The Council Grove High School Braves will enter the 2026 football season with an experienced senior class, eight returning starters on both offense and defense and expectations built through four consecutive winning seasons.
Council Grove finished 7-3 last year and advanced to the Class 2A Round of 16. The Braves have reached the Round of 16 three times in the past four seasons, along with a semifinal appearance in 2024. Before 2022, Council Grove had never won a playoff game.
Head coach Derron Reddick credits the program’s growth to a sense of belonging when competing against top teams, consistency among the coaching staff and expectations established by previous players. “The belief in the program that the 2023 senior class established set a new standard, and that mindset carried into our younger groups, resulting in recent success,” Reddick said. “While the faces, team strengths and weaknesses may change, the expectations do not.”
Reddick is joined by assistant coaches Butch Hayes, Broc Finch and Jay Simecka. The four have worked together for seven seasons.
The Braves return eight offensive starters — Luke Stewart, Reid Buttrey, Grady Kepley, Sy’ied Smith-Jenkins, Logan Stockwell, Mason Samuels, Leo Salas and Maddox Ziegler. Returning on defense are Samuels, Stockwell, Buttrey, Bradley Doornbos, Smith-Jenkins, David McDiffett, Nate Seimears and Easton Stohs.
Reddick said experience is only part of what distinguishes this year’s group.
“I would argue this is one of the most competitive groups I have been around,” he said. “They hate to lose, and they passionately chase their goals in whatever they are pursuing.”
He also described the group as one of the most knowledgeable he has coached, with players understanding not only their individual assignments but how the entire scheme works.
Five Braves — Stewart, Buttrey, McDiffett, Doornbos and Samuels — were featured on the inside cover of this year’s Kansas Pregame Magazine.
Stewart returns for his fourth season as a starting quarterback after completing 84 of 147 passes for 1,236 yards and 15 touchdowns last year despite missing nearly four games.
“Luke is one of the most positive kids I’ve been around and having that kind of personality at quarterback is invaluable,” Reddick said. “He’s confident in his abilities and one of the best offensive competitors I have been around.”
Buttrey filled in at quarterback during Stewart’s absence last season, completing 39 of 67 passes for 516 yards, eight touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed for 238 yards and six touchdowns, caught 15 passes for 230 yards and recorded 56 tackles defensively.
Reddick said Buttrey’s willingness to fill different roles has helped establish a team-first approach. During his career, Buttrey has played quarterback, wide receiver, tight end, offensive line, defensive end, outside and inside linebacker, kicker and punter.
McDiffett returns at middle safety after leading the Braves with 113 tackles last season. “His willingness to put the team first as one of our best players over multiple seasons makes it hard for anyone else to be selfish,” Reddick said.
“David is the quarterback of our defense from the middle safety spot in our 3-3-5,” Reddick said. “He’s the guy everyone looks to for organization and alignment.”
Doornbos returns after an injury caused him to miss three and a half games last season, including the playoff run. He still recorded 48 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and five sacks. Reddick expects his role to expand this season beyond middle linebacker, allowing him to line up in several defensive positions.
“Bradley brings a physical edge to the field that our kids feed off of,” Reddick said.
Samuels returns at tight end and defensive end after catching 38 passes for 497 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. Defensively, he recorded 40 tackles, including nine tackles for loss and three sacks.
“Mason is one of the most competitive players we have at all times,” Reddick said. “His combination of toughness, awareness and consistency makes him a player our team can count on week after week.”
Council Grove’s 41-player roster includes 12 seniors, 11 juniors, eight sophomores and 10 freshmen.
The seniors are Luke Stewart, Nate Seimears, Reid Buttrey, Ethan Yowell, Sy’ied Smith-Jenkins, Grady Kepley, David McDiffett, Mason Samuels, Bradley Doornbos, Leo Salas, Mason Bowman and Maddox Ziegler.
The juniors are Logan Stockwell, George Mascote, Carter Bremer, Cooper Andres, Kason Spear, Jace Schmidt, Warren Longren, Tucker Shoffner, Kit Dunn, Ty King and Andrew McLaren.
Sophomores are Easton Stohs, Dillon McDiffett, Jackson Stecher, Leyton Olsen, Parker Ziegenhirt, Cash Johnson, Lane Bell and Cooper Sommer.
Freshmen are Brantley Hilton, Ian Stockwell, Kamdon Young, Kaiden Kaster, Parker Staatz, Brody Locke, Keegan Farr, Westyn Hutchinson, Wyatt Hutchinson and Aidan Jones.
Team managers this season are Sayden Liddick, Whitlyn Mullen, Collison SanRomani and Isabelle Villalobos.
Council Grove will compete in Class 2A District 5, where Reddick said attention to detail, continued improvement along the line of scrimmage and staying healthy will be important.
“To earn one of those top spots, we have to be consistent week to week and play our best football when district play arrives,” he said.
The Braves open the season at home against Mission Valley Sept. 4. They travel to Osage City Sept. 11, host West Franklin Sept. 18, travel to Minneapolis Sept. 25, host Marysville Oct. 2, travel to Southeast of Saline Oct. 9 and Inman Oct. 16, and close the regular season at home against Riley County Oct. 23.