season: 7-3
Marion enters 2026 after a 7-3 season with first-year head coach Jackson Schneider, and the Warriors believe their mix of returning upperclassmen and younger contributors gives them a solid base. Schneider noted that Marion has moved up to 2A and will be one of the smallest schools in the classification, so the program plans to lean into its athleticism and play hard, fast and physical every week.
The offense returns seven starters and will use multiple formations and motions to get its athletes the ball in space quickly. Jackson Howard, Hitch Soyez, Isaac Wesner, Ryder Kraus and sophomore quarterback Jymer Raymer headline the key group, while Landon Hendricks gives the Warriors another young offensive piece.
Defensively, Marion returns six starters and plans to build around an aggressive unit that flies to the football and plays through the whistle. Soyez, Jordy Raymer, Tripp Peterson, Wesner, Howard and Kraus form the core of that defense, with Howard also serving as the MVP nominee after earning a football offer from Butler CC.
Jymer Raymer is the underclassman to watch because, as a sophomore, he is stepping into a new offense and taking over at quarterback. With league games against Remington, Inman and Hutch Trinity plus district matchups with Haven, Garden Plain, Halstead and Douglass, Marion should get tested quickly in its jump to 2A.
Minneapolis High School
Last Season: 3-6
Minneapolis enters 2026 looking to build off last year’s experience after a 3-6 finish in the NCAA and a playoff appearance in 2025. First-year head coach Garrett Galanski takes over after previously serving two years as head coach at the school and enters the season believing a young, hungry roster has something to prove.
Bryson Lonberger is one of the top returning pieces after rushing for 550 yards and four touchdowns, earning second-team all-league honors. He is joined by senior wide receiver and defensive end Brayden Johnson, who posted 285 yards and four touchdowns last season and gives the Lions a proven two-way playmaker.
The returning core also includes Kingston Deromnet, Josh White, Logan Briggs, Jasper Johns and Bladen Johnson, giving Minneapolis seven offensive returning starters and six on defense. Jasper Johns and Deromnet should help anchor the defense at linebacker, while Lonberger and Johnson bring experience on both sides of the ball.
Galanski’s notes on the upcoming season are brief but clear: “Young, hungry, out to prove doubters wrong, build upon last year.” With road games at Ellsworth, Beloit, Riley County and Southeast of Saline and home dates against Republic County, Council Grove, Norton and Marysville, Minneapolis will have plenty of chances to show how far it has come.
Southeast of Saline High School
Last Season: 12-1
Southeast of Saline enters 2026 coming off a 12-1 season and a run to the Class 2A state final, where the Trojans fell to Nemaha Central. Even with only two starters back on offense and two on defense, expectations remain high as Chance Ptacek takes over as head coach after serving 22 years as an assistant.
Senior quarterback/defensive back Tiernan Ptacek headlines the returning core after throwing for 1,174 yards and 13 touchdowns while rushing for 338 yards and seven more scores. He also made a major impact defensively with 38 tackles and three interceptions, earning first-team NCAA honors at defensive back and second-team all-state recognition.
Junior lineman Tristan Swank gives the Trojans a proven force in the trenches after posting 75 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and two sacks while earning second-team NCAA honors and honorable mention all-state recognition. Southeast of Saline also has a solid group of key contributors and newcomers to help reload, including seniors Lyrik Lilley and Josh Watkins, juniors Elijah Kejr, Kain Sawyers and Ryan Weller, plus sophomore Burton Brooks at quarterback/defensive back.
“The Southeast of Saline Trojans lost a very talented and experienced group to graduation along with the winningest coach in Southeast of Saline history but our expectations remain the same for 2026,” the team outlook states. The Trojans plan to lean on new leadership, established program standards and daily improvement as they try to stay among the state’s top 2A programs.
