Since 2022, half of this league has captured at least a share of an NE8 crown – East Noble in 2024 and 2023, Leo and New Haven in 2023 and Columbia City in 2022.
Can someone else make a move this year? Or will it be the usual suspects – Leo, East Noble and Columbia City – battling it out?
Let’s break down the NE8.
THE FAVORITE
EAST NOBLE KNIGHTS
There is a lot to replace here after a 13-win campaign and a trip to state, but Rylee Biddle is the best quarterback in the conference and one of the best in the area. A lot of things come easier when you have QB1 in good hands.
Plenty of strong and sound linemen return, headlined by Hunter Shire up front along with fellow senior Hunter Smithson at center.
The Knights lost studs at every level of the defense – Pace Agee and Gavin Sparkman up front, Kobe Ritchie at linebacker and Logan Hatton at safety. Seniors Ayden Ley, Andrew Oakes and Biddle will need to pick up some of the slack, while junior Alex Scott is a star in the making on the back end at safety. Tayden Getts is an emerging player on the edge.
A pair of games against SAC foes to start the year will give East Noble a good read on where it is at. Blitz’s thought? This is still the best team in the NE8.
THE CONTENDERS
COLUMBIA CITY EAGLES
With 13 starters back from an eight-win team a season ago, Columbia City should stay close to the top of the Northeast Eight even without Stratton Fuller, who is now at Army.
Three starters along the offensive line are back – seniors Carson Carpenter and Carson Henry and junior Caden Bohnstedt. They will help protect new quarterback Gabe McDevitt, a junior, as well as open holes up for senior Trace Parrish (503 rushing yards, 10 touchdowns) and junior Gavin Smith.
The top three receivers are gone, but senior Bradyn Elkins is primed to be the top target for McDevitt. Junior Andrew Furthmiller at 6-foot-2 presents a a matchup problem at tight end as well.
Smith and his eight interceptions are back in the secondary. He will be joined by juniors Ian Berry and Tannor Ellis. Senior linebacker Sam Bean is a terror as he posted nine tackles for loss and will be a bigger problem this year. Parrish and Corbin McIntosh are veteran linebackers as well.
The defensive front will be very sound with interior lineman Gavin Shepherd back with senior edges Avery Fremion and Owen Love.
The schedule still feels backloaded, but not as much as in years past with NorthWood on the schedule and the rise of Huntington North.
LEO LIONS
The Lions have won eight or more games in every season since 2019, so Coach Jason Doerffler’s team isn’t going anywhere.
Nathan Foster is a man-child in the backfield, having run for 1,294 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. He has some dudes to run behind, namely First Team All-NE8 honoree Isaiah Coolman and Hayden Roberts. Senior Cooper Olson, who missed last season due to injury, is also back.
There is a decision to made at quarterback – go with the senior Titus Stoller or go young with sophomore Luke Marquardt, who has some serious potential? Coach Doerffler may have already made the decision, but we will wait til this Friday to find out for sure.
Senior Kellan Hulburt is a burner who could be a big-play machine on offense. He showed signs of it last year before being injured halfway through the season. Luke Tackwell is one to watch as well.
Junior Bret Sauder is a phenomenal all-around linebacker, and the secondary is stocked with dudes like Foster, Tackwell and juniors Tanner Mickelson and Foster Swaney.
“We feel like the strength of our team is along our offensive and defensive lines,” Doerffler said. “We have a good stable of running backs and feel like we will be able to run the ball effectively.
“We do need to replace a very talented and deep graduating senior class, but we have several young guys ready and eager to compete.”
THE REST
BELLMONT BRAVES
The Braves are looking to end a 32-game losing streak entering the season, but another difficult non-conference slate with Heritage and South Adams will make that tough to happen early on.
Freshman Charlie Faurote is expected to get the nod at quarterback. He will start behind a veteran offensive line, with all five returning starters and at least 225 pounds – Grady Baker, Luke Heyerly, Oliver Goble, Diego Arriaga and Ethan Butler.
Overall, Bellmont has over a dozen returning starters.
DEKALB BARONS
The Barons have been an enigma of late. They routinely have some of the best skill position talent in the conference, but up front in terms of strength and physicality, it just hasn’t been there.
New coach Ryan Robertson understands this. He has speed all over the field, but it can only be best utilized if an inexperienced line finds its place. Xavier Bell is dynamic in space and will be used in a variety of different ways. Fellow receivers Connor Schmidt and Noah Spears will also get opportunities. Running backs Brady Culler and Drake Hall will see the most carries.
A new quarterback is in place with Eli McCormick. Some underclassmen to watch include juniors Eli Schwab and Malachi Webb as well as sophomore Xavier Vice.
HUNTINGTON NORTH VIKINGS
One of the surprises of the area a season ago is out to prove it is more than a one-year wonder. There is a load of production that went out the door in the Class of 2025, although Wyatt Shearer returns at tight end and Jimmy Linker is a solid offensive player.
The linemen room is stocked and success has brought out more bodies to the program. Last year was a struggle behind the scenes in the trenches with injuries and an overall lack of depth.
The Vikings are thrown right into the fire with a much-improved Eastbrook team in Week 1, followed by visits to Northrop and East Noble and a date with Columbia City at home in Week 4.
NEW HAVEN BULLDOGS
Coach Vance Shearer is thrilled to get to Year 2 with a much bigger coaching staff and a senior class that has some talent and experience in terms of expectations.
Senior DJ Simpson is a dude, and should surpass 1,000 yards rushing after going for 770 yards and nine touchdowns in last year’s one-win campaign. But he returns as the lone starter on offense.
Defense has eight starters back, including Chris Woods, who along with Simpson is a team captain. Woods is a hybrid who can play linebacker and along the defensive line and had 40 tackles, five tackles for loss, a sack, an INT and a forced fumble last year.
Senior Calvin Dobson is back and healthy after suffering a dislocated elbow last year and is a solid cover corner. Fellow seniors Blaine Thurber, Davion Smith, Sedrick Boone and Jhon Bonilla also bring back experience.
“We are incredibly excited for (our offensive) growth and future,” Coach Shearer said. “Many of them got varsity experience late in the season last year and will be in a much better spot due to an offseason in the weight room.”
NORWELL KNIGHTS
Since a 10-win season in 2022, Norwell has won just five games combined over the last two years. The jury is out on whether this can be a turnaround season.
Talent at Norwell ebbs and flows. When success happens, it frequently revolves around a single class that impacts not just football, but basketball and baseball as well.
Senior Cayden Cassel is back after throwing for over 800 yards and seven touchdowns last season. Leading receiver Drew Graft has graduated, but look for sophomore Cooper Bunn to turn some heads. The offensive line needs to replace some starters, namely First Team All-NE8 selection Logan Cotton and Will Gerber, who was voted Second Team.
NE8 PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
1. East Noble
2. Columbia City
3. Leo
4. DeKalb
5. Huntington North
6. New Haven
7. Norwell
8. Bellmont
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