NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTOS BY STEVE BRANT - STC's Manny Cervantes will bring senior leadership to both the Trojan offensive and defensive lines this season.

It was a special fall in 2025 for the STC football program. Finishing 5-4, it was the program’s first winning season, and most team wins since the 2015 season when the Trojans finished 11-1. It was their first postseason birth since 2020. And the team earned an impressive total of 15 players on the all-district teams and honorable mentions. But, with all of that now behind them, what does the 2026 version of Trojan football do to build on their success and keep the momentum going?

“Our goal is to enhance our performance compared to last year and not settle for anything less,” said STC head coach Nate Doran, who is entering his 11th season at the helm.

The Trojans have been hard at work this fall camp, with practice officially starting on Monday, Aug. 10. The week prior, the coaches hosted their annual football camp for 1st-12th grade students. Coach Doran has been pleased with the effort so far, as the Trojans get ready for their season-opener on Friday, Aug. 28 against Vinton-Shellsburg. He noted that, since fall camp began, “the most significant step forward has been fostering teamwork through collaboration and navigating challenges together. This has helped us create a stronger bond within this new group.”

Doran and offensive coordinator Dustin Peska will rely on familiar faces when the Trojans get the ball this season. First-team all-district running back Eric Medina returns for his senior season, after posting a 1,145-yards rushing in 2025. Medina was only the fourth Trojan in the last sixteen years to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season.

“Eric is undoubtedly a playmaker,” Doran commented. “I have always been taught by my coaching mentors and genuinely believe that in football, it’s essential to get the ball to your playmakers. Eric will definitely be receiving the ball this season.”

Junior Sam Garcia recorded 24.5 tackles last season on the defensive line.

STC will also bring back key offensive linemen, who paved the way for Medina’s outstanding junior effort. Among others, the line will be anchored by two Trojans who earned all-district recognition last fall: junior Lakyr Peska (2nd team) and senior Manny Cervantes (honorable mention).

Offensively, Doran will have an additional luxury this fall: according to the coach, for the first time in his coaching career, and for the first time since Clayton Rosenberger in 2015-2016, he will have a returning quarterback. Junior Ryan Brant will take the snaps, after earning second-team all-district honors in his sophomore campaign.

“Ryan possesses all the qualities of an outstanding quarterback,” Doran said. “He leads by example, isn’t afraid to express his thoughts, holds both his teammates and himself accountable, and has a remarkable ability to quickly move on from each play — which is an essential trait for a quarterback.”

Overall, Doran likes how his offense has progressed in the pre-season practices.

“We’ve established our base offense, so now we will focus on addressing weak areas to fortify them. We will also adapt and introduce new concepts that build upon our successes from last year,” he said.

STC senior Michael Henry is the leading returning receiver for the Trojans this season.

As for the Trojan defense, STC will be led by senior Kyle Youngbear, a first-team all-district selection last season, and the fourth leading tackler in all of class 2A last fall. Youngbear has more career tackles (174.5) than any Trojan in at least the last 16 seasons, which is even more impressive when you consider he has his entire senior season ahead of him.

“Kyle embodies the spirit of ‘all heart,’ Doran commented on his star linebacker. ‘He is the most humble, hard-working, determined, and focused kid on and off the field. His success is completely earned and deserved.”

Joining Youngbear on the Trojan defense is a strong, experienced secondary. Seniors Michael Henry and Eli Cruickshank both earned first-team all-district selections last fall. Henry recorded 51.5 tackles last season, while also leading STC in interceptions (3). Cruickshank recorded 26 tackles. STC will also bring back plenty of other defenders with experience, including senior Josiah Houghton, junior Sam Garcia, junior Ethan Page, Peska, Brant, Cervantes, and Medina. “On the defensive side, we need to fill the gaps left by some key seniors from last year, while also striving to enhance and strengthen the areas where we lacked last season,” Doran noted.

On special teams, STC returns a wealth of key contributors from last year, including: Medina (place kicking and punting), Cruickshank (kickoffs), and Henry and junior Izak Schroeder, who led the return game (Schroeder earning second-team all-district honors).

The Trojans will host West Marshall on Friday, August 21, for the annual ‘Gator Bowl’ scrimmage. Kickoff will be at 7:30 p.m. at the STC high school field. The next week, STC will officially open their season when they travel to Vinton-Shellsburg on Friday, August 28. The Trojan’s home schedule this fall includes: Union (September 4); Louisa-Muscatine (September 11); Centerville (October 2, homecoming); and Van Buren County (October 16). The matchup against Van Buren was a late change to the schedule, after district opponent Davis County announced on August 10 that they were canceling their varsity football program for this season. Van Buren agreed to travel to STC to give the Trojans their new senior-night opponent.

Under the watch of offensive coordinator Dustin Peska (left), junior quarterback Ryan Brant (right) hands the ball off to senior running back Eric Media (middle) in pre-season drills.

As the Trojans prepare to take the gridiron for another season, Coach Doran summed up the mindset of his coaching staff.

“Overall, we are feeling positive and optimistic. We are prepared to give our all in every game we play, and we intend to ride this journey as far as possible,” he said.

STC head football coach Nate Doran addresses his team as practice began this season.

STC senior linebacker Kyle Youngbear will once again lead the Trojan defense this fall.

STC junior Lakyr Peska earned second-team all-district honors last year on the Trojan offensive line.

STC senior Eli Cruikshank runs drills at an early practice this season. Cruikshank earned second-team all-district honors last year as a defensive back.