The Neodesha Bluestreaks enter the 2026 football season with experience on their side and an opportunity to turn last year’s lessons into a successful campaign.
Neodesha went 5-4 in 2025 and finished 3-1 in Tri Valley League play. The Bluestreaks advanced to the Class 3A playoffs before falling to Girard in the first round.
Now competing in Class 2A, Neodesha returns 12 starters, all of whom have multiple years of varsity experience.
“We will return a very experienced group in 2026 that has the potential to have a very successful season if they put it all together,” coach Nathan West said.
West enters his fourth season as Neodesha’s head coach with a 14-22 career record at the school. He will be assisted by Chris Hinshaw, Jake Carpenter, Aaron Mosher and Rob McMurray.
The Bluestreaks’ experience is particularly evident on the offensive side of the ball.
Senior J’Vonte White returns after producing in multiple areas last season. White rushed for 111 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries while catching 15 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns. He also made an impact defensively, recording 39 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, five sacks, five pass breakups, three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles.
Senior Jayedin Huckabey also returns after rushing for 101 yards and three touchdowns while contributing 55 receiving yards. Defensively, Huckabey recorded 47 tackles, two interceptions, three fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles.
Other returning seniors include Camryn White, Lauklon Roebuck, Dejay Schlegel, McCoy Cody, Tyson Jarvais, Jacob Novotny and Aiden Johnson. Juniors Tayte Leck and Jack DeLong also return, along with Houston Lowry and Jackson Lyon.
Leck returns at quarterback after completing 80 of 181 passes for 1,098 total yards and 11 touchdowns in 2025. Jack DeLong recorded 65 tackles last season, while Tyson Jarvais had 32 tackles, seven tackles for loss and three sacks.
The Bluestreaks will continue to operate from an I/Flexbone offense and a 4-2-5 defense.
Neodesha’s biggest challenge will be replacing several key players, including an all-league offensive lineman, an all-league defensive lineman, an all-league running back and an all-league defensive back.
“We will have to replace an all-league offensive and defensive linemen along with an all-league running back and defensive back,” West said. “We will need some of our younger players to step up and fill those positions.”
The Bluestreaks also have a promising group of freshmen entering the program. West sees an opportunity for that group to develop together at the junior varsity level while preparing for larger roles in the future.
“We also have a good group of freshmen coming in, if they stay together, they can have a successful year on JV and set themselves up to help our varsity roster next year,” West said.
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