Last Season: 3-6
Smoky Valley begins a new era with Caleb Lambert taking over as head coach after serving as an assistant, and the Vikings enter 2026 after a 3-6 season. Lambert said the team will be very young in some key positions, but he also believes the mix of experienced seniors and promising younger players gives the program real excitement.
The Vikings will run a shotgun Wing T offense and a 3-3-5 defense, with senior Crew Elliot, senior Auley Boughfman, senior Rebel O’Ferell and senior Mason Jowers forming much of the experienced core. Sophomore quarterback Mason Riedel is projected to start right away, while sophomore Eli Lambert and juniors Nicholas Carlson, Owen Ratcliff and Collin Opat are among the young players expected to take on major roles.
Lambert said one of the biggest keys will be for the younger players to grow up quickly while the upperclassmen play like upperclassmen. With Elliot, Boughfman and O’Ferell bringing experience and leadership, Smoky Valley should be more competitive if the young pieces settle in fast.
