2026 Team Preview: Westside Renegades

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 30% Off Your Subscription with Code PRZWV30 at Checkout!</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>2025 SEASON RECAP</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Biggest Losses: ATH Devon Sanders - WR Braxton Waldron - LB Kameron York - DB Jody Zou - OL Logan McNeely - OL/DL Dalton Browning - WR Ethan Walls</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Westside finished 4-6 during an injury-riddled year in Will Daniels' first season as head coach, missing the playoffs but showing good signs throughout the year to believe the Renegades were closer than the record suggested. The schedule did them no favors, with most of their losses coming against teams that reached the postseason. A couple of those defeats also came by a single score, leaving Westside with several games it can point to as opportunities that got away. Daniels now has a full season in the program behind him, and the Renegades enter 2026 looking to turn some of those close losses into wins and make the playoffs again. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>2026 SCHEDULE</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8/28: vs Wyoming East<br>9/4: vs Mingo Central<br>9/11: at Man<br>9/18: vs PikeView<br>9/25: at Shady Spring<br>10/2: at Liberty<br>10/9: vs Independence<br>10/16: vs Tolsia<br>10/23: at James Monroe<br>11/6: at Logan</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 Record:&nbsp;</strong>4-6<br><strong>2026 Prediction</strong>: 5-5</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>2026 OUTLOOK</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Westside returns seven starters on both sides of the ball, giving the Renegades valuable continuity heading into the second season under Will Daniels. That returning experience will be very helpful after a 2025 campaign in which several close games slipped away amid a difficult schedule. The 2026 slate sets up favorably, giving Westside a real opportunity to turn some of last year's near misses into wins. If the Renegades can stay healthy and take care of business in the games they should be favored, a playoff berth is within reach in year two of the Daniels era.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>COLLEGE PROSPECTS TO KNOW</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["862722"],"_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-6a4a77091ca8e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>RETURNING STANDOUT</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Westside has one of the more unique athletes in Class AA with 2027 ATH/DL Jace Repass, who gives the Renegades plenty of options on offense. Repass has played all over the field during his career and should continue to see creative usage as a senior despite carrying a 6'2 270 frame. The appropriately nicknamed "Rhino" could even get some carries out of the backfield, where his combination of size and athleticism would make him a tough matchup for opponents to handle. He is also expected to see plenty of work at tight end, where he can be a punishing blocker while having enough athleticism to contribute as a pass catcher. Repass is a rare talent for Westside to work with and will be a fun player to watch this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19804671/68cf4b648a61b935346ab397u0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a85cc320b671"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2339259"],"_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-6a4a770920ebe"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>RETURNING STANDOUT</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A healthy 2027 Westside RB/LB Ashton Blankenship could be one of the biggest additions to the Renegades' lineup this season. Blankenship transferred in from Wyoming East last year and made an immediate impact, starting at defensive end before an injury ended his season after just five games. Now healthy, he is expected to see more work in the backfield as a big, bruising runner while continuing to bring that same physical style to the defensive side. His 6'1 210 frame and old-school mentality make him a difficult player to handle, and his high motor should make Blankenship one of the more fun players to watch for Westside in 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2339262"],"_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-6a4a770920f52"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>RETURNING STANDOUT</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Westside has an experienced two-way senior returning in 2027 OL/LB Evan Elswick, who should take on an even bigger role this season. Elswick started most of last year at linebacker while also seeing time at center, and he'll now handle the full-time center duties for the Renegades as a senior. His 6'1 240 frame gives them a strong presence up front and at the second level of the defense, while his experience at linebacker should help fill some of the void left by Kameron York's graduation. With only a handful of seniors on the roster, Elswick will be counted on as a leader to bring their young roster along. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2149398"],"_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-6a4a770920fbf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>BREAKOUT CANDIDATE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Westside will let 2028 QB Bradyn Waldron run the offense again this season, giving the Renegades a quarterback with plenty of experience despite only being a junior. Waldron has been around the position since he was very young and spent his freshman season learning behind record-setting QB Kadien Vance before taking over as a sophomore. His speed and quickness make him a legitimate dual-threat, and he can create explosive plays with his legs. Injuries cost him some time last season, but expect Waldron to put everything together and have a breakout year for Westside in 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2339290"],"_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-6a4a770921024"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">2029 Westside ATH Cooper Hatfield is the type of young player a coaching staff can move all over the field to create opportunities for him to get the ball in his hands. Hatfield can handle any of the skill positions and will also serve as the backup quarterback, showing the trust Westside has in him as just a sophomore. He has a natural feel for the game and plays with the competitive edge you want in a young athlete. With three more seasons ahead of him, expect Hatfield to become a big part of what the Renegades want to do on both sides of the ball and as one of the more exciting young playmakers in the program.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>OTHER PLAYERS TO KNOW</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jackson West - 2027 WR</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Demarion Tilley - 2027 WR/DB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Chris Browning - 2027 OL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kaige Osborne - 2028 OL/DL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cameron Perry - 2028 WR/DB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Zane Cook - 2028 WR/DB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Braedyn Helmick - 2028 OL/DL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Malachi King - 2029 OL/DL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Evan Riley - 2029 OL/DL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->