Despite only winning three games last fall, Gamble Montessori exudes confidence heading into 2026 and why shouldn’t they. The Gators return seven starters on each side of the ball. The first six tems they will face were a combined 7-52 in 2025. Opportunity knocks. This squad has a chance to really capture some great momentum to start the season and head into October on fire.
“We have talent all over the field. We have been getting after it all offseason, developing and making teammates better. We have a lot of speed at the skills positions and some size up front. We are an opportunistic team and leaders Sanounou Nimiga, Tony Hayes, Rondae Dailey and junior quarterback Q’Moni Bankhead have set the standard and hold our kids to it,” second year head coach Will Davis states.
He also knows the Gators still have to learn how to win. “We are a young football team that still has to grow.” That also means putting the ball into the end zone. Scoring was difficult for Gamble Montessori last season as it only scored 96 points in 10 games with only 11 offensive touchdowns.
Make no bones about it, Davis doesn’t shy away from his team’s potential. “We expect to make the playoffs and make some noise. We really believe we can contend! Being looked over is one of the most competitive motivators that a team can have. We have the athletes, the coaches, and the size upfront to shock a lot of teams in the state.”
Division IV, Region 16
2025 RECORD: 3-7, 0-2 CMAC Blue
HEAD COACH: Will Davis (3-7 at Gamble Montessori, one year; 3-7 overall)
HONOR ROLL
Massila “Red” Diawara, Sr, LB, 5-10/175
2025 Honors: OPSMA Division IV Honorable Mention All-Southwest District
2025 Stats: 134 Tkls, 5.0 sacks, 38.5 TFLs, 5 FFs, 1 FR, 2 PDs, 2 Ints, 6 BKs, 49 IRYs, 148 RuYds, 5 rec, 76 ReYds & 107 KR/PRYs
Cortez Reed, Sr, DE/P, 6-2/180
2025 Honors: First Team All-CMAC Blue (P)
2025 Stats: 234 PaYds, 40 RuYds, 17 Tkls, 3.5 TFls, 1 FF, 28.8 on 30 punts, Lng 52 & 8 In20
Q’Moni Bankhead, Jr, QB/LB, 6-1/196
2025 Honors: Second Team All-CMAC Blue
2025 Stats: 662 PaYds, 6 PaTDs, 1,118 RuYds, 4 RuTDs, 67 Tkls, 15.0 TFLs, 1 FF & 1 PD
Career Stats: 1,095 PaYds, 7 PaTDs, 1,277 RuYds, 4 RuTDs, 99 Tkls, 16.0 TFLs, 1 FF & 1 PD
Mouhamad Mangure, Jr, WR/DB/KR, 6-1/167
2025 Honors: Second Team All-CMAC Blue
14 rec, 194 ReYds, 1 ReTD, 16 RuYds, 383 KRYs, 1 KRTD, 38.3 KR, 655 APYs, 33 Tkls, 1 FF, 2 FRs, 10 PDs, 2 Ints, 62 IRYs & 1 IRTD
Jamii Jackson, So, LB/DB, 5-10/167
2025 Honors: Second Team All-CMAC Blue
2025 Stats: 73 Tkls, 7.0 sacks, 17.0 TFLs, 2 FFs & 1 FR
Aboubacar Diagouraga, Jr, ATH, 6-4/215
2025 Honors: Honorable Mention All-CMAC Blue
2025 Stats: 7 rec, 273 ReYds, 2 ReTDs, 3 Tkls, 2 PDs, 2 Ints & 1 IRY
Career Stats: 6G, 13 rec, 315 ReYds, 3 ReTDs, 3 Tkls, 2 PDs, 2 Ints & 1 IRY
OTHER RETURNEES
Brandon West, Sr, WR/LB/DB, 5-10/182
2025 Stats: 38 Tkls, 0.5 sacks, 6.0 TFLs, 1 FF, 2 PDs, 1 Int, 64 RuYds, 3 rec, 15 ReYds & 51 KR/PRYs.
King McCrary, Sr, DB, 5-11/162
2025 Stats: 32 Tkls, 8 PDs, 2 Ints & 1 IRY, 8 RuYds, 2 rec., 11 ReYds & 3 KRYs
Tony Hayes, Sr, DB
2025 Stats: 5G, 10 Tkls & 1 FR
Sannou Nimiga, Sr, LB
2025 Stats: 29 Tkls, 4.5 TFLs, 2 FFs & 1 PD
Rondae Dailey, Sr, RB/WR/LB, 5-11/192
2025 Stats: 27 Tkls, 1.0 sack, 3.5 sacks, 1 FR, 11 RuYds, 1 rec & 25 ReYds
Sailou Ndiaye, Sr, K, 5-11/170
Raizjon Dailey, So, WR/LB/DB, 6-2/184
2025 Stats: 30 Tkls, 2.0 sacks, 3.0 sacks, 2 FFs, 4 PDs, 40 RuYds, 3 rec & 16 ReYds
Reggie Golden, Jr, OG/DT, 5-8/200
NEWCOMERS
Sophomore OL/DL Tayshawn Byrd is 6-foot-5 and 321-pounds he will be a welcomed addition in the trenches. Freshmen OL Jewel Gray, QB/RB/DB Brae’Lyn West, OL/DL Raymir Washington (6-7/226), De’Carlo Hardy, Rynez Cunningham and Andrue Gray will add depth and even get their shots at extended playing times.
PLAYOFF HISTORY
(two appearance, 0-2) – 2022, 2021
2026 SCHEDULE
Th – 08/20/26 – at Stivers (2-7 in 2025) – 6:00 PM***
Fri – 08/28/26 – at Lockland (0-10) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/04/26 – at Norwood (1-9) – 7:00 PM
Th – 09/10/26 – CLARK MONTESSORI (2-8) – 6:30 PM*
Th – 09/18/26 – EAST CLINTON (2-8) – 6:30 PM*
Sa – 09/26/26 – WOODWARD (0-10) – 1:00 PM*
Fri – 10/02/26 – at St. Bernard-Elmwood Place (9-2) – 7:00 PM*
Fri – 10/09/26 – at Dayton Christian (6-5) – 7:00 PM
Th – 10/15/26 – CCPA (8-3) – 6:30 PM*
Sa – 10/24/26 – SHRODER (5-5) – 12:00 PM*
*all home game played at Stargel Stadium
**at Bron Bacevich Stadium (Roger Bacon H.S.)
***at Welcome Stadium (University of Dayton)
