Salina South
Last Season: 3-8
Salina South enters 2026 looking to break through after a 3-8 season, and second-year head coach Christien Ozores said the Cougars are a hungry team that believes the work of the past two years is ready to show up on Friday nights. He pointed to a strong offseason filled with effort and energy as a reason for optimism.
The offense returns seven starters and should have a real chance to be productive in a power spread scheme built on multiple formations, motion and getting playmakers into space. Junior quarterback Izrael Telles is the centerpiece after throwing for 2,269 yards and 24 touchdowns, while senior running back Armane Redmond added 1,053 rushing yards and eight touchdowns and senior receiver Jay Curtis caught 49 passes for 772 yards and nine scores.
Armando Franco, Simon Flores and Cooper Anderes also give Salina South experience in the trenches. Defensively, the Cougars return six starters and will use an odd-front system that mixes looks up front while keeping things simple in the secondary so players can play fast.
Kobie Henley, Maddox Girard, Jaxon Anthony, Caden Stauffer, Corbin Sparks Beason and Conner Riley headline that defensive core. Anthony’s six interceptions, Henley’s 74 tackles and Girard’s 68 tackles with five sacks suggest Salina South has enough returning production to be more dangerous than last year’s record indicates.
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