Preseason blitz: Northwood football eyes deeper playoff run in Non-Select Division II
· Yahoo Sports
BLANCHARD, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — Eight wins and another playoff appearance in 2025, but at Northwood, a first-round exit left the Falcons wanting more.
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Northwood returns to the Non-Select Division II playoffs, bringing a different path but the same expectation.
"We've got a little bit more hope at the end of the day, a little light at the end of the tunnel because we're not in those Division 1 playoffs anymore,” head coach Austin Brown said.
He continued, “The senior group that we have and I think the depth that we have, the tough non-district schedule that we have, I think, will set us up for the playoffs.”
Entering his 10th season at Northwood and seventh as head coach, Brown believes this team has the pieces to make another run. It starts up front, where an experienced offensive line with almost 100 starts between them returns.
“Best O-line, total O-line since we've been here. Five seniors are going to be starting, two more will be rotating in," Brown said.
The Falcons do have big shoes to fill. Northwood's all-time leading rusher Kyran Johnson is gone, along with District Defensive MVP Justin 'Champ' Thomas.
Northwood Track and Football star Justin Thomas named Player of the YearBrown likes what he sees from a deep running back room, which includes highly touted freshman Caden Stewart.
“He's already on the national recruiting map, and very explosive, similar in the way that Kyran was and shifty. He's obviously very talented, but his mindset and the way he goes about his business is second to none, and that's truly the special part about him,” Brown said.
At quarterback, senior Peyton Boone will lead the pack.
Last season's quarterback, senior Nathan Cervantes, decided to focus on baseball in the spring. He is a University of Louisiana-Lafayette commit.
"Building trust in my teammates, making sure they can depend on me and lean on me, working hard day in and day out, not showing any weakness. Showing that I'm a role model and that I'm the standard and making sure that they can depend on me and follow in my footsteps,” Boone said.
Defensively, the Falcons lost the majority of their starters, but bring in a long and athletic group in 2026.
“We got a lot of hard hitters on this defense, some guys that really can come downhill in this defensive line. This is probably one of the biggest D-lines we've had in recent years,” senior middle linebacker Colby Turner said.
Northwood opens the season at home on Friday, September 4 against Malachi Zeigler and the Benton Tigers. Kick-off is set for 7 pm.
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