Coaches and media around the Three Rivers Athletic Conference (TRAC) picked different champions in both divisions by narrow margins for the upcoming 2026 high school season in a preseason poll organized by WRMJ.
In the Rock Division, conference coaches selected Rockridge to repeat as conference champions, while league-wide media members picked Newman to take the crown. In both polls, the Rockets and Comets were separated by one point.
Coaches in the TRAC Mississippi tabbed Princeton to win the title, while league-wide media picked Monmouth-Roseville to win its third straight conference championship. In both polls, the Tigers and Titans were separated by two points.
In the coaches poll, all 12 head coaches in the conference participated. They were asked to rank the teams in their division, excluding themselves, 1-5. A first-place vote received five points, a second-place vote received four points, and down the line to a fifth-place vote receiving one point.
Seven local media members ranked both divisions 1-6 in the media poll. Participating outlets included WRMJ, WMOI/WRAM, View from the West Podcast and NUICFootball.com. A first-place vote received six points in the media poll because all six teams were ranked.
New to the landscape of high school football this season, of course, is an expanded playoff field, which will allow more teams in the conference to remain in the postseason hunt deeper into the season. In short, the total number of playoff qualifiers has risen from 256 to 384, and each classification now will be a 48-team bracket, as opposed to the previous 32-team field. In the new playoff format, all teams that go 3-6 or better are projected to make the postseason, with some 2-7 teams also likely to advance.
Below are the poll results, followed by a preview of each team in the conference.
Preseason TRAC Rock Coaches Poll
| Rank | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rockridge (3) | 22 |
| 2 | Newman (2) | 21 |
| 3 | Riverdale (1) | 17 |
| 4 | Erie-Prophetstown | 16 |
| 5 | Mercer County | 8 |
| 6 | Orion | 6 |
Preseason TRAC Rock Media Poll
| Rank | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newman (4) | 39 |
| 2 | Rockridge (3) | 38 |
| 3 | Riverdale | 27 |
| 4 | Erie-Prophetstown | 20 |
| 5 | Orion | 12 |
| 6 | Mercer County | 11 |
Preseason TRAC Mississippi Coaches Poll
| Rank | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Princeton (4) | 24 |
| 2 | Monmouth-Roseville (2) | 22 |
| 3 | Mendota | 14 |
| 4 | Hall | 12 |
| 5 | Kewanee | 10 |
| 6 | Sherrard | 8 |
Preseason TRAC Mississippi Media Poll
| Rank | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monmouth-Roseville (5) | 39 |
| 2 | Princeton (2) | 37 |
| 3 | Hall | 23 |
| 4 | Mendota | 21 |
| 5 | Kewanee | 15 |
| 6 | Sherrard | 12 |
Team Previews – Rock Division
Newman Central Catholic Comets
Head coach: Mike LeMay (5th season: 28-14)
2025 record: 8-3, 4-1 TRAC Rock
Playoffs: Lost to El Paso-Gridley 31-0 in 2A second round
Newman returns an experienced team in 2026, coming off an 8-3 season and a trip to the second round of the Class 2A playoffs last year.
Led by fifth-year head coach Mike LeMay, the Comets enter the new campaign having qualified for the playoffs in 24 straight seasons and having finished with a record of .500 or better 34 years in a row.
Newman returns five starters on the offensive side of the ball, including the team’s top two running backs and its number-one receiving threat. The senior skill position trio of running backs Matthew Blackert (112 carries, 865 yards, 12 TDs) and Rylan Alvarado (75 carries, 510 yards, 7 TDs) and wide receiver/tight end John Rowzee (32 receptions, 533 yards, 5 TDs) are forecast to lead the Comets’ multi-faceted offensive attack. Blackert and Rowzee each earned second-team all-conference selections last season, while Blackert and Alvarado also combined to return four punts/kicks for scores. Up front, returning second-team all-conference offensive lineman Matthew Murray is entering his senior season. Newman will be tasked with finding a new quarterback after three-year starter Evan Bushman graduated last year.
The Comets bring eight starters back from a defensive unit that allowed 19.8 points per game last season. Murray, a first-team all-conference defensive lineman in 2025, totaled 59 tackles and four tackles for loss last year. Newman also has four second-team all-conference defenders returning with senior linebackers Riley Mason (78 tackles) and Blackert (40 tackles), and senior defensive backs Renner Rosengren and Alvardo. A couple of other notable players on the defensive side of the ball include junior linebacker Tyson Williams, who racked up 44 tackles and three tackles for loss as a sophomore in 2025, and senior defensive back Parker Stommen, both of whom were honorable mention all-conference players last season.
With Newman being ineligible for a waiver of the IHSA’s 1.65 enrollment multiplier for non-boundaried schools, the Comets’ classification enrollment for 2026 is 298.65, which will likely put them right on the bubble between the 1A and 2A playoffs come October.
Newman opens the season hosting Sherrard in Week 1.
Rockridge Rockets
Head coach: Sam Graves (11th season: 85-26)
2025 record: 10-1, 5-0 TRAC Rock
Playoffs: Lost to Tri-Valley 24-17 in 2A second round
Rockridge’s 2026 roster is headlined by two-time all-state quarterback Cullen Schwigen, who will look to lead the Rockets on a deep playoff run in his final season with the Rockets.
Rockridge has won at least one playoff game in each of the past four seasons, and the program has missed the postseason just once since 2011, but the Rockets have now been eliminated in the second round of the 2A postseason in each of the last three seasons. In 2024 and 2025, the Rockets saw second-half leads slip away in one-possession losses to Farmington and Tri-Valley that have kept Rockridge out of the quarterfinals. In 10 seasons as Rockridge’s head coach (two separate stints), Sam Graves has never missed the postseason and became the Rockets’ all-time winningest coach last season.
Offensively, the Rockets lost six starters from last year’s explosive unit that averaged 42.3 points per game, but return Schwigen, who is one of the state’s premier small-school players. Schwigen, a four-year starter at the position, has started 33 games at quarterback for the Rockets. He’s accounted for 94 total TDs in his career. In 2025, completed 94 of 178 passing attempts for 1,597 yards, 21 TDs, and five INTs, while rushing for 801 yards and 18 TDs. Those numbers earned him a first-team all-state selection as a junior. Outside of Schwigen, senior running back Thomas Sowards (141 carries, 1,112 yards, 16 TDs), a first-team all-conference player last year, returns after leading the Rockets in rushing last season. Senior wideouts Chase Wheatley (13 receptions, 169 yards, 3 TDs) and Wyatt Osborn (7 receptions, 96 yards, 1 TD) also played large roles on Rockridge’s offense last season. Rockridge’s offensive line is a relatively unknown heading into the season, with junior center Kainin Mumma currently slated as the only returner from 2025.
Rockridge returns just four starters from last year’s defensive unit – the aforementioned Sowards (first-team all-conference) and Schwigen (honorable mention all-conference) at linebacker, and Wheatley (second-team all-conference) and Osborn at defensive back. The Rockets allowed just 15.3 points per game in 2025, but have some major shoes to fill with the loss of first-team all-state linebacker Ryan Lower and six other starters. Rockridge will get a bit of a boost on both sides of the ball with junior Quinn Zimmerman, a Sherrard transfer, expected to play a big role at wide receiver and defensive back. Senior kicker Bodhi Morales is another key piece back for the Rockets, who has proven to be a valuable asset on special teams throughout his career.
One other notable item on the Rockets: Rockridge’s 2026 IHSA classification enrollment is just 305 students, which means the Rockets will likely be close to the 1A/2A line come playoff time. Rockridge has never been in the 1A field in school history.
The Rockets kick off the season at home against Kewanee.
Riverdale Rams
Head coach: Guy Dierikx (18th season: 39-106, 11th season at Riverdale: 22-56)
2025 record: 6-4, 2-3 TRAC Rock
Playoffs: Lost to Seneca 35-21 in 2A first round
Riverdale is looking to take another step forward as the Rams return more than half of their starters on both sides of the ball from last year’s team, which was the first playoff appearance for the program since 2011.
Just four years removed from canceling its varsity season in 2022, Riverdale is expected to be in the thick of the TRAC Rock championship race in head coach Guy Dierikx’s 11th season leading his alma mater.
On the offensive side of the ball, Riverdale has six starters back from a group that averaged 31.9 points per game last season, including senior quarterback Abram Krier. In his first season as the Rams’ varsity quarterback in 2025, Krier completed 50-of-92 passes for 980 yards with 11 TDs and three interceptions, and rushed for 312 yards and nine TDs. Leading receiver Jackson Tegeler, a senior who earned an honorable mention all-conference selection last season, caught 24 passes for 576 yards and six TDs last season. The Rams also bring back three of their starting offensive linemen from last season, all three of whom were all-conference performers last year – Marcus Bennett (first team), Jackson Fritch (second team), and Carter Orr (honorable mention). The biggest hole Riverdale has to fill is in the backfield, as the program lost a combined 2,244 all-purpose yards and 28 TDs from Caen Beckett and Gaege Heinsen, who each graduated last year, and will look for junior Lucas Dunbar to step into the role.
Riverdale has eight starters returning on defense in 2026. Last season, the Rams allowed 23.8 points per game and limited opponents to single-digit scoring three times. Junior linebacker Brady Rogers was Riverdale’s leading tackler with 93 last season, which earned him a second-team all-conference selection. Fritch (DL) and Tegeler (DB) were each first-team all-conference defenders last season. Bennett (DL) has earned defensive all-conference honors in back-to-back seasons, and Dunbar (LB) led the Rams with five tackles for loss and totaled 51 tackles to earn honorable-mention all-conference honors as a sophomore last season.
Riverdale’s classification enrollment for the 2026 season is 361, which would slot them into the 2A field again this year.
Riverdale opens the season at home against Princeton.
Erie-Prophetstown Panthers
Head coach: Tyler Whitebread (4th season: 14-15)
2025 record: 6-4, 3-2 TRAC Rock
Playoffs: Lost to Aurora Christian 37-12 in 2A first round
Erie-Prophetstown will look to lean on experienced offensive and defensive line groups to lead the Panthers to a third consecutive playoff appearance this fall.
The Panthers have qualified for the postseason in two of the program’s first three seasons under head coach Tyler Whitebread.
Erie-Prophetstown’s offensive returners are highlighted by its offensive line, where four of the five starters from 2025 are back. The Panthers’ front five is headlined by senior three-year starters Caleb Reymer (first-team all-conference OL) and Derek Naftzger (second-team all-conference OL). Senior running back Tristan Hovey rushed for 1,007 yards and five TDs behind E-P’s offensive line last year to earn second-team all-conference honors. Evan Steimle caught 12 passes for 137 yards and two TDs as a wideout last season. The Panthers averaged 24 points per game last season, but need to find a new quarterback and replace the vast majority of their pass-catching production in 2026.
The outlook on the defensive side of the ball for Erie-Prophetstown is a similar story to the offensive preview. The Panthers bring back their entire starting defensive line, led by Naftzger (74 tackles, 11 sacks), a first-team all-conference selection last season and one of the conference’s top players at the position. Reymer was a second-team all-conference defensive lineman in 2025 after totaling 38 tackles and three sacks. Elsewhere on the Panthers’ defense, Steimle earned a first-team all-conference selection at linebacker last season with 40 tackles, four sacks, and three interceptions. Hovey, another senior, was named a second-team all-conference linebacker a year ago after racking up 42 tackles on the season.
Erie-Prophetstown’s classification enrollment of 364 would slide them into the 2A playoffs.
The Panthers begin the season at home against Monmouth-Roseville.
Mercer County Golden Eagles
Head coach: Fred Lucas (10th season: 32-53, 2nd season at Mercer County: 2-7)
2025 record: 2-7, 0-5 TRAC Rock
Playoffs: Missed
Mercer County enters the 2026 season with hopes to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since entering the TRAC in 2024.
Head coach Fred Lucas is now in his second season leading the Golden Eagles, which means the program is in the second season of a new, run-heavy offensive system, something that Lucas told WRMJ has led to a much simpler install this summer.
Mercer County returns three starters from an offense that averaged 19 points per game last season, but showed flashes of being able to control the clock with long, time-consuming scoring drives at times in 2025. All three of the Golden Eagles’ returning offensive starters are linemen, with seniors Brady Heinrichs and Brady Holmes and junior Garrett Boruff back along Mercer County’s front five. At the skill positions, the Golden Eagles will be tasked with replacing a vast majority of their statistical production as Mercer County’s four leading rushers, four leading pass catchers, and quarterback all graduated. Junior running back Exzequiel Ocampo is Mercer County’s top returning rusher after carrying the ball 42 times for 152 yards and one TD last season. Senior Logan Schreur added 27 carries for 126 yards and three scores in 2025.
In 2026, the Golden Eagles will try to find a more consistent defensive performance after giving up 36.9 points per game last season, which ranked 10th out of 12 teams in the conference. In Mercer County’s two wins in 2025, the Golden Eagles gave up six points and 10 points, respectively, but in its seven losses, the Golden Eagles’ defense allowed more than 45 points per game. Mercer County will have to fill many holes from last year’s defensive unit with nine of the group’s 11 regular starters gone to graduation. Schreurs (DB) and Heinrichs (DL) are the two regular starters back on the defensive side of the ball. Sophomore Eli Boswell also saw an increased role throughout the season as a freshman a year ago.
With a classification enrollment of 372, Mercer County would fit squarely into the 2A playoff field if it can qualify in 2026.
The Golden Eagles kick off the season at home against Hall.
Orion Chargers
Head coach: Matt McClean (1st season)
2025 record: 3-6, 1-4 TRAC Rock)
Playoffs: Missed
Orion is one of two teams in the conference with a new head coach in 2026.
Matt McClean is taking over the Chargers’ program in 2026. McClean has been an assistant coach for seven years at Davenport North and Davenport West High Schools and has also coached semi-professional football in the Quad Cities area for more than a decade. He is replacing Chip Filler, who stepped down after leading the program for 17 seasons.
Orion’s offense scored 28.1 points per game last season and brings back six starters, but the unit did lose its leader in passing yards, rushing yards, and receiving yards. The Chargers return a pair of senior wideouts, Aaron Mohr and Mason Laleman, senior tight end Charley Arnold, and three senior offensive linemen – Greyson Weaver (honorable mention all-conference), Caiden Tyler (honorable mention all-conference), and Kaden Cirks. Coach McLean listed sophomore quarterback Blake Arnold as an underclassman to watch in a season preview that he provided to WRMJ and also highlighted junior wide receiver Jackson Noyd and junior running back Aidan Leingang as players he expects to make an impact in 2026. McClean went on to indicate he was impressed with the football IQ of his team and was able to install a lot of their “brand new” offensive system.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Chargers gave up 37 points per game, which ranks 11th of 12 TRAC defenses, and allowed 40+ points in all six of its losses. Orion has consistently struggled to get stops during a playoff drought that dates back to 2019, and turning that trend around could potentially be the Chargers’ biggest key in 2026. Orion has six defensive starters back, including all four senior defensive linemen – Arnold (honorable mention all-conference), Tyler, Weaver, and Circks. Mohr (DB) and Laleman (LB) are also returning for the Chargers.
Oron’s classification enrollment is 279 for the 2026 season, which would almost certainly place the Chargers in the 1A playoff field if they qualify.
The Chargers start the new campaign hosting Mendota.
Team Previews – Mississippi Division
Monmouth-Roseville Titans
Head coach: Jeremy Adolphson (26th season: 113-128, 16th season at Monmouth-Roseville: 74-70)
2025 record: 10-2, 5-0 TRAC Mississippi
Playoffs: Lost to Richmond-Burton 31-6 in 3A quarterfinals
Monmouth-Roseville will have to replace nearly 70% of its regular starters from last year’s team, which won 10 games for the first time in consolidated school district history, won its second straight conference championship, and advanced to the Class 3A quarterfinals.
Head coach Jeremy Adolphson, entering his 16th season leading the Titans, indicated his team will start the season young and inexperienced along its offensive line and defensively, but hopes to maintain the standard the program has set with a run of five straight playoff appearances.
In 2025, the Titans scored more than 37 points per game and rushed for 3,956 yards as a team. Monmouth-Roseville returns two of its top three ball carriers from last season – first-team all-conference senior fullback Landon Montroy (1,247 yards, 20 TDs) and second-team all-conference senior running back Lars Bergren (398 rushing yards, 7 rushing TDs / 136 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD). The only other offensive starter back for Monmouth-Roseville this year is senior tight end Kaden Russell. The Titans will need to find new starters at all five offensive line spots, quarterback, wide receiver, and one running back. Coach Adolphson listed junior quarterback Kane Johnson as an “expected top performer” in a season preview provided to WRMJ.
Defensively, the Titans bring back four starters from last year’s group that allowed 19.4 points per game. Bergren, a first-team all-conference defensive back last season, had 29 tackles last season. Russell (DB) totaled 33 tackles and five tackles for loss last season. Monmouth-Roseville also has a pair of starting linebackers back in 2026, with junior Keegan Smith (31 tackles) and sophomore Andrew Snyder (32 tackles) projected to lead that position group.
In 2026, Monmouth-Roseville’s classification enrollment is 463, which should place them in the 3A playoff field if the Titans can advance into postseason play for a sixth consecutive season.
Monmouth-Roseville’s season opener is at Erie-Prophetstown.
Princeton Tigers
Head coach: Ryan Pearson (15th season: 109-43, 10th season at Princeton: 74-23)
2025 record: 6-4, 4-1 TRAC Mississippi
Playoffs: Lost in 3A first round to Bloomington Central Catholic 41-20
Princeton will look to climb back to the top of the TRAC Mississippi standings after being denied conference championships the past two seasons.
Before the 2024 and 2025 league titles were won by Monmouth-Roseville, the Tigers were on a streak of seven straight conference championships. Head coach Ryan Pearson told WRMJ that the program was disappointed with its 6-4 record last season and the 2026 group has aspirations to win a conference title.
The Tigers return six starters on offense, but will have to replace a majority of their statistical production from a group that scored just over 33 points per game last year. 2,092 of Princeton’s 2,600 rushing yards last season graduated. Those numbers mean the Tigers will have to fill the shoes of all-time leading rusher Casey Etheridge, who rushed for, 1519 yards and 22 TDs last season. Among Princeton’s returning offensive starters are running backs junior Lane Goskusky (108 yards, 3 TDs), senior Aydin Agushi (151 yards, 2 TDs), and junior Brennen Emmett. The Tigers also have a pair of senior tight ends back in 2026 – Luke LaPorte and Abe Longeville (second-team all-conference). Princeton’s lone returning offensive lineman is senior Landyn Kendall.
Princeton also has six starters back on defense this season. The unit limited opponents to around 22 points per game in 2025. The Tigers have a pair of second-team all-conference linebackers set to anchor the defense this season – Longeville (37 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 interceptions) and Goskusky (32 tackles). LaPorte (26 tackles), an honorable mention all-conference selection, and Deacon Gutshall (24 tackles), are both returning defensive ends, and a pair of defensive backs will be back this fall – junior Jack Oester (honorable mention all-conference) and junior Kaleb Caldwell.
The Tigers are hoping a small senior class can lead the program to its eighth straight playoff appearance. If Princeton does find itself in the playoff field again, its classification enrollment of 480 would place the team in the 3A field.
Princeton kicks off 2026 at Riverdale.
Kewanee Boilermakers
Head coach: Matt Taylor (4th season: 13-16)
2025 record: 0-9, 0-5 TRAC Mississippi
Playoffs: Lost to Richland County 41-14 in 4A first round
Kewanee is hoping for a big step forward after an extremely young roster went winless in 2025.
Head coach Matt Taylor enters his fourth season leading the Boilermakers, aiming to return to the playoffs after missing the postseason for the first time in his tenure last season. Kewanee returns the largest number of starters (20) in the conference.
On the offensive side of the ball, a pair of juniors – first-team all-conference wide receiver Chris Crowe and second-team all-conference running back Ace LaFallotte are projected to lead the Boilermakers in production again this season. Last year, Crowe caught 29 passes for 501 yards and three TDs, while LaFallotte has rushed for 980 yards between his freshman and sophomore seasons. Senior wide receivers Damien Taylor and Carter Ensley and junior running back Eli Dennison are also back for 2026. Junior quarterback Lain Taylor (41-79, 491 yards, 4 TDs, 7 INTs) will look to build off of experience he gained during his sophomore campaign. Kewanee has four of its five offensive linemen from 2025 slated to be in the starting lineup in week one – seniors Kanaan Griffin (second-team all-conference), Kamden Hicks, Jesus Martinez, and Juan Zepeda.
The Boilermakers have 10 starters returning on defense this season as the group will look to take a step forward after finishing 12th of 12 teams in the conference in scoring defense last season. At linebacker, LaFollette is the only player back who was selected as a defensive all-conference performer (2nd team). He’s joined in the linebacking corps by Dennison and Malik Diop, who both also were in the lineup last year. Familiar names along the defensive line for Kewanee this year will be Griffin, Martinez, and Robert Taylor. The Boilermakers have their entire starting secondary back in 2026 – Crowe, Taylor, Ensley, and Liam Slover.
With a classification enrollment of 568 this season, the Boilermakers project to be in the 4A playoff field, as they have the last six times they’ve qualified.
Kewanee plays at Rockridge in Week 1.
Mendota Trojans
Head coach: Jim Eustice (17th season: 61-86, 2nd season at Mendota: 2-7)
2025 record: 2-7, 2-3 TRAC Mississippi
Playoffs: Missed
Mendota is hoping for another year of progress in 2026.
Longtime coach Jim Eustice enters his second season leading the Trojans in 2026. In the two years prior to Eustice taking over, Mendota was a combined 1-17. Despite the 2-7 record last year, Mendota played much more competitive games than the program had in the previous couple of seasons. Coach Eustice told WRMJ there is much more familiarity in the system heading into this season.
The Trojans bring offensive starters back in 2026. Three of the regular starters that will be back for Mendota are running backs – Jayden Lesley, Javier Hernandez, and Cam Wasmer. The Trojans also have a starting lineman back with Camden Chaon (second-team all-conference) set to anchor their offensive line. Mendota’s offense was limited to just 15.3 points per game in 2025 and was held to 14 points or less in six of its nine games.
On the other side of the ball, Mendota’s defense allowed 27.3 points per game and will have six of its 11 starters back this fall. The only returner who earned an all-conference nod was Wasmer (LB – honorable mention). Hernanez and Cayden Taliani join Wasmer as returning starting linebackers. Other players that will be back in Mendota’s starting lineup are defensive linemen Chaon and Ryan Gibertini and defensive back Gavin Stevenson.
Mendota’s classification enrollment of 498 would put them in the middle of the 3A field if they qualify for postseason play.
The Trojans play at Orion in Week 1.
Hall Red Devils
Head coach: Nick Sterling (2nd season: 3-6)
2025 record: 3-6, 3-2 TRAC Mississippi
Playoffs: Missed
Hall is another team in the TRAC that’s aiming to improve in year two under a head coach.
The Red Devils won three games in Nick Sterling’s first season leading the Red Devils in 2025. He indicated to WRMJ that Hall’s biggest strength coming into 2026 should be the team’s offensive line play. Overall, the Red Devils will have a largely new-look roster after graduating a senior class of 18 players last season.
Hall scored 20 points per game last season, while allowing 27.4 points per game on the defensive side of the ball. The Red Devils bring back four starters on both sides of the ball. On offense, it’s three offensive linemen and junior wide receiver/tight end Chayce Sterling, a first-team all-conference selection last season. On the defensive side of the ball, the personnel back in the starting lineup are three defensive linemen and a linebacker. Sterling was also a first-team all-conference defensive lineman last season.
Hall co-ops with Putnam County, which puts the Red Devils’ classification enrollment at 598 for the 2026 football season, a number that would likely put them in 4A if they are able to advance to Week 10.
Hall opens 2026 at Mercer County.
Sherrard Tigers
Head coach: Zach Weigel (1st season)
2025 record: 2-7, 1-4 TRAC Mississippi
Playoffs: Missed
Sherrard will have its third different head coach in the last three years in 2026.
New coach Zach Weigel takes over the program, looking to provide some stability for the Tigers. Weigel has served as an assistant coach at three different schools in Iowa – Davenport Central, Keokuk and Iowa City West. Sherrard looks to be the youngest roster in the TRAC in 2026 as around half of the Tigers’ 9-12 roster are freshmen after the program lost 14 players to graduation last year.
Weigel told WRMJ he believes the roster has some young pieces to build around, but with the youth will need to play clean and mistake-free to consistently compete. Sherrard had to forfeit a game last year because of injury and sickness, and the program has struggled to consistently play JV games the last couple of years, but Weigel believes the Tigers will be able to play a schedule at both levels this fall.
Sherrard has three starters back on offense, including junior running back Landon Clark, who accounted for 242 yards and three TDs last season. The Tigers return just one defensive starter. Some other names highlighted as impact players for Sherrard in 2026 are Harper Farwell (TE/DL), Steven Hollins (RB/LB) and Javin Jones (ATH/DB).
The Tigers scored 20.5 points per game last season and gave up 26 points per game in 2026.
Sherrard’s classification enrollment is 413 this fall, which would put the Tigers on the border of the 2A/3A playoff field if the Tigers can qualify for the first time since 2009.
Sherrard opens the season at Newman.
WRMJ’s coverage of the TRAC is presented by:
- Midwest Bank, with locations that include Aledo, Andalusia, Monmouth, and Moline
- Local COUNTRY Financial representatives Tracy Bigham, Jason Potter, and John Waugh in Aledo, Brent Bigham in Edgington, and Julie Hessler in Orion.
- Breedlove’s Sporting Goods in Kewanee