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The Columbus Cardinals are ready to take the field for the 2026 football season, and their Head Coach Matt Schobel is excited about the group they have this year.
“We’re proud of our kids and excited about this group. We have a lot of experience back, and we’re looking forward to the journey and improving as the season goes on,” Schobel said.
The Columbus Cardinals received a lot of high praise from Dave Campbell’s Texas High School Football as they are predicted to win the state championship this year.
A Cardinal was named the “cover boy” for class 3A: Keyon Hemphill-Woods, a 6’4 290-pound offensive and defensive lineman who has committed to playing at the University of Texas in Austin.
Big things are expected out of Hemphill-Woods this season, and he is ready to leave a lasting impact on Cardinal football in his senior year.
Schobel was named the preseason Coach of the Year by Dave Campbell. Schobel helped lead the Cardinals to an 11-3 record last season, going 4-0 in district to win the district championship.
Schobel and the Cards had a deep playoff run that saw them reach the regional finals. In the regional finals, the Cardinals were eliminated by the eventual state champions Yoakum Bulldogs with a score of 20-14.
Despite being in a new district this season, Dave Campbell thinks the Cardinals still have the tools to make a state title run. Schobel also said he thinks they have the tools to make a deep run this year.
“We have a lot of experienced players back on both sides of the ball, plus some new guys who can help us. We feel like we have more depth this year,” Schobel said.
In practices leading up to the season and throughout the season, Schobel said he just wants his team to show up with energy, be consistent and execute. He wants his team to play fast, tough and keep getting better week over week.
“We have talent, but we have to play together, be tough and stack good days,” Schobel said.
As far as Dave Campbell’s prediction for the Cardinals, Schobel said his team is not too worried about living up to those expectations and will approach the season with a “one game at a time” mentality.
The Cardinals are set to kick off their season on Friday, Aug. 28, on the road against Bay City.
