PRAGUE RED DEVILS
Coach: RAFE WATKINS
5-5
Prague will still be very young in 2026, but fourth-year head coach Rafe Watkins notes that instead of starting seven freshmen like last fall, those same players will at least be sophomores this time around. The Red Devils finished 5-5 a year ago and bring back 10 offensive starters and eight on defense, and Watkins believes line play and a new quarterback will be the keys to taking the next step. With so much experience returning across the board, Prague expects its youth to start looking more like seasoned varsity contributors this fall.
Offensively, Prague lines up in multiple gun looks and wants to run the ball first while mixing in play-action shots to keep defenses honest. Senior fullback/tailback Keano Henley (5-11, 212) is the centerpiece of that identity after rushing for 338 yards and three touchdowns last season, and the coaching staff expects him to be a tone-setter between the tackles again behind an experienced front. Senior wide receiver Caden Milner (5-11, 135) caught 14 passes for 147 yards, while sophomore receiver Eli Johnson (5-9, 135) flashed as a freshman with six receptions for 126 yards and two scores, giving the Red Devils a pair of reliable targets on the perimeter. Senior center Jarrett Hayes (6-2, 215) is a three-year starter up front and a solid leader on the line. With nearly the entire offense returning, the focus this offseason is on gelling a new quarterback with a line and backfield that already know what it takes to move the ball.
Defensively, Prague bases out of a 3-4 with a clear philosophy that mirrors its offensive mindset: just as you have to run the ball to win championships, you must stop the run to win them. Sophomore linebacker Sawyer Hayes (6-0, 175) led the team with 75 tackles, Johnson contributed 43 tackles and eight interceptions from the secondary, and Henley posted 57 tackles and three sacks at linebacker, giving the unit proven playmakers at multiple levels. Senior defensive tackle Rhett Quary (5-9, 245) added 34 tackles and three sacks inside, junior defensive end Rylan Harvey (6-2, 190) recorded 49 tackles and two sacks off the edge, and sophomore outside linebacker Brayden Strickland (5-7, 135) chipped in 48 tackles and two sacks. Henley, a three-year starter and state qualifier in powerlifting, is Prague’s VYPE Top 100 nominee and has been “great both on and off the field as a leader,” and Watkins believes his presence, combined with a large returning core, gives the Red Devils a strong foundation to chase a deeper playoff run in 2026.
9-4 – vs. Wyandotte
9-11 – vs. Chandler
9-18 – at Meeker
9-25 – vs. Valliant
10-2 – at Davis
10-9 – vs. Dibble
10-15 – at Antlers
10-23 – at Tishomingo
10-30 – vs. Lexington
11-6 – at Marietta
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