By Ryne Turke
Photos/Midwest Media Club (all from practices)
Football is back.
And there’s plenty to be excited about heading into this season.
We’ve got an abundance of new and second-year head coaches taking over programs, returning all-state caliber players ready to make another statement, and a handful of area squads with the talent to make a serious run at a state championship.
Every Thursday we’ll break down the biggest matchups, storylines and players to watch from our area. Let’s dive into our “Week 1 Football Preview.”
Jacksonville @ Jersey
The tail end of Jacksonville’s 2025 season was one heck of a ride. The Crimsons pulled off an incredible 36-33 comeback win at MacArthur, followed it up with a 77-0 demolition of Lincoln and then knocked off No. 1 seed Richland County in the opening round of the playoffs.
Now Mark Grounds brings back a loaded backfield with plenty of speed and depth. The Crimsons return more than 2,300 yards of rushing offense, led by Jeremiah Jackson, who has all the tools to be an all-state candidate when this season comes to an end.
Rylan Rees takes over at quarterback while Wesley Ortiz provides the physicality at fullback, two huge pieces in Jacksonville’s flexbone offense.
But don’t overlook Jersey.
Despite finishing 2-7 last season, the Panthers return quarterback Andrew Koening, who accounted for more than 2,300 yards and 20 touchdowns a year ago. He’s a legitimate dual-threat quarterback and Jacksonville’s defense will have to find a way to contain him.
Week 1 is always a mystery, and this one comes with the added challenge of Jacksonville making the road trip to an unfamiliar field.
If the Crimsons can get off to a strong start, I really believe this could be a special season in Jacksonville. Go see this team.
Routt @ Greenfield-Northwestern
A new era of Routt football begins Friday night under head coach Brett Gilbreth.
This is a deeper, more physical roster than we saw a year ago, and I think this is a team that could surprise some people.
Anson Butcher steps in at quarterback and has embraced the role as a leader for the Rockets. His No. 1 target will be Nolan Mossman, a standout athlete who hauled in 416 receiving yards last season and is going to be a problem whenever he gets the ball in his hands.
Routt also has options in the backfield, with a variety of power and speed that should allow the Rockets to play the hot hand.
On the other side, the bulk of Greenfield-Northwestern’s 7-4 team is back, including quarterback Ty Bowman and running back Carter Murphy, who should be putting on a show all season.
Keep an eye on sophomore receiver Jason Hoots. He’s primed for a breakout year in what should once again be an explosive GNW offense.
Coach Joe Pembrook will have his guys ready, and there’s no better home-field advantage than Week 1 at Fleur de Lis.
Camp Point Central @ West Central
The epitome of excellence in the WIVC. Head coach Brad Dixon has mastered the art of getting the best out of his players. The Panthers were eventually knocked out of the postseason by the red-hot Brown County Hornets, but not before putting together another double-digit win season.
Most teams would be concerned after graduating their top three rushers. All Camp Point does is reload with another crop of players ready to make their mark.
Quarterback Kale Niekamp mastered this offense last season and is ready to take another step forward, especially with Luke Ippensen and the rest of the Panthers making plays around him.
Defensively, Briggs Wiskirchen will be the guy to watch. He led the Panthers in tackles last season and will be responsible for setting the tone for another tough Camp Point defense.
West Central is changing things up, with new head coach Grant Dewitt bringing some flash to the Cougar offense and a style designed to keep defenses guessing.
There’s a strong group of returners ready to lead the way, including Eli Crain, Tucker Arnold and Anthony Hance. Cooper Eddinger has a cannon for an arm and is ready to push the ball down the field.
I’ve heard the word “dark horse” more than once from coaches when talking about this West Central team. Get ready for a fun season Cougar Nation.
North Greene @ Beardstown
If you’re looking for a program that could make the biggest turnaround in the WIVC, keep an eye on North Greene.
The Spartans have just one win over the last five seasons, but the culture surrounding this team is different.
Head coach Nicholas Mellenthin has his players buying into a new brand of North Greene football, and now they’re ready to turn that belief into wins.
Quarterback Carson Wallis can sling it, and he has a motivated group up front ready to protect him and clear the way for the Spartan backs.
Beardstown is also looking for a spark after back-to-back one-win seasons. Head coach Chris Sawyer enters his second season at the helm and now has his footing in the program.
Quarterback Zach Meyer returns and can make plays both through the air and on the ground. Beardstown’s offense will be much improved this season. This is a must win game for both teams!
Calhoun @ Triopia
Calhoun was every bit as good as advertised last season.
The Warriors went 12-1, with eight of those wins coming while holding opponents under 10 points.
Defense wins championships and this defense is elite. So is the ground game.
Jacob Brannan was unstoppable last season, rushing for 1,330 yards and 25 touchdowns. If that wasn’t enough of a problem, Easton Wallendorf and Will Lorton are back and accounted for 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns to give this team even more depth.
Quarterback Earl Elmore is the definition of dependable. He threw for 15 touchdowns last season and runs this offense with the kind of consistency you want from your quarterback.
There are a lot of ways Calhoun can beat you.
Watch out.
Triopia made a huge jump last season, picking up four wins and falling just short of a playoff berth.
There are some big holes to fill after graduating leading rusher Grant Frickie and top tackler Bronc Bogner, but my biggest takeaway from head coach Cody Winkelman’s team was the amount of speed on the field. These guys can fly.
And when you have that kind of speed, every single play has the potential to go to the house.
Brown County @ Carrollton
The Hornets are for real. They proved it last season by knocking off both Camp Point Central and Calhoun before marching all the way to the state championship game. Now they’re back with state title goals still on their mind.
Michael Kassing takes over at quarterback, and Brown County has plenty of depth in the backfield. This team shouldn’t miss a beat.
Carrollton enters a new era under head coach Rob Buchanan, and he has plenty of talent to work with.
Quarterback Brady Clendenen is ready to make his mark as one of the elite forces in the WIVC. He has big-play weapons around him, including Buddy Holmes, Carter Randolph and the rest of the Hawks’ receiving corps.
Carrollton has made the playoffs three straight years. This is a program that knows what it takes to win. Week 1 is a great test for both squads to see what’s in store for 2026.
