Andover Central
Last Season: 5-5
Andover Central enters 2026 with a strong experience base after a 5-5 season, returning 26 lettermen plus six starters on each side of the ball from a team that lost in the regional round. Derek Tuttle’s Jaguars also return both kickers and add new schedule challenges with Maize and Maize South crossover games.
Jaxson Green is the offensive centerpiece after rushing for 1,641 yards and 17 touchdowns at 8.04 yards per carry, while Cooper Mason, Bryce Skahan, Tucker Taggart, Tommy Inkelaar and Sawyer Ramsey give the Jaguars proven help around him. Tuttle also highlighted rising quarterback Ty DeGarmo as the likely new starter, and Inkelaar already holds Division I offers from Kansas State, Kansas and Oklahoma State.
Defensively, Central returns key pieces in Mason, Brenton Findley, Ben Greenfield, Cooper Green, Taggart and Bobby Sands, with added depth from Sam Tamas, Brayden Breese and Jared Cables. The Jaguars lost important seniors including quarterback Max Olson, center Paxton McLeod and defensive lineman Jaylen Wilson, but the amount of returning experience still gives them the look of a team that should stay in the 5A mix.
Andover
Last Season: 6-3
Andover comes off a 6-3 season, a 6-0 league title run and now heads into Jamie Cruce’s third season at the school with a roster that must replace major defensive graduation losses. Cruce said the biggest challenge is replacing eight defensive starters, but the Trojans are counting on this year’s seniors to carry the program forward and continue its development.
The offense returns five starters and will again run the flexbone, with Will Quinn and Pete Vega forming one of the more productive backfields in this batch. Quinn rushed for 752 yards and 14 touchdowns while also throwing for 428 yards and four scores, and Vega added 1,011 rushing yards and six touchdowns.
Tyson Ross, a first-team all-state offensive lineman, and Zane Tucker, an honorable mention all-league center, give Andover proven experience in the trenches. Defensively, Jeremiah Guillot, Leland Schumacher and Jacob Thiel are the three returning starters, so how quickly the new pieces grow will likely decide whether the Trojans can repeat as league champions.
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 the focus now is turning that momentum into wins in bigger games and a stronger playoff push.
Offensively, Bishop Carroll uses a spread scheme with multiple formations designed to create mismatches and explosive plays. Jonah Mull returns at quarterback after rushing for 500 yards in just three games before injury, while Cooper Herrman, Brittyn St. Vrain, Harrison King, Aedyn Acosta and a veteran offensive line give the Eagles plenty of experience around him.
Defensively, the Eagles will base from a 4-2-5 and want to control the line of scrimmage while pursuing hard with all 11 defenders. Mitchell Frank is the defensive headliner after producing 41.5 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss and five sacks, while Cole Steven, Same Iseman and Luke Roberts also bring proven production back.
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 offense returns linemen Landon Salazar and Drake Brecheisen, plus experienced receivers Braylon Lies, Trenton Erbert and Trenton Taylor. Fisher said the Tigers averaged 31 points per game and rushed for 1,600 yards last year, so the challenge now is finding new playmakers to replace all-state back Brayden Pappas and other graduated standouts.
Defensively, Andre Robinson, Drake Berning and all-conference linebacker Julian Gallegos anchor the front, while Timi Moronfolu, Nate Martens, Ethan McAninch, Dimond Mundy and Leighton Hawkins give Eisenhower five returning starters in the secondary. Strong senior leadership and better depth are listed as strengths, so the Tigers look like a team that could outperform last year’s record if the new offense settles in.
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 of 31 players that included eight college signees.
The biggest bright spot is the offensive backfield, where quarterback Brock Sullivan and running back Erik Olivas return as third-year starters. Olivas posted more than 2,200 all-purpose yards and 20 touchdowns last season, while Sullivan added 14 passing touchdowns and eight rushing scores, giving Goddard one of the best returning backfields in AVCTL-II.
Ethan Strickert leads the offensive line, and Corbin Sullivan, Brexton Madden and Cooper Glasscock are the main senior defensive returners as the Lions try to rebuild their aggressive defensive identity. Goddard still looks capable of competing because of its backfield talent and program stability, but the defensive rebuild will probably determine how high the Lions can climb this fall.
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 starters and will operate from a spread attack built around running the ball, creating explosive passing plays and protecting the football. Taylor Riemen, Lamar Govain, Larry Jeremiah, D’Angelo Gray and Cedrick Gardner give the Salthawks proven size and athleticism at receiver and along the line.
Defensively, Hutchinson brings back eight starters in a 4-3 system focused on stopping the run, playing physically and forcing takeaways. Oaken Williams, Davin Williams, Brodie McCuan, Cooper Harris, Max Harris and Deshawn Adams form the heart of that unit, giving Hutchinson a veteran defensive core to lean on.
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 its offensive production from a group that averaged 50.8 points per game.
Ken Huff is the offensive centerpiece after rushing for 1,618 yards and 21 touchdowns, while Cole Rapp adds a proven dual-threat presence after throwing for 875 yards and 11 touchdowns and rushing for 444 yards and 12 more scores. Max Worrell, Ethan Burr, Axel Pondei and Jackson Gosch give Kapaun more experience and size in the option-based I-formation attack.
Defensively, the Crusaders lost major all-state talent, but Pete Keller, Aidan Flucas and Gage Nye return to lead a unit that still has depth from players who saw extensive action late last season. Kapaun’s own outlook says the Crusaders should again contend for both the City League and state championships, and the returning firepower makes that believable.
Maize South
Last Season: 4-5
Maize South comes off a 4-5 season, but Brent Pfeifer believes improved health and the experience gained by younger defenders could make the Mavericks a fun and competitive 5A team this fall. The Mavericks return five offensive starters and eight defensive starters, so there is a decent base to build from.
The offense starts with quarterback Reign Illian, who threw for 2,507 yards and 25 touchdowns, giving Maize South one of the best returning passers in this set of teams. Hayden Nuss, Stratten Ebers, Carson Cantu and Riley Brown also return, with Ebers coming off 75 catches for 832 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Defensively, Jackson Riley is expected to set the tone as a leader, while Kade Cary, Cole Haynes, Cale Caruth, Tristen Hiebert, Karson Davis, Jackson Carpenter and John Strobel strengthen the returning core. Maize South still has to replace experienced receivers and improve the offensive line, but the quarterback play and defensive continuity give it a real chance to rise.
Newton
Last Season: 0-9
Newton is coming off a winless season, but Taylor Counts said the program’s 2026 focus is on taking another step forward and finally creating momentum and excitement around Railer football. The message is simple: start faster, win games and show clear progress in Counts’ third season.
The returning roster gives Newton more experience than a typical 0-9 team, especially with veterans like Kane Wise, Clyde Thomas, Christian Henderson, Cason Horton, Kingston Henry, Jaxson Hiebert and Landyn Rains back. Henderson is the most proven two-way difference-maker after posting 403 receiving yards, three touchdowns, 34 tackles, three sacks and 10 tackles for loss, while Horton had 41 tackles and Hiebert added 36.
Kingston Henry, Thomas and Rains also bring back production on offense, and the Railers should be more competitive if that experience translates early. With Valley Center, Arkansas City, Andover Central, Goddard, Salina Central, Eisenhower, Andover and Maize on the schedule, Newton will find out quickly whether the rebuild is gaining traction.
Salina Central
Last Season: 12-1, 5A state champion
Salina Central enters 2026 as one of the top teams in 5A after going 12-1 and beating Basehor-Linwood 51-34 for the state title last season. Mark Sandbo’s Mustangs return only four starters on each side, but they still bring back 21 lettermen and an elite quarterback, so the ceiling remains high.
The offense should again be dangerous in the spread because Griffin Hall returns after throwing for 1,827 yards and 29 touchdowns with just two interceptions while also rushing for 982 yards and nine more scores. Salina Central also brings back three of five offensive linemen from a group that averaged more than 300 rushing yards per game, with Warrick VanBlaricon and Parker Pinks among the key returners.
Defensively, the Mustangs believe their athleticism on the back end is a strength, and players like Trae Wise, Eli Kreighbaum and Alex Garcia provide proven playmaking ability. The team goals are clear: beat Salina South in the opener, win AVCTL-II and keep winning in November.
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.
Valley Center
Last Season: 4-5
Valley Center comes off a 4-5 season and heads into Scott L’Ecuyer’s ninth year at the school needing a lot of younger players to mature quickly, because only four total starters return on each side of the ball. Even with that turnover, the Hornets have reason for optimism because the offense gets back its top five targets in the passing game.
RayJ Logan, Spencer Crumrine and Evan Chavez headline that returning receiving corps after combining for 125 catches and nearly 1,700 yards in 2025. Crumrine had 50 catches for 735 yards and seven touchdowns, Logan had 51 catches for 678 yards and five scores, and Chavez added 24 catches for 263 yards and three touchdowns.
Jackson Child is the lone returning starting offensive lineman, Preston Looney gives the backfield a dual-threat option, and Layne Loganbill plus Isaac Duncan will compete at quarterback. Defensively, Dylan Fetty, Corbin Holdaway, Jace Schwartz, Landen Taylor and Shawn White provide the returning experience as Valley Center tries to climb in a difficult AVCTL-I race.
Wichita West
Last Season: 1-8
Wichita West looks like a team with a real chance to improve on last year’s 1-8 record because Jeremy Moss says the Pioneers return nine defensive starters and a larger group of players with meaningful varsity experience. Moss believes that continuity should help West play a tougher, faster and more disciplined brand of football in 2026.
The defense is clearly the strength of the team, led by junior defensive back Treshawn Johnson after his 80-tackle, all-city season. Wyatt Powell returns at linebacker after 60-plus tackles and a team-leading interception total, while senior Landon Hauser adds another all-city presence with 50 tackles and leadership value.
Offensively, West returns five starters and will operate from a spread scheme. Senior lineman Jacobe Copes, a three-year starter and all-city selection, anchors the front, while junior JeVaun Darnell gives the Pioneers an all-state, all-city playmaker and Landon Hauser plus Jeremiah Copes add experience in the backfield.Hauser is also the team’s MVP nominee because Moss describes him as a natural leader who sets the tone with effort and toughness. Sophomore Ceaser Muniz is the underclassman to watch after already starting on defense last year, which adds to the sense that West has more returning substance than a typical one-win team.
To nominate someone for a story email [email protected]
