Of any league in the area, the Northeast Eight could be the most intriguing this fall when it comes to the battle for the league championship.
While East Noble is still the favorite with three-straight seasons of at least a share of the conference crown, several squads could be in the conversation to challenge the Knights. At the very least, each week should deliver some interesting results once conference play begins.
So who has the best chance at knocking East Noble off its title perch?
Let’s break down the NE8.
THE FAVORITE
EAST NOBLE KNIGHTS
Anyone who thought that East Noble football would regress when Luke Amstutz stepped down was emphatically proven wrong over the course of the last two seasons.
All coach Alex Stewart has done in his first two years in Kendallville is compile a 24-3 record, with a trip to the Class 4A state championship game in 2024 and an 11-game winning streak to start last year before a shutout loss to Bishop Dwenger in the sectional final.
The loss of Rylee Biddle and a host of offensive linemen will hurt more than people think. It is up to Coach Stewart and those stepping into those roles to lessen the impact. Luckily, whoever the quarterback is will have Austin Phillips to hand the ball off to. As a freshman, Phillips, who is ranked the No. 8 player in the entire country in the Class of 2029, rushed for 967 yards and 11 touchdowns a season ago.
There is cause for a little uncertainty when it comes to East Noble entering 2026 due to the holes left from the graduated seniors. But the Knights typically reload, so why should this time be any different?
FOR A FULL PREVIEW OF EAST NOBLE, CLICK HERE.
THE CONTENDERS
COLUMBIA CITY EAGLES
It is almost a tale of two sides of a coin for Columbia City heading into this fall. Graduation took the top two rushers, top two receivers, the two leading tacklers and do-everything stalwart Gavin Smith, who set the career mark for interceptions by capping his senior campaign with eight last year.
Then again, there are a lot of players back with varsity experience. Senior Jace Pettigrew is one of the best at his edge position in the area, junior Lukas Duncan could be a star in the making on offense and Gabe McDevitt could be a weapon moving from quarterback to running back.
Despite the question marks, Coach Brett Fox’s team could be the biggest threat to East Noble for the conference title.
A pair of All-NE8 linemen will anchor the front in Dorian Bunn and Zach Furthmiller. They will be joined by fellow seniors Caden Bohnstedt, Braden Potts and Logan Richmond.
The defensive line has similar experience. In addition to Pettigrew, who had 37 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and five sacks last season, classmates Gavin Shepherd and Tanner Rider are back in the mix up front, with Bunn and Furthmiller as well.
If you are looking for strengths on the roster for Columbia City, it definitely has to be the offensive and defensive fronts.
FOR A FULL PREVIEW OF COLUMBIA CITY, CLICK HERE
LEO LIONS
Since 2007, the Lions have not had a single losing season. Not one.
So entering 2026, it is safe to mark Leo down for at least six victories. But can Coach Jason Doerffler’s team be a threat to East Noble in the NE8? Can they challenge the Knights, Bishop Dwenger and a host of solid teams in Sectional 19?
The Lions will have to do it without do-everything player Nathan Foster, who was truly the face of the program in 2025. Foster rushed for 1,444 yards and 18 touchdowns while also being a key playmaker on defense.
However, the defense in particular is laden with experience, even without Foster. Overall, seven starters are back on that side of the ball, anchored by multi-year starter Bret Sauder at linebacker. When healthy, Sauder is one of the best at his position in the entire area. He will have fellow seniors Paul Woods and Bo Swartz supporting him at linebacker, as well as sophomore Sam Miller, who had 16 tackles in his first start last year as a freshman.
The front line of the defense only brings back one starter, but he is a big one, literally and figuratively. Gus Stuckey at 6-foot-2 and 310 pounds is a beast of a body in the middle.
In addition to Foster being gone, graduation saw quarterback Titus Stoller (1,145 yards passing, nine touchdowns) and leading receiver Luke Tackwell (27 catches, 328 yards, four TDs) move on. Junior Luke Marquardt is now QB1. He saw some spot action last year, but this fall will be his first extended time at the varsity level at the position.
FOR A FULL PREVIEW OF LEO, CLICK HERE
THE REST
BELLMONT BRAVES
The Braves head into 2026 with a 42-game losing streak and a new coach in Blake Blaker, formerly of Southern Wells.
There is optimism in Decatur for the Braves. Quarterback Charlie Faurote took his licks last year as a freshman, but is expected to take a step forward as a sophomore. Juniors Jason Lykins and Corbynn Omlor were the two leading rushers from last season, with Lykins also leading Bellmont in receiving.
Braxton Arriaga had 81 tackles, five tackles for loss and a fumble recovery a year ago. With Arriaga at linebacker and Mason White (57 tackles, one fumble recovery) at safety, there are two playmakers on defense.
The big factor will be line play, and there is evidence that the Braves have some more big bodies out this year, which is encouraging.
Want a prediction? Bellmont ends its losing streak this year.
DEKALB BARONS
The Barons’ seven-win campaign in Coach Ryan Robertson’s first year opened a lot of eyes in Auburn and beyond. Now, DeKalb is out to prove it is not a one-year wonder.
Drake Hall is going to become a household name in the NE8 and beyond this fall. He will line up at running back and see action defensively in the secondary. Fellow senior Eli Schwab is also a superb athlete at linebacker.
After a preseason quarterback battle, DeKalb will start the season with Xavier Vice at quarterback. Bracen Staley, a transfer from Carroll, will back him up. Miles Brockhouse is a beast up front and anchors a really solid offensive line.
DeKalb had East Noble beat in Week 4 last year and played Columbia City very close in sectional play. We will see if the momentum continues.
HUNTINGTON NORTH VIKINGS
One year after winning nine games and a sectional title, Huntington North opened the year with three-straight losses and finished 4-6 with a close loss at Logansport to open sectional play.
Injuries gashed the Vikings’ roster last season, and a bounce-back campaign is possible if key players can stay healthy.
Five starters are back on offense, including quarterback Lathen Janes and running back CJ Jemison, both juniors. Janes threw for 1,798 yards and 18 touchdowns last year, while Jemison accounted for over 1,000 yards of total offense and seven scores.
Losing Jimmy Linker to graduation hurts, as he was a big play waiting to happen at wide receiver. Junior Eric Frey is expected to step into that role after missing most of last year due to injury.
The defense also returns five starters, anchored by a pair of senior defensive linemen in Walker Goodnight (44 tackles, eight TFL, two sacks) and Gage Clanin (33 tackles, eight TFL, two sacks). Linebacker Kaine Landrum is an exceptional player and Max Double on the back end is a solid pass defender.
The early-season schedule is still tortuous, with the first four games being Eastbrook, Garrett, East Noble and Columbia City, of which three are on the road.
NEW HAVEN BULLDOGS
Coach Vance Shearer‘s team appears headed in the right direction after picking up a pair of victories in the NE8 last year over Bellmont and Norwell. A total of ten starters are back, with senior Tre McCraney (1,835 yards passing, 10 touchdowns) behind center once again. Fellow senior Donald Gage Jr. is his primary target after hauling in 55 receptions for 686 yards and four touchdowns in 2025. Jaxon Price and Ethan Wake are also ones to watch on offense.
The defense allowed 40 points per game last season, a metric that must improve. The defensive line averages 6-foot-4 and 260 pounds with Price, Lavell Ledbetter and Jayon Thomas. There is also a solid core at linebacker in senior Landrian Trotter and sophomore Aiden Hoffer.
More numbers always excites coaches, and New Haven has those out this year. Two-way player Jaylan Doughty missed last season due to a broken collarbone. Junior Max Hartman, a transfer from Leo, is also expected to contribute.
NORWELL KNIGHTS
There are a lot of unknowns around Norwell entering 2026, but over a dozen starters are back, including impact players Cooper Bunn at tight end and Trey Privett in the secondary.
Norwell won just two games last year, although that included an impressive road victory over Heritage in sectional play. The expectation is the win total rises with so many guys back with experience.
Hunter Kurtz is back at quarterback after being thrown into the fire at the varsity level as a freshman. He will have help around him. In addition to Bunn, EJ Morgan and Cash Fegley are solid running backs.
The Knights were held to seven or less points in five of their nine losses. Being able to consistently score points is the key to more dubs in Uniondale.
NE8 PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
1. East Noble
2. Columbia City
3. Leo
4. DeKalb
5. Huntington North
6. New Haven
7. Bellmont
8. Norwell
These opinions represent those of Blitz and Outside the Huddle. No opinions expressed on Outside the Huddle represent those of any of our advertisers. Follow Blitz on Twitter at Blitz_OTH
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