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SEPTEMBER 2026
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IN THIS ISSUE SEPTEMBER 2026
FEATURES 10 SEGUIN MATADORS The Matadors look to make some noise with a new coach in a new district with some familiar faces.
18 NAVARRO PANTHERS
The Panthers and second year head coach Glenn Hill find ways to evolve high-octane offense for the 2026 season.
24 MARION BULLDOGS
Head coach Joel Call and the Bulldogs are ready to build off the foundation laid in 2025 with the hopes of another postseason run.
30 TLU BULLDOGS
The TLU Bulldogs aim to keep winning tradition as the top dog in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.
AROUND TOWN 36 FACES OF SEGUIN Submitted photos from our readers.
38 SAVE THE DATE See what events are coming up.
Catch complete sports coverage
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2026
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Vol. 13, No. 4 SEGUIN MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED TWELVE TIMES A YEAR BY THE SEGUIN GAZETTE. PUBLISHER
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FROM THE SPORTS EDITOR
T
he offseason work is done, the scrimmages wrapped up and school is back in session, which can only mean one thing: Friday night lights are back. Student-athletes get to put on their uniforms and buckle their chin straps with the hopes of playing the game they love in front of their families, friends, classmates and die hard high school football fans. The Seguin Gazette presents Game Day, a comprehensive look at Seguin’s, Navarro’s, Marion’s and Texas Lutheran University’s preparations and expectations for the 2026 season. Inside you will find exactly what makes these teams tick and insight from the coaches who head up these programs. Whether it’s Marion building on the foundation laid in 2025, Navarro evolving under a second-year head coach or Seguin establishing a culture in its head coach’s first season leading the Matadors, this magazine highlights all of that. I will be providing coverage for the Matadors, Scot Kibbe will continue his 35-year legacy of reporting on the Navarro Panthers, Alex Lowe gives you the inside scoop on everything happening on the Marion gridiron and Bryce Hayes delivers all the details on Texas Lutheran University. One thing is certain. We here at the Seguin Gazette are ready to tell the stories — from electric fourth-quarter finishes to heartbreaking losses — and take in the sights and sounds of Friday night popping of the pads, fans cheering on their team or the bands playing in their halftime shows. All of this encompasses what a singular night means here in Texas and we are excited to get this season kicked off.
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MATADOR
Seguin High School STORY BY NOLAN ALEXANDER
10 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING
PHOTOS BY NOLAN ALEXANDER, BROOKE LOCKER AND MEGAN LOCKER
RS
SEGUIN MATADORS 2026 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE Sep 11 • 7:00 PM vs Manor HS Mustangs SENIOR NIGHT @ Matador Stadium
Sep 17 • 7:00 PM vs Cedar Creek HS Eagles @ Bastrop Memorial Stadium
Sep 25 • 7:00 PM vs Lehman HS Lobos HOMECOMING @ Matador Stadium
Oct 2 • 7:00 PM vs Anderson HS Trojans @ Anderson House Park Stadium
Oct 9 • 7:00 PM vs Lockhart HS Lions PINK OUT @ Matador Stadium
Oct 16 • 7:00 PM vs Boerne Champion HS Chargers @ Boerne Champion
Oct 30 • 7:00 PM vs Smithson Valley HS Rangers HALL OF HONOR @ Matador Stadium
Nov 6 • 7:00 PM vs McCallum HS Knights @ McCallumHouse Park Stadium GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING ~ SEGUIN 11
MATS TACKLE NEW IDENTITY The gridiron season is back in full swing and that means eager Seguin parents, students and fans filling Matador Stadium for another year under the Friday night lights. The 2026 campaign brings student-athletes and new coaches to the field, including new athletic director/head football coach Gary Gutierrez — hired during Seguin ISD’s June 2 meeting. Gutierrez takes over after former head coach Craig Dailey’s five-year tenure. Dailey went 25-28 over the past five seasons as the head football coach — 19-16 against district opponents — and made it to the Conference 5A playoffs three times. Four of the five years resulted in a Matador student-athlete being named the district MVP — wide receiver Devin Matthews in 2022, running back John Jackson in 2023 and quarterback Corey Dailey in the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
12 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING
Before Craig, Travis Bush led Seguin’s gridiron team for five seasons — 2016 through 2020. Bush took a job at Canyon High School in 2021 and is currently the head coach at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. As a Matador, Bush compiled a 23-29 overall record, 19-16 against district foes and made the postseason three of five seasons. Gutierrez said he entered the first week of practice with a lot of enthusiasm and all of the players and coaches matched his energy. The name of the game is improvement with every rep and every practice with the goal of putting a product worth watching under the Friday night lights, he said. “Well, I think the first couple of days have been pretty good at establishing a cultural identity of who we want to be,” Gutierrez said. “We have all been on a learning curve in the last 48 hours, you know. I think everybody has embraced, hugged, grabbed on to the concepts of what we are wanting to do. Now it’s just practicing the art of perfecting it. I’m really pleased at where the kids are, I’m pleased with where the coaching staff is and I’m super excited about the possibilities that lie ahead.”
GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING ~ SEGUIN 13
NEW SEASON NEW WEAPONS Seguin’s 2025-26 graduating class left holes at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, offensive line, defensive line and the secondary, but this year’s athletes are ready to compete and fill the shoes of those who came before, Gutierrez said. A lot of talented athletes are returning and the younger guys will need to lean on those with experience to help adapt to the speed of the game, he said. “Ayden Avila is going to be a senior and has an opportunity to be a really big-time contributor on both sides of the ball,” he said. “Then we have Jamie Alvarez, who is an offensive lineman. I call him the early bird. He gets here early. I really think that’s an admirable trait for a young man. I think those two guys will be great for us.” Avila missed one game last year, but finished his junior campaign as one of the team’s top two weapons. He snagged 68 receptions for 711 yards, averaged 79 yards per game and hauled in five touchdowns. Also returning amongst the pass catcher is speedy wide receiver Daniel Pinon and tight end Tyler Trevino. Pinon 14 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING
recorded 28 catches for 364 yards, garnered three touchdowns and put up 36.4 yards per game and 13 yards per catch. Trevino had 138 yards and averaged 19.7 yards per game on 15 receptions. In the ground game, the Matadors graduated three of their four top rushers, but D’Angelo Aguilar returns with experience pounding the rock. He tallied 181 yards on 40 carries (4.5 yards per carry) and found pay dirt once. He started in game one against Alamo Heights for injured back Ian Moreno and collected 83 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. He also hauled in two receptions for 10 yards. Quarterback is one of the key positions that needs to be replaced after Corey’s departure to the University of Pittsburgh. There is an ongoing quarterback competition to see who gets the top spot, but three prospects are hungry for the job, Gutierrez said. It’s an important position that touches the ball every play on offense so evaluation during practice is key, he said. “I think we have a couple of kids who are competing for it. I think we have some kids with big-time possibilities,” the head coach said. “Corey Dailey was a heck of a ball player so they’ve had a chance to see a great player play. They know what the high standards and expectations are. Hopefully, they learned a lot from a big-time player and will have a high standard for themselves.”
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HARD HITS HIGHER STANDARDS Defensively, Seguin’s secondary returns two of its top tacklers, while the front seven has two stout defensive lineman coming back for their senior year. Seniors Kaiden De La Garza and Griffin Welfel anchor the secondary after productive junior years. De La Garza’s 39 total tackles in eight games finished sixth on defense, while Welfel garnered 19 tackles. On the d-line, Mario Jackson and Michael Roman return and hope to stay healthy for all 10 games. Jackson played in eight games and produced 17 tackles, while Roman saw the field five times, securing 11 tackles and one tackle for loss. If the duo stays healthy, they will wreak havoc on opposing offenses. It’s early in the season, but the coaching staff expects all the athletes to play their best when their numbers are called, Gutierrez said. Whether in the classroom, on the practice field or under the Friday night lights, all members need to give 100% in everything they do, he said. “My expectation is to have kids understand there is no offseason or playoff game where they are not giving their
16 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING
best,” the head coach said. “We are preaching that you are performing your best at all times no matter what the task is. Winners win all the time. It doesn’t matter if it’s on the football field, in the classroom or taking out the trash. We are going to do things right and to the best of our ability.”
NEW DISTRICT FRESH OPPONENTS The Seguin Matadors stay in District 13-5A-I and with that comes new opponents and familiar faces. For the next two years, the Mats face Austin Anderson, Austin McCallum, Bastrop Cedar Creek, Boerne Champion, Smithson Valley, Lehman, Lockhart and Manor. 2025 Conference 5A state champion Smithson Valley and Boerne Champion’s explosive offense remain from the previous realignment, but the rest are brand new. Seguin starts its district schedule Friday, Sept. 11 at home against Manor. Then the Mats play Cedar Creek (Sept. 17), Lehman (Sept. 25), Austin Anderson (Oct. 2), Lockhart (Oct. 9), Boerne Champion (Oct. 16) and Smithson Valley (Oct. 30) before wrapping up the season Nov. 6 on the road at Austin McCallum High School.
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PANTHER
Navarro High School STORY BY SCOT KIBBE
18 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING
PHOTOS BY ALLISON MAGIN
RS
NAVARRO PANTHERS 2026 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE Sep 11 • 7:00 p.m. vs La Grange HS Leopards @ Erwin Lee Football Field
Sep 18 • 7:00 p.m. vs La Vernia HS Bears @ Bear Stadium
Sep 25 • 7:00 p.m. vs Marble Falls HS Mustangs @ Erwin Lee Football Field
Oct 9 • 7:00 p.m. vs Pearsall HS Mavericks @ Mack Laxson Field
Oct 16 • 7:00 p.m. vs San Antonio Memorial Minutemen @ Erwin Lee Football Field
Oct 23 • 7:00 p.m. vs Cuero HS Gobblers @ Gobbler Stadium
Oct 30 • 7:00 p.m. vs Bandera HS Bulldogs @ Bulldog Stadium
Nov 6 • 7:00 p.m. vs Gonzales HS Apaches @ Erwin Lee Football Field GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING ~ SEGUIN 19
EXPLOSIVE OFFENSE
and coverages on offense and we’ve improved our communication and recognition on defense.” The Panthers’ offense lost skill position players who accounted for more than 90% of their yardage last season. But the offensive line is mainly intact, anchored by Tyler Riske, Lane Black and last season’s district offensive lineman of the year Chris Ledezma. Junior Eli Baker takes over at quarterback. Hill said Baker “has truly showed mastery of our offense and allowed us to take some steps that can help us be great.” Navarro returns Emerson Elder, who Hill says is an explosive player that will line up all over the field on Friday nights. Elder ran for 112 yards and two touchdowns last year while catching 11 passes for 132 yards and a touchdown. First-team all-district fullback Isidro Rocha also brings his experience back to the Panthers’ offense. Brody Zoeller should be a frequent pass target, though Hill looks to spread out the passes to multiple players.
For the first time in 18 years, the Navarro Panthers found themselves on the outside looking in when last season’s playoffs arrived. The Panthers’ 3-7 finish last season came with more than a few heartbreakers in a district where everyone seemed evenly matched. Still, there’s a blueprint for bouncing back. The last Navarro team to miss the playoffs — then-head coach Les Goad’s first squad in 2007 — was also learning a brand-new offense. The Slot-T was a seismic shift and the Panthers took their lumps while adapting. A year later, they won 10 games, grabbed the district crown and kicked off a run of 100-plus wins over the next decade. Navarro head coach Glenn Hill also brought in a new system when he arrived on campus in 2025. The Slot-T fell by the wayside, replaced by the more wide-open Pistol formation that Hill ran when he was Smithson Valley’s offensive coordinator. Hill hopes for similar progress now that he and his staff have had a full offseason to work with their players. “My start here was just teaching the absolute basics: Defensively, the Panthers made steady progress as the How do we get lined up, how do we break the huddle, etc.,” year progressed in 2025 and will hope to build on that this he said. “The kids have retained all that information from season. Hill said they will rely on lineman Hudson Statler, year one and been able to grow and help us expand what who he says is “physical with an incredibly high motor.” we’re doing. They have learned to identify different fronts Black, who was first team all-district last year, will also key what should be a strong line. Hill said junior linebacker Dax Harborth is “the quarterback of the defense. He communicates and gets things going on that side of the ball.” The secondary will also feature Elder, who grabbed two interceptions last season. “He is everything you want in a secondary player,” Hill said of Elder. “He’s super intelligent, physical and with great ball skills.” Hill believes the biggest challenge for his team this season will be consistency. “The question is always ‘Can you consistently do the difficult things correctly,’” he said. “The teams that can do that are the teams that win.” The Panthers find themselves in a new district this season with just one team — Gonzales — that was on their schedule last year. Perennial power Cuero should be the favorite but Hill looks for Gonzales to be strong following that team’s playoff run in 2025 and points out that Bandera is coming off a 10-win season.
INTELLIGENT DEFENSE
20 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING
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TOUCHDOWN TERRITORY Major change is coming to the Navarro football program, and anyone driving down Highway 123 through Geronimo can see it taking shape. Construction is nearing completion on a new 7,000-seat stadium, part of a significant facilities upgrade for the fast-growing district. The complex will feature a full track, an expanded press box with an elevator and modern amenities throughout. Navarro expects to play its first game in the new venue around midseason — either the non-district matchup with Marble Falls on Sept. 25 or the district home opener Oct. 16 against San Antonio Memorial. Until then, the Panthers will continue to call Erwin-Lee Field home, as they have for the past 50 years.
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22 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING
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BULLDOG
Marion High School STORY BY NOLAN ALEXANDER
24 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING
PHOTOS BY MELANIE KRAUSE
GS
MARION BULLDOGS 2026 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE Sep 11 • 7 p.m. vs Devine HS Warhorses @ Devine HS Warhorse Stadium
Sep 18 • 7 p.m. vs Uvalde HS Coyotes @ Marion Bulldogs Stadium
Sep 25 • 7 p.m. vs Cole HS Cougars MIDDLE SCHOOL NIGHT @ Marion Bulldogs Stadium
Oct 2 • 7 p.m. vs Yoakum HS Yoakum @ Yoakum High School
Oct 16 • 7 p.m. vs Smithville HS Tigers HOMECOMING @ Marion Bulldogs Stadium
Oct 23 • 7 p.m. vs Luling HS Eagles @ Luling HS Eagle Field
Oct 30 • 7 p.m. vs Randolph HS Ro-Hawks SENIOR WALK/PINK OUT @ Marion Bulldogs Stadium
Nov 6 • 7 p.m. vs Hallettsville HS Brahma @ Hallettsville HS Brahma Memorial Stadium
SECOND-YEAR LEAP UNDER CALL AND COMPANY Marion football is entering its second season under the leadership of head coach Joel Call and with it comes expectations for a deep postseason run. Preparation for the season began back in July with players taking their own time to improve their craft, but official practices began Monday, Aug. 3, Call said. Practices started early in the morning and ran about two hours, but the student-athletes oozed high energy and enthusiasm for the gridiron season, he said. Last season was a good stepping stone to what this program can achieve and now it’s about taking that next step, Call said. “Our first couple days (of practice) have gone great. Our kids are moving around, flying around, hustling around and the energy has been great,” the head coach said. “As soon as we lost that playoff game last year, I told them we got to get out of the mentality that we are a one-playoff-win team. I want them to have a vision of more than the second round of the playoffs. That’s been the goal and the mindset.” The Bulldogs went 7-5 overall in Call’s first season at the helm, finished third in District 13-3A (3-2) behind Ingram Moore in second (4-1) and undefeated Llano (5-0), and made the postseason. Marion squared off against Jourdanton in the Conference 3A-I bi-district round where incoming senior Emerson Blevins’ last minute-interception sealed the deal on a narrow 28-22 victory over the Indians. The Bulldogs advanced to area but ran into a stout Edna team that ended Marion’s season in a 38-14 loss. The 2025 team’s offense averaged 36.3 points per game, while the defense allowed 29.3 points per contest. The Bulldogs lost starting quarterback Kade Pape, starting tail back Tanner Otis and Jaiden Riley — their number one wide receiver — to graduation. But they do return Jack Wells — the group’s second leading pass catcher. Wells had 24 receptions for 320 yards, averaged 29.7 yards per game and 13.3 yards per catch, and hauled in two receiving touchdowns. Replacing a starting quarterback is no easy task, especially one who carries himself to a high standard like Pape, Call said. While no starting quarterback has been listed, the coaching staff hopes competition amongst teammates will help make the decision, Call said. “I was just challenging them to let this competition breed success and be there for each other,” he said about his quarterback room. “It’s hard to replace a kid like Kade 26 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING
Pape, right? He’s an off-the--chart competitor, one of the best competitors I’ve ever coached, one of the best vocal leaders I’ve ever coached and that’s where we are trying to get that next generation of guys to come up. They are doing a really great job of that.” In the back field, Chase Colon brings back the most experience after losing Marion’s top two rushers in Otis and Pape. Colon tallied 197 yards and one touchdown on 42 carries (4.7 yards per touch). He also hauled in eight catches for 101 yards. Defensively, the Bulldogs bring back a heavy seniorloaded class with a plethora of big game experience. Senior linebacker Blake Birdwell’s 98 total tackles led the defensive group. He added two tackles for loss to his resume and he will be one of the vocal leaders for the front seven. Blevins, with his big play ability, also returns to help bolster a speedy and athletic secondary. Blevins ended his junior year with 88 tackles — second overall on the team — two tackles for
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loss and a team-high three interceptions. He also secured one deflected pass and forced a fumble that he recovered. Blevins also plays wide receiver so his impact stretches to both sides of the ball, Call said. The senior is a natural leader and is wicked smart on the field and in his studies, he said. “Emerson is a stud. What makes him special is he is brilliant. He is one of the top or the top kid in his class,” Call said. “He is highly intelligent. His ability to get out there on defense and offense and lead and communicate is what makes him special. He is the leader of our secondary for a reason. … He is going to play a big role for us this season.” Blevins said he humbly takes on the leadership role in the secondary and is excited for one final ride with his brothers. Last year came to an end earlier than everybody hoped and now the mission is to leave no doubt in between the lines every Friday night, he said. “The whole offseason we came together as a team and we know we are better than a one-win-playoff team,” Blevins said. “We have been putting in a lot of work over the summer and our main goal is to make it deep in the playoffs. We hope to make a legacy for ourselves.”
NEW ALIGNMENT AND TOUGH PRE-DISTRICT SCHEDULE The 2026 UIL realignment brought four new teams into District 13-3A-I, but kept two from the last realignment. Marion’s fall season features matchups against Hallettsville, Luling, Cole, Smithville, Randolph and Yoakum. Losing a top-ranked team in Llano on the surface might give the impression of an easier district, but the addition of Yoakum brings a new slate of challenges, Call said. “Yeah, I think it’s a good district. I think the district got better,” he said. “We lost Ingram, Llano and Florence, but we replaced them with Yoakum, a state champion team. … I told our kids this morning that we are fortunate to have our non-district set up beforehand. With our non-district and district games, we will be battle tested.” The Bulldogs wrap up their final two non-district games against Devine (Sept. 11) and Uvalde (Sept. 18) before kicking off the district slate at home against the Cole Cougars on Friday, Sept. 25. They face Yoakum (Oct. 2), Smithville (Oct. 16), Luling (Oct. 23) and Randolph (Oct. 30) before closing out the regular season Friday, Nov. 6 on the road at Hallettsville High School.
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BULLDOG
Texas Lutheran University STORY BY BRYCE HAYES
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PHOTOS BY BRYCE HAYS AND DUSTIN WYAT T
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TLU BULLDOGS 2026 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE September 12 • 6 p.m. vs Southwestern University @Bulldog Stadium
September 19 • 1 p.m. vs Austin College @Bulldog Stadium
September 26 • 1 p.m. vs East Texas Baptist University @ Marshall, TX
October 3 • 4 p.m. vs Lyon College @ Bulldog Stadium
October 17 • 1 p.m. vs Hendrix College @ Bulldog Stadium
October 24 vs Lyon College @ Batesville, AR
October 31 • 1 pm. vs Austin College @ Sherman, TX
November 7 • 1 p.m. vs Centenary College @ Bulldog Stadium
November 14 • 1 p.m. SCAC Championship Tournament @ War Memorial Stadium, Little Rock, AR
FOOTBALL PREVIEW After back-to-back Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) regular season championships to start their tenure in the SCAC, Texas Lutheran University aspires to complete the trilogy and more in 2026. Much like 2024, the Bulldogs ran through the SCAC in the regular season, improving to 12-1 in conference play over the past two seasons. With last season’s success, the Bulldogs have won the SCAC in five of their six seasons as football members of the conference dating back to their original stint from 2013-16. The lone blemish against SCAC opponents last season came in the inaugural SCAC Championship Game in Little Rock, Arkansas, falling to McMurry, which has since left the SCAC to return to the American Southwest Conference (ASC). Texas Lutheran finished 6-4 in 2025, including 5-0 in SCAC play. The 2026 season will merge the double round robin scheduling of 2024 and traditional scheduling of the 2025 season. The Bulldogs will play three non-conference games before playing every SCAC team at least once while playing Lyon and Austin College twice before the season culminates in Little Rock, Arkansas, at historic War Memorial Stadium for the second annual SCAC Championship weekend. The lead-in to the 2026 season echoes similar sentiments of 2025 as the Bulldogs will enter with a target on their backs as the SCAC favorites while looking to replace a massive senior class (20 players) in addition to a number of key players not returning. The major difference is the stakes as the SCAC will have an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011. In their attempt to conquer the SCAC yet again, the Bulldogs will be led by 13 All-SCAC honorees. Head coach Neal LaHue brought more than 150 players to fall camp to start the 2026 campaign and returns all but two members of last season’s coaching staff. The Bulldogs will open Saturday, Sept. 5 against rival No. 14 Trinity in San Antonio, which should draw national attention as the two teams have provided quality opening-week contests over the last two seasons. The Bulldogs will open their conference schedule Sept. 19 at Bulldog Stadium against Austin College. The Bulldogs will welcome Lyon College to Seguin for homecoming Oct. 3, two weeks before hosting a Hendrix College Warriors squad that provided an instant classic against the Bulldogs a season ago in Seguin and could be a preview of the 2026 SCAC Championship game in Little Rock, Arkansas. 32 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING
OFFENSE PREVIEW The TLU offense saw a number of different evolutions throughout 2025 after Caden Bosanko was knocked out for the remainder of the season in the season opener against Trinity. After an on-field competition played out, the Bulldogs turned to Reece Deitrick and became one of the most explosive offenses in the country with his arm and a TLU run game that ranked 22nd nationally with 216.5 yards per game as the Bulldogs nearly scored 40 points per game all the way to the SCAC Championship game. Entering 2026, there’s a ton of negatives to point to. Caleb Camarillo, who led the entire country across all levels in yards per reception, graduated. The exciting freshman who stepped in to lead the Bulldogs to the SCAC Championship? Transferred to Division-II Southwest Oklahoma State. The running back room that ran for all of those yards? Gutted to graduations and transfers. Four offensive linemen that paved the way for those backs and protected the quarterback? Also gone. The positive? Caden Bosanko is back under center for the Bulldogs, returning for his redshirt senior season with Ja’Mare Nichols, who made major strides in the Bulldogs’ offense last season to earn All-SCAC honors. While surely
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there will be an adjustment period in returning to game speed following that knee injury from last season, Bosanko will have multi-time All-SCAC First Team tackle Ian Wollard to protect his blindside. There’s a ton of unknown entering week one of the 2026 season for the TLU offense, but having two of the most important positions on the offensive side of the ball accounted for is a good start as the Bulldogs seek to threepeat as SCAC regular season champions and then some. The Bulldogs stocked the running back room not only with freshmen but added a few transfers and a few targets for Bosanko to find in LaHue’s spread offense as well. Only time will tell how they fit into a TLU offense that has been dominant over the past two seasons.
SCAC First Team honors in 2025 before transferring out of the program. Three of the Bulldogs’ leading returners are no longer with the program as it will be a mystery who will return kicks for the squad in 2026. While A’Jean Augustine returns after handling the kicking duties for the Bulldogs last season, that position is open as well as other kickers on the roster, including senior transfer and Austin Bowie high school alum Jack Nelson, who looks to make a push for the role in his first season in Seguin amongst others. Five kickers and punters are in camp for the Bulldogs but there’s a ton of unknown on who the Bulldogs will turn to in 2026. With the SCAC earning the automatic bid in 2026, TLU has its eyes set on a similar journey as the 2024 season that ended with the Bulldogs in the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs have mastered the regular season the past two years but will look for a better finish in 2025 as they seek their first SCAC Championship game win this season to secure a spot in the postseason, regardless of outside factors such as NPI rankings. The motto for Lahue and his squad The defense is where the most experience lies within this season is simple: Win and you're in. the 2026 TLU football program as almost every starter from last season returns, including eight All-SCAC honorees. Last season’s most surprising story, Owen Garcia, will continue to be an instrumental part of the Bulldogs success this time hopefully alongside a healthy Troy Tomaselli, who is among the best players in the conference when healthy. They will be joined by All-SCAC First Team honorees safety Justin Navarro and defensive lineman Anthony Ortegon, who look to build off their most successful seasons of their careers to have even better senior seasons. The Bulldogs return not only the starters but also the depth from last season as the underclassmen who got to see the field will return more experienced to make plays as starters or in similar roles as last season behind the upperclassmen who led the defense last season.
DEFENSE PREVIEW
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SPECIALISTS PREVIEW With special teams coach Kendrick Marshall leaving for West Texas A&M, kick returner Caleb Camarillo and long snapper Brendan Herrera graduating and punter Vincent Herrera transferring to Division-II East Central, Texas Lutheran special teams will look a lot different in 2026. The Bulldogs have an open punter position yet again after Herrera was serviceable in filling the hole left by Cameron Welch graduating in 2024 as he earned All34 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING
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EVENT
C A L E N D A R NATURE AS A MUSE AT NEXUS GALLERY: FIFTH – 3 - 9 PM This exhibition celebrates a common admiration and study of the intimate details of our Earth from a broad range of perspectives, featuring the work of artists from around the world. The show will conclude Nov. 14th with a gala and silent auction of artworks from the show and more. Location: Habitable Spaces, 3050 FM 1104, Kingsbury
75TH ANNUAL NEW BERLIN SAUSAGE FESTIVAL: SIXTH – 11 AM - 11 PM Enjoy family friendly food, fun and games all benefiting the New Berlin VFD & the New Berlin Community Club. Location: The New Berlin Community Center, 8815 FM 775, New Berlin
BACK TO SCHOOL LUNCHEON AT BIG RED BARN: EIGHTH – 11 AM The Guadalupe County Retired School Professionals will host members and guests for a delicious lunch. RSVP to Kristin Moum at kristinmoum@sbcglobal.net . Tickets are $20.00. Location: Big Red Barn, 250 Cordova Rd.
A NIGHT IN THE TON: ELEVENTH – 6:30 PM The Cottages at Nolte Farms & 1916 Bar & Bistro invite you to an unforgettable evening of elegance, dinner, drinks and dancing. Each ticket includes dinner, two themed drinks, dancing the night away, themed dress for the occasion and an enchanting evening worthy of the Ton. Tickets are $75 per person. Register online today. Location: The Rose Room at 1916 Bar & Bistro, 301 N. Austin St.
2026 ANNUAL BANQUET & AWARDS PRESENTATION: SIXTEENTH – 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM This annual event brings together business leaders, partners and community members to reflect on the Seguin Chamber of Commerce’s accomplishments over the past year and recognize those who have made a lasting impact through their leadership and service. This is an RSVP only event and no tickets will be sold at the door. Location: Seguin Coliseum, 950 S. Austin St.
THIRD THURSDAY: SEVENTEENTH – 10 AM - 8 PM Enjoy food, music and shopping. We’re all open until 8 p.m. and offering great deals and fun. Find shop and restaurant specials galore throughout downtown. Location: Central Park, 201 S. Austin St.
ST. JAMES CATHOLIC CHURCH FALL FESTIVAL: TWENTIETH – 11 AM - 7 PM Clint Taft & The Buckwild Band perform from 3 pm - 6 pm. Enjoy games, food, petting zoo, DJ, Seguin HS Mariachi Band, raffle and silent and live auctions. Plates will be sold for $15 a plate from 11 am - 2 pm. Location: St. James Catholic Church, 510 S. Camp St.
MAMMOS & MIMOSAS BY GRMC: TWENTY-SIXTH – 10 AM - 12 PM It's time for Guadalupe Regional Medical Center's FREE annual event, Mammos & Mimosas, dedicated to the prevention and awareness of breast cancer. Enjoy a sparkling mix of fun and education with free-flowing mimosas, great giveaways, local vendors, breast cancer education and more. Location: Guadalupe Regional Medical Center, 1215 E. Court St.
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Saturday, Sept. 26th • 10am – 12pm GRMC Central Entrance Lobby • Free-flowing mimosas • Local vendors • Tours of our state-of-the-art Women’s Imaging Center
For more details, visit:
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• Schedule your annual breast cancer screening • And, of course, breast cancer education & resources