Northwest Looks to Use the Bond of Brotherhood to Propel a Playoff Push

Photos by Hannah Tacy & Henry Black, JTV Sports

Trey Richmond | JTV Sports

Thursday, August 6th

(8-6-2026, 12:00PM): After a 3-6 season in 2025; Stafford Newsome looks to lead the “determined” and “hungry” Mounties to the playoffs for the first time since 2020.

Newsome is entering his fifth year at the helm for Northwest and they look to end the six year playoff drought saying, “We want to make the playoffs. We’ve been saying that for the past four years. That’s all we want.” They look to overcome that hurdle through the closeness of the team. That connectivity has been evident throughout practice and workouts in the offseason. They are looking to create a brotherhood. Even when things get tough, the Mounties hope to use that adversity to unite the team. “When things get hard, we have to be closer.” Newsome believes that this is the closest team he has ever coached.

The narrow margins of last season have been highlighted by coach Newsome. The Mounties were 3-6, but three of their losses were by a combined 14 points. “We should have been 6-3 pretty easily,” said Newsome. He continued by saying the captains have a responsibility to “sweep the field house first,” and, “if we’re not keeping a clean house, then it gets messy real quick inside the field house and on the field. We are strong believers in doing all of the little things right.”

The Mounties are going to display some highly honored football players on the field this upcoming season, including three all-conference players. One being sophomore running back Roe DeDeaux II, who is described as “the best football player I’ve ever seen,” by a fellow captain. Others being senior right tackle and 4 year varsity player, Peyton Hughey as well as senior wide receiver/tight end, Dallas Higlemire, who transferred from Springport. Higlemire was not only all-conference in the Big 8, but also first team all-region, first team all state, and named to the Dream Team. Coach Newsome believes Higlemire “will be a great asset to the program.”

Mountie defensive coordinator Jake Greer will be leading a defense that excels in swarming the ball and who are able to go 100mph on every play because of a high football IQ. Collin Ludwig and Owen Hardcastle will be leading the charge with disciplined high motors on the defensive line for Northwest. Communication and trust are keys to success for the Mountie defense, “If we’re all wrong, we’re all wrong together.”

The Mounties believe the offensive line is the most improved part of the team, and believe they have nine starting varsity caliber players on that line. Newsome is excited to see the line take the field, because in practice he sees “some holes I could walk through.”

The Mountie football program is not just looking to win games but help their players win in life. “We don’t want you to be great quarterbacks and running backs, we want you to be great football players. If you’re great football players, you’ll be highly employable in the future,” said Newsome.

The Mounties want people to know that if you’re “coming to Northwest, you’re coming to a football school,” and they look to prove that this season.

Northwest 2026 Football Schedule:

(all games at 7pm unless noted)

8/28 vs Kalamazoo Loy Norrix

9/3 @ Adrian

9/11 @ Battle Creek Pennfield

9/18 vs Parma Western

9/25 @ Coldwater

10/2 vs Marshall

10/9 @ Hastings

10/16 vs Battle Creek Harper Creek

10/23 vs Jackson