Kapaun Mt. Carmel Crusaders – Football Team Preview

Kapaun Mt. Carmel Last Season: 12-1, 4A state champion Kapaun moves back up to 5A after winning the 4A state title and going 12-1 last season, so the Crusaders clearly enter 2026 as one of the strongest teams in this batch. Weston Schartz’s team also won the GWAL title and returns a large share of […]

Hutchinson Salthawks – Football Team Preview – Presented by Greg West – State Farm Agent

Hutchinson Last Season: 7-3 Hutchinson starts 2026 under first-year head coach Luke Berblinger after a 7-3 season, with the Salthawks emphasizing team culture, physical play and discipline. The schedule is demanding right away with Andover, Derby, Salina South, Campus, Maize, Salina Central, Maize South and Valley Center all on the slate. Offensively, Hutchinson returns six […]

Goddard Lions – Football Team Preview

Goddard Last Season: 6-4 Goddard enters 2026 after a 6-4 season and four straight winning years, but Tommy Beason says this is the program’s biggest rebuilding challenge in recent memory. The Lions return 37 lettermen, but only three offensive starters and two defensive starters from game one, while also trying to replace a senior class […]

Eisenhower Tigers – Football Team Preview

Eisenhower Last Season: 2-7 Eisenhower went 2-7 last year, but the Tigers return enough experience to believe they can be more competitive in 2026, especially on defense. Darrin Fisher’s team brings back eight defensive starters and a senior-heavy core, even though it must replace major offensive production at quarterback, running back and wide receiver. The […]

Bishop Carroll Eagles – Football Team Preview

Bishop Carroll Last Season: 6-4 Bishop Carroll enters Chris Jaax’s second season with strong optimism after a 6-4 year, and the Eagles believe returning 15 starters plus a productive offseason in the weight room gives them a chance to take a step forward. The staff said the end of last season built real confidence, and […]

South Central Kansas Football Previews – Class 3A

Class 3A capsules Andale High School Last Season: 13-0, 3A state champion Andale enters 2026 as the defending Class 3A state champion after a 13-0 season and another dominant postseason run under Dylan Schmidt. Even with major graduation losses, the Indians still look dangerous because they return proven all-state talent, a huge overall roster of […]

South Central Kansas Football Previews – Class 4A

Class 4A Capsules Abilene Last Season: 5-4 Abilene High enters 2026 looking to turn a solid winning season into something more, leaning on a strong culture and veteran leadership to steady an otherwise inexperienced roster. The Cowboys are guided by seventh-year head coach Brad Nicks, who believes the foundation built over the past six seasons […]