Canton-Galva
Last Season: 4-5
Canton-Galva enters 2026 believing it is in a better roster cycle after graduating only two seniors last year and three the year before, which now leaves the Eagles with more seniors and upperclassmen to supply leadership and experience. Ted Regehr said this is the group he had been looking forward to when he took over two years ago, and he believes the team has finally found its identity.
The Eagles return five offensive starters and appear to have better overall numbers than they have had since Regehr became head coach. Jaxon Nightingale, Jaxon Chrislip, Ethan Brozek, Mag Cathey and Wes Prieb headline the offense, and Canton-Galva’s optimism also comes from stronger day-to-day competition in practice.
Canton-Galva likes its new schedule and district draw and believes it can be competitive every Friday night with the goal of getting back to the playoffs after missing out the last two seasons. The tone of the preview suggests this is a veteran, more stable team that expects to peak late rather than simply rebuild.
Cedar Vale-Dexter
Last Season: 7-2
Cedar Vale-Dexter starts a new era in 2026 with Brad Cagle taking over for his first season as head coach and his first year leading a program. Cagle said the team still has plenty to build, but he likes the mix of returning upperclassmen and younger players and believes the group has real potential.
Junior quarterback Cooper Criss is the clear centerpiece after completing 96 of 156 passes for 1,611 yards, 24 touchdowns and three interceptions while also running for 425 yards and 10 more scores in eight games. Sophomore Easton Cole also returns with proven production after 26 catches for 458 yards and five touchdowns, and senior Jo Gage gives the roster another key two-way piece on the line.
Cagle made health the biggest issue for the Spartans after injuries derailed the end of last season. If Cedar Vale-Dexter can stay healthy, the returning quarterback production alone gives it a chance to be much more dangerous than a short questionnaire might suggest.
Clifton-Clyde
Last Season: 6-3
Clifton-Clyde looks set up for another solid season after going 6-3 and returning a core group with starting experience on both sides of the ball. Russ Steinbrock said early games will be important for building depth and answering personnel questions, but expectations are high if the Eagles stay healthy into district play.
The Eagles return five offensive starters and five defensive starters, with the same core expected to carry much of the load both ways. Senior Kyzler Damman takes over as the starting quarterback after helping run a dual-quarterback system last year, while Trenton Benne, Emitt Tiemeyer, Ryan LeClair, Striker Affolter and Jacob Newton give Clifton-Clyde experience at the skill spots and in the trenches.
Clifton-Clyde runs a multiple-set offense and a 3-2 defense. Damman is also the team’s MVP nominee, with Steinbrock praising his toughness, football intelligence, improved speed and strength, and leadership potential, all of which point to him being the player who most shapes the Eagles’ ceiling.
Ell-Saline
Last Season: 9-2
Ell-Saline enters 2026 trying to reload rather than rebuild after a 9-2 season and a fourth straight playoff appearance. Joe Roche said the Cardinals must replace eight graduates who started for two or more seasons, but he is confident in a group of varsity-ready players who had been waiting behind strong senior classes.
Julian Roche is one of the biggest storylines after moving from the line to quarterback for his first varsity season at that spot. He already brings proven all-around production after recording 42 tackles, two sacks and two interceptions last year, while Jaxsen Seed, Branton Gosvener and Asher Kejr also return as core two-way contributors.
Ell-Saline will run a shotgun spread on offense and a 3-3 defense. Roche specifically pointed to players like JT Moye, Maddox Moore, Luke Walker, Lucas Swetson, Spencer Rains and Ty Tillberg as talented newcomers to full-time roles, so the season may depend on how quickly that next wave turns potential into consistency.
Goessel
Last Season: 1-8
Goessel heads into 2026 with a developmental mindset after a 1-8 season, as Garrett Hiebert says the program remains focused on controllable habits, individual growth and building a stronger foundation for the future. He identified mental toughness, shared leadership and competitive fire as the traits that will matter most this fall.
The Bluebirds return several key pieces, led by senior quarterback and defensive back Brayton Base, who passed for 771 yards and 10 touchdowns last season while also contributing as a tackler and kicker. Senior Claudio Flores added 353 rushing yards, 26 catches and 108 tackles, while Wyatt Sommerfeld, Gage Abbott, AJ Hagewood and Josh Kahns give Goessel experience at tight end and in the trenches.
Hiebert said one early challenge is finding the right mix of experienced players and newcomers in the right positions after graduating five seniors. Goessel also moves to Division II this fall with a new schedule and new opponents, so the Bluebirds’ progress may be measured as much by weekly improvement as by pure record.
Oxford
Last Season: 7-2
Oxford looks built to lean into its identity again in 2026, with Kyle Westerman pointing to a big senior class, a run-heavy approach and a defense he expects to stay stout. The Wildcats return five starters on offense and five on defense, which should give them enough experience to stay productive after last year’s 7-2 finish.
Everything starts with senior Logan Gaither, who ran for 1,200 yards last season and also returns as the leading tackler at middle linebacker. Westerman calls him a tough, physical two-way player and the team’s MVP nominee, while senior Tyler Brown gives Oxford another major piece on defense at 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds.
Oxford’s base offense is the double wing, and Westerman says the goal is simple: run the ball, control the clock and force opponents to deal with a physical style. With Gaither back as the focal point and a veteran group around him, the Wildcats look capable of repeating as one of the tougher small-school teams on their schedule.
Rock Hills
Last Season: 0-8
Rock Hills heads into 2026 with a very simple message from first-year head coach Justin Abbott: this team is going to surprise people. After an 0-8 season, the Grizzlies return eight starters on both offense and defense, which gives them a much more experienced base than most winless teams usually bring back.
Offensively, Rock Hills will line up in the I formation and try to control the clock and wear defenses down. Senior Eli Welchel is the featured force at fullback, junior quarterback Layn Badger returns to run the offense, and sophomore Wayson Colson plus athletes Braden Juarez and Tuff O’Connor give the Grizzlies some younger skill talent to build around.
Defensively, Welchel again stands out as the team’s MVP nominee at linebacker and defensive end, while Colson, Ty Vance, Badger, Juarez and O’Connor give Rock Hills returning experience at every level. Abbott also pointed to Colson as the underclassman to watch, which fits a roster that appears to mix a few key seniors with younger players expected to take on major roles immediately.
Solomon
Last Season: 3-6, lost in 1st round to Lincoln
Solomon enters 2026 in rebound mode but with real momentum after posting three wins last fall, its best total in six seasons. Head coach Devin Rizzo, now in his third year leading the Gorillas, believes a large, experienced senior class and the program’s growing confidence can turn that progress into sustained success.
The Gorillas return seven offensive starters and four defensive starters, highlighted by senior running back/linebacker Matt Hamm-Jones, who rushed for 618 yards and seven touchdowns and finished second on the team in tackles. Senior quarterback Breken Coup is back after throwing for 963 yards and eight touchdowns, while seniors Jack Westhead, Koehn Duryea and Junior Gonzalez plus juniors Aiden Sreap and Ryder Sutton give Solomon veteran playmakers at receiver, fullback, linebacker and along both lines.
Solomon will stay in its power spread offense with a 3-3 multiple defense, and Rizzo notes that the roster could reach about 30 players, its largest in a decade. The main concern is offensive line depth, but the staff is optimistic that younger linemen can grow into roles as the season progresses.
South Sumner
Last Season: 3-6
South Sumner looks like one of the more seasoned 8-Man Division I groups in the area, returning 10 starters on both sides of the ball from a 3-6 team. Head coach Sean Blosser, entering his fifth year with the Outlaws after previously leading Caldwell, said the team had a great summer and is excited to improve as it moves back to 8-man football full-time.
Up front, multi-year starters Tony Trillo, Dalton Kelly and Colt Schmidt anchor an experienced offensive line expected to open running lanes for senior quarterback/running threat Mak Blosser and senior back Maddox Pond. Blosser also highlighted Caleb Boone, Cole Spencer and Tanner Clark at tight end and receiver as key pieces who can give the offense versatility.
Defensively, the Outlaws again lean on their senior core, with Kelly, Trillo, Schmidt, Brody Heater and Ely Thompkins competing along the defensive line and Clark, Will Theurer and Boone returning at linebacker. In the secondary, Pond, Blosser, Spencer and Gabe Crampton provide depth, and the overall tone of the outlook suggests South Sumner expects to contend if its veteran group continues to lead week to week.
Sylvan-Lucas Unified
Last Season: 11-2
Sylvan-Lucas enters 2026 with high expectations after an 11-2 season, but Ben Labertew made it clear the Mustangs still have some important spots to fill if they want to stay at that level. He likes the core returning group, though, and believes the key will be having younger players grow into bigger roles quickly.
The offense will stay true to Sylvan-Lucas’ identity with a double-tight, run-heavy approach. Senior Zayne Maupin is the obvious centerpiece after rushing for 1,900 yards last season, while senior Cai Labertew and junior Lane Brokes give the Mustangs proven physical pieces around him.
Maupin is also the team’s MVP nominee, with Labertew describing him as an extremely hard worker and a great overall football player. Cai Labertew adds another senior two-way anchor after recording 95 total tackles, and Brokes gives the team a major junior presence at 6-foot-7, 250 pounds after posting 70 tackles last year.
With only four offensive starters back, Sylvan-Lucas may need a little time to settle its supporting cast. Still, when a team returns a 1,900-yard rusher and multiple physical two-way leaders from an 11-2 season, the baseline remains very strong.
Udall
Last Season: 0-9
Udall heads into 2026 in full rebuild mode after an 0-9 season, but first-year head coach Mike Wilhelm said the Eagles have had a decent summer in the weight room and on the practice field and are focused on learning how to get better every day. The emphasis is on competing, building on small successes and growing confidence in one another rather than expecting instant results.
Offensively, Udall returns just three starters and will work from a balanced I formation, though Wilhelm thinks the team’s early strength may be throwing the ball. Junior quarterback Jace Harness is the key piece under center, with sophomore running back Crayton Smith, sophomores Grayson Lawhon and Henry Erb up front and at tight end, and sophomore receiver Conner Akred giving the Eagles young skill talent to develop.
Defensively, Udall brings back two starters and will line up in a 3-3 base designed to limit big plays and keep the ball in front. Senior defensive end Frank Campbell and junior linebacker Harness headline the front seven, while Lawhon, Anthony Grahem, Braydon Akred and freshman safety Elijah Myers round out a group that will try to grow into a more consistent unit as the season goes on.
The schedule starts with three straight road games and includes matchups with Erie, Oxford, Central Burden, Cedar Vale-Dexter and South Sumner, so Udall will be tested early. For a young, inexperienced roster, the real measure of success may be how much tougher and more competitive the Eagles become by late October than the final record alone suggests.
