In a quiet manner La Salle has combined to win 20 games over the past two seasons. Head coach Pat McLaughlin has done it with a bunch of grinders and getting the most out of each of his players unique talents. The 2026 version of the Lancers will resemble the previous two squads and that is very promising for the upcoming campaign.
“We will be fast and have key players returning in important positions. The seniors have had success the last two years and know what it takes to win. They have been leaders in the offseason and I expect them to step up on the field again this year,” Mclaughlin states.
La Salle only returns five starters on each side of the ball and McLaughlin looks to prepare his youngsters and hopes they can step up. “We need to develop depth and will be young in some position groups but have talent in those areas. Development will be a key this offseason to get those guys ready to play.”
The offense will look to get the ball into the hands of the explosive Naseer Salaam as often as possible. Garrett Fraley slides in at quarterback. Fraley averaged 89.3 yards rushing and 7.5 yards per carry in his final three games of 2025. The Salaam-Fraley combination should be very lethal.
The Lancers secondary will highlight the defensive side of the ball. They are led by Salaam, K’Mahri Price and Nakari Isaacs. The front seven for La Salle is strewn with unproven players. They will be tested early and often. Haden Neff is a rising star. He tallied 3.0 sacks and 6.5 tackles for losses over the final six games of his freshman season.
Making it back to the playoffs won’t be easy with a schedule that includes a six-game stretch against teams that won at least eight contests and had a combined winning percentage of .776 in 2025. Victories during that span are going to be very rewarding in the computer rankings. A quirky slate will also see the Lancers play the final five games of the year at home.
All of that adds up to opportunity central for La Salle to capitalize on. This team has everything laid out in front of them to be well-positioned to make a deep postseason run come November.
Division II, Region 8
2025 RECORD: 9-4, 0-3 GCL South
COACH: Pat McLaughlin (68-44 at La Salle, nine years; 87-54 overall, 12 years)
HONOR ROLL
Naseer Salaam, Sr, WR/DB, 5-9/170
2025 Honors: OPSMA Division II Second Team All-Southwest District (ATH) & First Team All-GCL South (DB)
2025 Stats: 375 RuYds, 3 RuTDs, 14 rec., 195 ReYds, 4 ReTDs, 265 KR/PRYs, 835 APYds, 20 Tkls, 1 FF, 2 FRs & 2 PDs
K’Mahri Price, Sr, DB, 5-10/175
2025 Honors: Second Team All-GCL South (DB)
2025 Stats: 47 Tkls, 2 PDs & 1 Int as jr. / 6 Tkls & 1 FF
Rahmiir Murphy, Sr, OL/DL, 6-2/315
2025 Honors: Second Team All-GCL South (OL)
OTHER RETURNEES
Jack McLaughlin, Sr, WR, 5-9/150
2025 Stats: 8 RuYds, 16 rec., 186 ReYds, 2 ReTDs, 249 KR/PRYs, 1 PRTD, 465 APYds, 1 Int & 22 IRYs
Javion Presswood, Sr, LB, 6-2/230
2025 Stats: 6G, 11 Tkls, 2.5 TFLs & 1 PD
Matthew Thaler, Sr, DL, 6-0/190
2025 Stats: 18 Tkls, 2.0 sacks, 2.5 TFLs
Tyler Roby, Sr, WR, 6-3/180
2025 Stats: 16 rec & 172 ReYds
Nakari Isaacs, Jr, DB, 5-10/175
2025 Stats: 43 Tkls, 2.5 TFLs, 1 FF & 1 PD
Garrett Fraley, Jr, QB, 6-3/210
2025 Stats: 60 PaYds, 2 PaTDs, 348 RuYds, 2 RuTDs & 5 Tkls
John Smith, Jr, DL, 6-2/220
2025 Stats: 4G, 9 Tkls, 1.5 TFLs, 1 FF & 1 PD
Grayson Bedacht, Jr, K/P, 5-10/165
2025 Stats: 36/37 XPs, 4/6 FGs, Long 41 yds for 48 KPts, 6 TBs on 61 KOs
Haden Neff, So, LB, 6-0/210
2025 Stats: 49 Tkls, 3.0 sacks, 8.0 TFLs & 1 PD
NEWCOMERS
Izak Campbell, Sr, DL, 6-2/195
2025 Stats: 4G, 6 Tkls
Jordan Perez, Jr, DB, 5-10/170
2025 Stats: 18 Tkls, 1 FF, 1 FR & 3 PDs
Brooks McLaughlin, Jr, WR, 5-9/160
Trenton Hancock, Jr, DL, 6-1/215
Aidan Arnold, So, LB, 5-11/200
2025 Stats: 9 Tkls, 0.5 sacks & 0.5 TFLs
Lucas Vivian, So, OL, 5-11/200
PLAYOFF HISTORY
(15 appearances, 33-11) – 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 (Regional Champion), 2019 (State Champion), 2017, 2016 (State Champion), 2015 (State Champion), 2014 (State Champion), 2010, 2004, 2002, 1985
2026 SCHEDULE
Fri – 08/21/26 – at Colerain (1-9 in 2025) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 08/28/26 – NORTHMONT (0-10) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/04/26 – at Fairmont (5-6) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/11/26 – at Elder (12-1) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/18/26 – at Badin (10-2) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/25/26 – MOELLER (8-4) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/02/26 – WITHROW (9-3) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/09/26 – ST. XAVIER (11-3) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/16/26 – HARRISON (9-4) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/23/26 – MOUNT HEALTHY (0-10) – 7:00 PM
