There are nine starters back on both sides of the ball for Taylor. This is a veteran group that has a lot to like about it. Over the past two seasons the Yellow Jackets have won 16 games, are 7-0 in games decided by seven points or less and have gone 10-2 in games played in October and November. All signs point to big things happening in 2026 in 2026 for the boys from Cleves.
“We have a lot of young men with experience on Friday nights. Those guys also experienced plenty of adversity and tight games that they were able to pull through. We look to have more depth this year to also keep our athletes fresh all game,” head coach David Dransman states.
Quarterback Charlie Kantz is the ultimate leader who can do it all. The offense also returns four linemen including four-year starters George Lehmann and UC commit Ryan Massie-Cable as well as junior Tommy Bedel, a second team all-district selection as a sophomore. Dransman expects a huge leap forward from his receivers and tight ends which includes junior Jeremiah Jones who has offers from Miami (OH) and Toledo.
Defensively, the Yellow Jackets line has depth to rotate with Will Gooding, Cooper Sandusky, Lehmann, Massie-Cable and Bedel. Kantz moved to inside linebacker during the second half of last season. He will join Ryan Wehking and Colton Tenhundfeld to provide leadership in the middle of the field. In the secondary, Jones can be a lock down corner and Jacob Everett is the leader in the back end of the defense. He keeps everyone on the same page.
Dransman sums it up like this. “The question won’t be about talent. If new playmakers emerge around our experienced core, this has the makings of one of the stronger Taylor teams in recent years.”
Division IV, Region 16
2025 RECORD: 6-5, 5-2 CHL
COACH: David Dransman (29-26 at Taylor, five years; 29-26 overall)
HONOR ROLL
Tommy Bedel, Jr, OL/DL, 6-0/275
2025 Honors: OPSMA Division IV Second Team All-Southwest District
26 Tkls & 2.0 sacks
Charlie Kantz, Sr, QB/ILB/P, 6-0/205
2025 Honors: OPSMA Division IV Honorable Mention All-Southwest District (for a second straight year)
2025 Stats: 1,607 PaYds, 14 PaTDs, 344 RuYds, 8 RuTDs, 30.1 on 21 punts, long 66 yds, 5 Inside20
Career Stats: 4,252 PaYds, 42 PaTDs, 425 RuYds, 9 RuTDs, 33.4 on 47 punts, long 66 yds, 10 Inside20
Ryan Massie-Cable, Sr, OL/DL, 6-4/315
Committed to: Cincinnati
2025 Honors: OPSMA Division IV Honorable Mention All-Southwest District (Second Team as a sophomore)
2025 Stats: 32 Tkls, 1.5 sacks, 3.5 TFLs, 1 FF & 1 FR
Career Stats: 88 Tkls, 5.0 sacks, 12.0 TFLs, 3 FFs, 2 FRs & 1 PD
Jacob Everett, Jr, DB, 5-8/160
2025 Honors: Second Team All-CHL
2025 Stats: 65 Tkls, 3 PDs & 1 Int
Will Gooding, Sr, DL
2025 Honors: Second Team All-CHL (DL)
2025 Stats: 68 Tkls, 4.5 sacks, 13.0 TFLs, 1 FF, 1 FR, 2 rec & 17 ReYds
Career Stats: 113 Tkls, 4.5 sacks, 16.0 TFLs, 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 PD, 3 rec & 29 ReYds
Jeremiah Jones, Jr, WR/CB, 6-2/186
Offers from: Miami (OH) & Toledo
2025 Honors: Second Team All-CHL (WR)
2025 Stats: 26 rec, 397 ReYds, 3 ReTDs, 132 KR/PRYs, 529 APYds, 18 Tkls, 1.0 TFL & 6 PDs
Career Stats: 41 rec, 760 ReYds, 6 ReTDs, 192 KR/PRYs, 992 APYds, 31 Tkls, 1.0 TFL, 13 PDs, 2 Ints & 40 IRYs
George Lehmann, Sr, OL/DL
2025 Honors: Honorable Mention All-CHL
2025 Stats: 34 Tkls, 1.0 sacks, 3.0 TFLs & 1 FF
Career Stats: 64 Tkls, 2.0 sacks, 7.0 TFLs, 2 FFs & 1 FR
Stelios Stavropoulos, Sr, OL
2025 Honors: Honorable Mention All-CHL (OL)
2025 Stats: 11 Tkls
Ryan Wehking, Sr, WR/OLB
2025 Honors: Honorable Mention All-CHL (WR)
2025 Stats: 26 rec, 446 ReYds, 4 ReTDs, 38 KRYs, 10 Tkls, 1.0 sack, 2.0 TFLs, 1 FF & 2 PDs
OTHER RETURNEES
Cooper Sandusky, Jr, TE/DL, 6-6/220
2025 Stats: 7 rec, 84 ReYds, 2 ReTDs, 13 Tkls, 0.5 sacks, 3.5 TFLs & 1 FF
Career Stats: 18 rec, 306 ReYds, 4 ReTDs, 16 Tkls, 0.5 sacks, 3.5 TFLs & 1 FF
Bryce Clayton, Sr, ILB
2025 Stats: 55 Tkls, 1.0 sack, 2.0 TFLs & 1 PD, 52 RuYds, 1 rec & 27 KRYs
Career Stats: 73 Tkls, 2.0 sacks, 5.0 TFLs, 1 PD, 145 RuYds & 1 rec, 27 KRYs
Colton Tenhundfeld, Sr, WR/OLB
2025 Stats: 6 rec., 93 ReYds & 11 Tkls
Shaun Ochs, Jr, OLB, 5-10/180
2025 Stats: 2G, 8 RuYds, 10 Tkls, 1.0 sack & 3.0 TFLs
NEWCOMERS
Cooper Darrow, Sr, WR/DB – Has electric speed and agility. Darrow will be an immediate impact player on both sides of the ball.
Hayden McCarty, So, OL/DL – Could also be an impact player on both sides of the ball. McCarty is competing for the fifth spot on the o-line.
RJ Stevens, Sr, OL/DL – A strong and athletic sophomore pushing for playing time.
Brayden Allen, So, OL/DL – Started two games at center in 2025. Allen will be an asset to the Yellow Jackets strength and depth in the trenches.
Mike Scott, So, WR/DB – Played sparingly as a freshman, expect Scott to have a larger role this season.
PLAYOFF HISTORY
(five appearances, 3-5) – 2025, 2024, 2021, 2020, 2014
2026 SCHEDULE
Fri – 08/21/26 – TALAWANDA (10-2 in 2025) – 7:00 PM
Th – 08/27/26 – BATAVIA (4-6) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/04/26 – at Lawrenceburg (10-2) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/11/26 – at Mariemont (8-5) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/18/26 – WYOMING (10-2) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/25/26 – at Indian Hill (13-1) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/02/26 – READING (1-9) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/09/26 – at Deer Park (5-6) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/16/26 – at Madeira (4-6) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/23/26 – FNNNEYTOWN (1-9) – 7:00 PM
