Experienced Pirates Push Toward Playing for a Title in 2026

Photos by Hannah Tacy & Henry Black, JTV Sports

Trey Richmond | JTV Sports

Saturday August 8th

(8-8-2026, 12:00PM): After a 7-4 record in 2025 with a playoff win before falling to Lumen Christi in the district final; Napoleon enters the ‘26 season with a “now or never” mentality.

“These guys are people who are looking to perfect their craft,” says head coach Derek Shell. He is bringing back an experienced group including 18 seniors; having to only replace two starters on offense and three on defense.

Derek Shell returns for his ninth season at the helm of the Pirates. Lyle Blando will be calling the plays for the veteran Napoleon defense. This will be his second season and his first full offseason as defensive coordinator. Shell says the defense will be, “big, strong, and fast.” He is excited to see the improved, senior led, secondary take the field. They will be more “physical and aggressive in their coverage.”

Key returning pieces on the Pirate defense include all-conference defensive lineman, Rylan Lovett; Ashton Warner, an all-conference and all-region player who led the Pirates in tackles at linebacker; and Carson Warner, a linebacker who is a “menace on the field” and was the second leading tackler.

Even though Napoleon will be running a rush heavy, power-T offense, they have seen a lot of improvement in their quarterback, Isaac Carofinno. He has “looked a lot sharper” in practice and in particular making good reads during seven on sevens. The coaching staff focused on being more comfortable throwing the ball throughout the offseason. Shell says they may throw the ball more, but will, “stick to our roots” and continue to be a run dominant offense. Leading the charge for the offense is senior all-conference center Xander Weaver, who paves the way for senior running back Zavior Skog, who was all-region and is coming off of back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons.

With the highly experienced, honored, and achieved team, coach Shell believes the Napoleon Pirates are “this close to being a state championship caliber team.”

Napoleon opens the season hosting a powerhouse Montague program. Montague plays in Division 6 and went 6-5 last season but has made the playoffs 11 straight seasons including a 2020 state title and faced Lumen Christi in the 2018 D6 final.