Success came a year earlier than expected at Goshen. Despite only having nine seniors on the roster last fall the young Warriors notched seven victories. It was the schools most wins and first winning season since 2019. With 17 returning starters expectations are high and so is the motivation as this team is looking to make back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time in school history.
An explosive offense that averaged 38.6 points per game and posted 49 points or more five times in the final eight contests of 2025 has 10 starters back. The unit is led by senior Gage Croley who led the SBAAC with 2,007 yards and 24 touchdowns rushing. He ran for more 260 yards on four occasions including 371 yards against Bethel-Tate. He isn’t the only threat, his classmates Camden Telinda (24) and Jomar Berg (11) have combined for 35 offensive scores in their careers. Quarterback Caden Slusher had a breakout season in ‘25 accounting for 30 touchdowns (16 rush, 14 pass).
If Goshen wants to take things to the next level, the defense must hunker down in the trenches, stop foes on third down and get off the field. Last fall, the Warriors faded down the stretch allowing 472.8 yards of total offense In five October games while going 2-3 in that span. Quite simply, it all comes down to Warrior pride and drive for success on this side of the ball.
“We continue to improve and develop as a program. We are having another successful offseason working on our strength and developing athletes. We believe in multi-sport athletes and the weight room,” head coach Shane Elkin states.
The Warriors took care of business last fall, going 7-2 against teams that finished .500 or less (eight of those schools wound up with a losing record) but Elkin also knows that Goshen is far from a finished product. “We will most likely still need to play some sophomores and a few freshmen. Until we only play juniors and seniors on Friday nights, we will still need to improve as a program.”
Division III, Region 12
2025 RECORD: 7-4, 3-2 SBAAC American
COACH: Shane Elkin (14-28 at Goshen, four years; 34-78 overall, 11 years)
TOP RETURNEES
Gage Croley, Sr, RB/LB, 5-8/180
2025 Honors: OPSMA Division III Second Team All-Ohio (RB), SBAAC American Offensive Player of the Year & TriState Football Cincinnati Offensive Player of the Year Finalist
2025 Stats: 2,007 RuYds, 24 RuTDs, 3 rec., 26 ReYds, 10 KRYs, 8 Tkls, 1 FF & 1 FR
Career Stats: 2,558 RuYds, 30 RuTDs, 4 rec., 35 ReYds, 27 KRYs, 2,610 APYds, 18 Tkls, 1 FF & 1 FR
Camden Telinda, Sr, RB/DB, 6-0/175
2025 Honors: OPSMA Division III Second Team All-Ohio (DB) & SBAAC American Co-Defensive Player of the Year
2025 Stats: 114 RuYds, 5 RuTDs, 29 rec., 371 ReYds, 3 ReTDs, 206 KR/PRYs, 81 Tkls, 1 FF, 3 PDs & 2 Ints
Career Stats: 95 PaYds, 1,248 RuYds, 19 RuTDs, 60 rec., 672 ReYds, 5 ReTDs, 468 KR/PRYs, 2,388 APYds, 24 TotTDs, 156 TotTkls, 4 FFs, 1 FR, 6 PDs & 4 Ints
Jomar Berg, Sr, WR/DB/RS, 5-6/152
2025 Honors: OPSMA Division III Honorable Mention All-Ohio (WR)
2025 Stats: 42 RuYds, 1 RuTD, 25 rec., 529 ReYds, 8 ReTDs, 285 KRYs, 1 KRTD, 28 Tkls, 2.0 TFLs, 1 FF, 1 FR, 8 PDs & 2 Ints
Career Stats: 48 RuYds, 1 RuTD, 32 rec., 642 ReYds, 10 ReTDs, 365 KRYs, 1 KRTD, 1,070 APYds, 70 Tkls, 2.0 TFLs, 2 FFs, 2 FRs, 15 PDs, 5 Ints & 25 IRYs
Caden Slusher, Jr, QB, 6-3/ 185
2025 Honors: OPSMA Division III Second Team All-Southwest District & First Team All-SBAAC American
2025 Stats: 1,150 PaYds, 14 PaTDs, 732 RuYds, 16 RuTDs
Career Stats: 1,397 PaYds, 16 PaTDs, 819 RuYds, 16 RuTDs
Ryder Barrial, Sr, LB, 5-6, 185
2025 Honors: 2nd Team All-SBAAC American (for a second straight year)
2025 Stats: 87 Tkls, 2.0 sacks, 3.0 TFLs, 3 FFs & 3 PDs
Career Stats: 118 Tkls, 2.0 sacks, 11.0 TFLs, 5 FFs, 1 FR & 5 PDs
Chase Grundy, Sr, OL, 6-3/260
2025 Honors: Second Team All-SBAAC American
Hayden Peters, Sr, OL, 6-3/340
2025 Honors: Honorable Mention All-SBAAC American
Brody Flynn, Sr, DB, 5-6/140
2025 Honors: Honorable Mention All-SBAAC American
2025 Stats: 50 Tkls, 1.0 TFL, 4 FRs, 7 PDs & 2 Ints
Career Stats: 1 rec., 7 ReYds, 46 KRYs, 77 Tkls, 3.0 TFLs, 4 FRs, 12 PDs & 2 Ints
PLAYOFF HISTORY
(eight appearances, 1-8) – 2025, 2023, 2020, 2017, 2009, 2007, 1993, 1990
2026 SCHEDULE
Fri – 08/21/26 – at Reading (1-9 in 2025) – 7:00 PM
Th – 08/27/26 – HILLSBORO (5-6) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/04/26 – AIKEN (6-5) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/11/26 – at Bethel-Tate (4-6) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/18/26 – at Blanchester (3-7) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/25/26 – at Batavia (4-6) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/02/26 – NEW RICHMOND (4-7) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/09/26 – at Clinton-Massie (10-2) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/16/26 – WILMINGTON (5-5) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/23/26 – WESTERN BROWN (2-8) – 7:00 PM
