It’s been a rough few years for Edgewood. The Cougars have had three consecutive losing seasons for the first time in more than 30 seasons (1991-93 the last time it happened) and the seniors are now playing for their third head coach. That new front man is alum Matt Root who hopes to bring stability back to this storied program.
One thing Root must get his team to focus on is closing out games. Edgewood was 1-4 in contests decided by seven points or less a year ago. The frustrating thing about those numbers is that the Cougars only turned the ball over 10 times all season and had a +9 turnover margin.
Edgewood will run the Wing-T on offense. The Trenton law firm of (Carter) Breedlove & O’Banion (Brody) should thrive in the system. The seniors combined for 80% of the teams rushing yards (1,296) and 88% of Cougars rushing touchdowns (15 of 17) last fall.
Only four starters return on defense. Edgewood won’t have a lot of girth up front so look for them to rely on speed and technique to win battles in the trenches. The Cougars have some defensive momentum on their side after allowing 14 points or less five times in the last seven tilts of 2025.
As the largest team in the SWBL Edgewood needs to show it has the depth to dominate their conference rivals. The sooner that happens the sooner the Cougars can get back to prosperity on the winning side of the ledger.
Division II, Region 8
2025 RECORD: 4-6, 2-2 SWBL Southwestern
COACH: Matt Root (0-0 at Edgewood, first year; 0-0 overall)
HONOR ROLL
Brody O’Banion, Sr, RB, 5-9/185
2025 Honors: OPSMA Division II Honorable Mention All-Southwest District & First Team All-SWBL Southwestern
2025 Stats: 896 RuYds, 11 RuTDs, 62 KRYs, 958 APYds, 9 Tkls & 1 FF
Career Stats: 1,787 RuYds, 19 RuTDs, 14 rec., 121 ReYds, 244 KRYs, 1 KRTD, 2,152 APYds, 20 TotTDs
Carter Breedlove, Sr, QB, 5-11/185
2025 Honors: Second Team All-SWBL Southwestern
2025 Stats: 877 PaYds, 5 PaTDs, 400 RuYds, 4 RuTDs, 38 Tkls, 3 PDs, 1 Int & 18 IRYs
Career Stats: 1,248 PaYds, 7 PaTDs, 747 RuYds, 5 RuTDs, 1 rec., 2 ReYds, 69 Tkls, 4.0 TFLs, 2 FRs, 3 PDs, 1 Int & 18 IRYs
Carter Cannan, Sr, DL, 6-0, 190
2025 Honors: Honorable Mention All-SWBL Southwestern
2025 Stats: 31Tkls, 6.5 sacks & 2 FFs
OTHER RETURNEES
Max Stover, Sr, DB, 5-8/165
2025 Stats: 42 Tkls, 1 FF & 6 PDs
J.J. Vogel, Sr, WR, 6-0/190
2025 Stats: 8 rec., 62 ReYds, 30 Tkls, 3.0 sacks, 1 FF, 2 PDs, 1 Int, 22 IRYs & 1 IRTD
Bryce Davidson, Sr, K, 5-6/170
2025 Stats: 22/25 XPS, 7/8 FGs, long 28 yards for 43 KPts
Career Stats: 39/43 XPs, 9/14 FGs, long 36 yards for 66 KPts
Gavin Brennan, Sr, TE, 6-2/200
2025 Stats: 5 rec., 54 ReYds & 1 ReTD
Ryder Jones, Sr, OL/DL, 5-10/220
Landen Wagers, Sr, OL/DL, 5-9/215
Ayden Hansford, Jr, OL, 6-0/255
NEWCOMERS
Izak Reed, Sr, OL, 5-9/185
Blain Williams, Sr, OL/DL, 6-3/205
Thomas Saunders, Jr, OL
PLAYOFF HISTORY
(18 appearances, 17-18 overall) – 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2018, 2016, 2012, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2003 (State Runner-up), 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999 (Regional Champion), 1998, 1997
2026 SCHEDULE
Fri – 08/21/26 – at Oak Hills (4-7 in 2025) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 08/28/26 – MIAMISBURG (2-8) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/04/26 – BADIN (10-2) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/11/26 – BISHOP FENWICK (6-5) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/18/26 – at Chaminade Julienne (1-9) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/25/26 – BELLBROOK (6-5) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/02/26 – at Ross (3-7) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/09/26 – at Valley View (11-2) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/16/26 – FRANKLIN (4-6) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/23/26 – at Monroe (2-8) – 7:00 PM
