PRZNY Team Previews: Starpoint Spartans

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Last Season (6-4)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last season, Starpoint moved down to Class B after playing in Class A for several years. However, they would lose 4 of their first 5 games; all against divisional opponents before ending the season on a three game winning streak. Although they ended on a high note, it would be too late as they missed the sectional playoffs but would go on to win the Class B Funkhe Bowl.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Prospect</strong><strong></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1811617"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a59199e42d00"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Last season, Collins broke out as the cornerstone of the Spartans team on both sides of the ball and I would expect the same in 2026. Victor led Starpoint in rushing with 800 yards and added a team high 90 tackles. He is a tough &amp; gritty runner that rarely gets tackled by one player alone. He has good vision and defensively, he can read and react very well and has fluid motion to play the pass as well as the run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Three X-Factors</strong><strong></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1811579"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a59199e42d7c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Chase struggled early on last season but really came into his own through the half way mark. His progression should get better in his senior season. With a year and a half of varsity under his belt and the poise and arm strength he displayed at the end of last year and in offseason workouts, David should have his best season in 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2149722"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a59199e42dd2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kuhns is a WR/TE Hybrid and from talking to his coaches, he will be on the breakout list as a senior. He has quick feet and a quick burst out of his breaks. He can play the perimeter and has the ability to stretch the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2200623"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a59199e42e28"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">McManus earned second team Class B1 honors as a sophomore last season. He is light for his position but he has good technique and started at LG for the Spartans last year. He is a good puller and moves very well. Colin has a high motor and finished his first varsity season with 4 sacks at DE.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Breakout Player</strong><strong></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1672242"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a59199e42e81"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I first started following Boyd last off season while watching his freshman tape on Starpoint's JV team. He is a tenacious tackler with playmaking abilities. He displays great intuition and good mechanics. Cayden made his varsity debut last season at OLB and showed he can play at a high level. He should take a step forward as junior and be a name to look out for.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Names to Know</strong><strong></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Position</span></strong></td><td><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Player</span></strong></td></tr><tr><td>ATH</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1714795' first='Cole' last='Preisch']</td></tr><tr><td>LB/EDGE</td><td>Keanu Laughton</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Losses</strong><strong></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Position</span></strong></td><td><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Player</span></strong></td><td><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Contributions</span></strong></td></tr><tr><td>WR</td><td>Brady Crissman</td><td>Lead the Spartans in receiving</td></tr><tr><td>DL</td><td>Ben Ely</td><td>Lead the Spartans in sacks</td></tr><tr><td>CB</td><td>Frank Buttita</td><td>Starpoint's top CB</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2026 Schedule</strong><strong></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Date</span></strong></td><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Opponent</span></strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">Fri Sep 4 7:00 PM</td><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">vs Grand Island</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">Fri Sep 11 7:30 PM</td><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">@ North Tonawanda</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">Thu Sep 17 6:00 PM</td><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">@ Pioneer</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">Fri Sep 25 7:00 PM</td><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">@ Kenmore East</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">Fri Oct 2 7:00 PM</td><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">vs Williamsville East</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">Fri Oct 9 7:00 PM</td><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">@ Hamburg</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">Fri Oct 16 7:00 PM</td><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">vs South Park</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">Thu Oct 22 7:00 PM</td><td class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">vs WNY Maritime</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2026 Outlook</strong><strong></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Current Head Coach:</strong> Justin Baumann (entering his 2nd season)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Starpoint is heading back up to compete in Class A for the 2026 season. Their first three game will be their toughest test as they take on 2025 surprise contenders in Grand Island &amp; North Tonawanda before taking to the road to play Class B powerhouse, Pioneer. Divisional games vs Williamsville East and South Park will be telling games on the Spartans post-seasons ambitions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Starpoint will battle a difficult schedule this season but they could build on the momentum they had last year, winning the final 5 games. They also have solid seniors returning this year mixed with young talent. The Spartans also have a very knowledgeable coaching staff and could make a run at a wide open Class A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->