The vibe is good, the roster is deep and the competition for playing time is fierce as Fairfield positions itself for a run at a GMC title in 2026. There are a ton of positive things to like about the Indians. The Tribe showed that they were fighters and handled adversity quite well a year ago in Justin Roden’s first season as the team’s head coach. That character has continued to spew over into this preseason. This is a very confident group that no one should take lightly.
Division I, Region 4
2025 RECORD: 6-6, 5-4 GMC
HEAD COACH: Justin Roden (6-6 at Fairfield, one year; 74-78 overall, 13 years)
HONOR ROLL
Kobe Lewis, Sr, OLB, 6-3/205
Offers: Army, Eastern Michigan, GVSU, Kent State, Miami (OH), Ohio, Toledo & Youngstown State
2025 Honors: OPSMA Division I Honorable Mention All-Southwest District
2025 Stats: 77 Tkls, 1.0 sacks, 3.0 TFLs, 1 FF, 1 FR & 5 PDs
Career Stats: 165 Tkls, 4.0 sacks, 12.0 TFLs, 2 FFs, 6 FRs & 7 PDs
Axsel Rogers, Sr, LB, 6-2/200
Offers: Akron, Eastern Michigan, GVSU, Miami (OH) & Ohio
2025 Honors: OPSMA Division I Honorable Mention All-Southwest District
2025 Stats: 84 Tkls, 1.0 sacks, 4.5 TFLs, 1 FF, 2 PDs, 3 Ints & 13 IRYs
Career Stats: 164 Tkls, 1.0 sacks, 8.0 TFLs, 2 FFs, 2 PDs, 4 Ints & 38 IRYs
Cam Crigler, Sr, OG, 6-3/325
Offers: Butler & UIndy
2025 Honors: OPSMA Division I Honorable Mention All-Southwest District
Kayvon Burns, Sr, WR, 6-3/175
Offer: Walsh
2025 Honors: Second Team All-GMC
2025 Stats: 16 rec., 279 ReYds, 3 ReTDs
Corrious “ChooCho” Booker, So, RB, 5-7, 205
2025 Honors: Second Team All-GMC
2025 Stats: 576 RuYds, 5 RuTDs, 3 rec., 13 ReYds
OTHER RETURNEES
Austin Schultz, Sr, OL, 6-4/285
Julian Young, Sr, OL, 6-1/279
AJ Brown, Sr, RB, 6-0/175
2025 Stats: 6G, 354 RuYds, 4 RuTDs, 6 rec., 58 ReYds & 65 KRYs
Mason Wheeler, Sr, RB, 5-10/185
2025 Stats: 336 RuYds, 2 RuTDs, 3 rec., 19 ReYds & 40 KRYs
Evan Colegrove, Sr, DL, 6-1/256
2025 Stats: 35 Tkls, 1.0 sack & 4.5 TFLs
Career Stats: 58 Tkls, 1.0 sack, 5.0 TFLs, 1 FF & 1 FR
Nolan Nelson, Sr, DL, 6-3/250
2025 Stats: 26 Tkls, 1.0 sack, 3.0 TFLs & 1 FF
Stone Butler, Sr, DB, 6-0/160
2025 Stats: 35 Tkls, 1.0 TFLs, 4 PDs, 1 Int & 14 IRYs
Eric Ruther, Sr, DB, 6-0/185
2025 Stats: 27 Tkls, 1.0 TFL, 1 FR, 1 PD, 1 Int & 22 IRYs
Career Stats: 94 Tkls, 2.5 TFLs, 1 FF, 4 FRs, 1 PD, 1 Int & 22 IRYs
NEWCOMERS
Tristen Lofton, Jr, WR, 6-3/180
Transferred from Withrow after sophomore year
Offers: Louisville, Kent State, Kentucky, Miami (OH), Temple, Toledo & Western Michigan
Reid Byers, Jr, DL, 6-0/265
Sean Clore, Sr, QB, 6-8/220
Transferred from Loveland after junior year
Offers: Toledo & San Francisco State
2025 Stats: 870 PaYds, 8 PaTDs
PLAYOFF HISTORY
(17 appearances, 8-16) – 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2013, 2005, 2000, 1999, 1986 (State Champion), 1985
2026 SCHEDULE
Fri – 08/21/26 – WAYNE (9-5 in 2025) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 08/28/26 – OAK HILLS (4-7) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/04/26 – MIDDLETOWN (11-3) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/11/26 – at Colerain (1-9) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/18/26 – at Sycamore (0-10) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/25/26 – at Lakota West (7-5) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/02/26 – LAKOTA EAST (8-4) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/09/26 – at Mason (5-6) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/16/26 – HAMILTON (4-7) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/23/26 – at Princeton (9-3) – 7:00 PM
