Basehor-Linwood enters the 2026 football season facing the challenge that comes with success: replacing a large senior class while trying to build on a 12-1 season that ended with a state runner-up finish.
Coach Rod Stallbaumer, who is entering his 13th year at Basehor-Linwood, knows the Bobcats will look different this season. Still, he believes the program has enough returning talent and young players ready to step into larger roles.
“We need to capitalize on a breakthrough season and continue to develop as a program,” Stallbaumer said. “We graduate a lot from last year but feel we have some guys ready to step up and fill in around our returners.”
Basehor-Linwood returns six defensive starters, including linebacker Charlie Peek, who was the team’s second-leading tackler last season with 115 tackles. Junior linebacker McCoy Martin also returns after recording 88 tackles, five tackles for loss and two sacks.
Martin emerged as one of the leaders of the defense by the end of last season.
“We were 27-3 as a program in 2025, so we have some talented underclassmen,” Stallbaumer said. “It may take some time to develop in season, but we should be pretty strong by the postseason.”
The Bobcats also return defensive lineman Gavin Mitchell, who will be one of the team’s most important players on both sides of the ball. Mitchell recorded 68 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and two sacks last season at nose tackle while also contributing as a running back.
Mitchell rushed for 1,034 yards and 17 touchdowns and will take on an even larger role in the Bobcats’ offense this season.
He is Basehor-Linwood’s only returning two-way player and was especially productive during the postseason last year, averaging 136 rushing yards and nearly two touchdowns per game.
Senior Peter Rodriguez also returns to the backfield after rushing for 520 yards and four touchdowns while adding 122 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns.
The Bobcats will rely heavily on their rushing attack as they break in a new quarterback. Junior Dane Forshey and sophomore Gavin Burnett are competing for the starting job after the graduation of standout quarterback Carson Dixon.
Basehor-Linwood operates out of a spread offense with option principles, incorporating Air Raid concepts and run-pass options. With a new quarterback and several new receivers, the Bobcats expect to emphasize the running game more this season.
“We intend to be more run than pass based this coming season with two returning running backs from last season and a new QB and WR core,” Stallbaumer said.
The receiving corps will also have to replace Nash Morrison and two-time all-conference tight end Roman Miller. Anderson Essary and Will Parr saw significant playing time last season, while junior Brody Duckworth, senior tight end Parker Unruh and sophomore Beau Powell are expected to take on expanded roles.
Powell is one of the players Stallbaumer believes could make a significant impact. The sophomore tight end has worked throughout the offseason and is expected to become the team’s primary receiving tight end.
“He has worked very hard this offseason and we expect big things from him the next three years,” Stallbaumer said.
Up front, the Bobcats return offensive linemen Matthew Hyde and Jordan Kramer. Other players, including Milo Cooley, Josh Saine, Chase Pardee, Hunter Hill, Patrick King and Nicholas Berning, will compete for expanded roles.
Special teams provide another area of stability. Senior kicker Colin Zimbelman returns after earning all-conference honors as a junior. He converted 94% of his extra-point attempts, made five field goals and averaged 40 yards per punt last season.
Basehor-Linwood will need to replace its top returners, Nate Martin and Noah Gutierrez, but Jackson Adair and Mayson Buie are among the players who could help continue the program’s tradition of dangerous kick returners.
Defensively, the Bobcats will have to replace four seniors in the secondary and two defensive linemen. Senior Jack Lough returns at defensive tackle, while Austin Little and junior Hudson Komarek are candidates to become full-time starters.
Senior safety Talon Elliott also returns after recording 64 tackles and earning second-team all-conference recognition. Brady Oaks, who had 47 tackles and five pass breakups last season, also returns with experience.
Basehor-Linwood uses a multiple-front 3-4 defense designed to create problems for opposing offenses.
“We are a multiple front 3-4 defense that relies on stemming and slanting to attack opposing offenses,” Stallbaumer said.
Although the Bobcats face significant losses from last year’s state runner-up team, the program’s recent success has created confidence that younger players can step into important roles.
The goal for 2026 is not simply to replace last year’s seniors. It is to continue building a program capable of competing deep into the postseason.
“We need to capitalize on a breakthrough season and continue to develop as a program,” Stallbaumer said.
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