TONKAWA BUCCANEERS
Coach: Trenton Harmon
12-2
Tonkawa moves into 2026 coming off another powerhouse season but facing a major roster reset. The Buccaneers went 12-2 in 2025 yet graduated 14 seniors, leaving second-year head coach Trenton Harmon with the challenge of blending returning stars with a new supporting cast. He expects the offense in particular to lean on a group of senior playmakers to fill the shoes of those lost to graduation, while the defense brings back a solid core that should help stabilize things early. With a tradition of physical football and postseason expectations, Tonkawa will again be judged by how far it can go in November.
Offensively, Tonkawa returns five starters and will build around a veteran nucleus at the skill spots. Senior running back and VYPE Top 100 nominee Kace Tautfest is the best-known name, a two-way standout who will carry a heavy load as the Buccaneers retool. Senior quarterback Cason Johnson steps into the full-time starting role under center and will be charged with directing an offense that relied heavily on now-graduated seniors a year ago. Senior tight end and defensive end Kade Ditmore and senior receiver and defensive back Loudyn Alexander round out the primary offensive weapons, giving Johnson a blend of size, physicality and reliability in the passing game. Harmon and his staff will count on that quartet to set the tone, both in production and leadership, while younger linemen and role players adjust to varsity snaps.
Defensively, the Buccaneers also return five starters, but the presence of Tautfest and junior linebacker Carsten Campbell gives Tonkawa a strong spine in the middle of the field. Tautfest will anchor the unit at middle linebacker after a monster junior season in which he racked up 140 tackles, drawing multiple college offers and earning Tulsa World Honorable Mention All-State honors. Campbell joins him at linebacker, providing another physical, experienced presence in the box. With that duo setting the tone, Tonkawa’s defense is positioned to keep the team in games early in the season while new pieces on offense settle into their roles. The staff’s confidence in its returning core suggests the Buccaneers won’t lower their standard even after heavy graduation losses, and if the rebuilt offensive line and depth develop on schedule, Tonkawa has the personnel to chase another double-digit win season in 2026.
9-4 – at Pawnee
9-11 – vs. Kansas
9-18 – at Empire
9-25 – vs. Merritt
10-2 – at Hooker
10-9 – vs. Sayre
10-15 – at Watonga
10-23 – at Fairview
10-30 – vs. Crescent
11-6 – at Hinton
