Head coach: Evan Stringfellow, third season
Alignment: 1A South
Returning starters: Four on offense, four on defense
Strength: Speed and athletic potential
Biggest question: How quickly a young lineup adjusts to varsity football
Fort Thomas enters the 2026 season with a young roster, two freshman quarterbacks and plenty of opportunity for growth.
Most of the Apaches’ starters will be freshmen and sophomores. Head coach Evan Stringfellow believes the ability and effort are there, but knows varsity experience will have to be gained along the way.
“The biggest concern is that most of my starters are freshmen and sophomores,” Stringfellow said. “They have heart, but they need the experience to go with it.”
Senior Treason Mull will provide an experienced foundation at running back and linebacker.
In six games with reported statistics last season, Mull rushed for 235 yards and four touchdowns on 30 carries, averaging 7.8 yards per attempt. He also caught five passes for 57 yards and two scores.
Mull was equally productive on defense, leading Fort Thomas with 15 tackles, five tackles for loss and two sacks. He also intercepted a pass.
His experience will be valuable for a team returning four starters on each side of the football and replacing several of last season’s leading contributors.
Sophomores Connor Tessay and Taiten Declay will join Mull in the leadership group. Tessay gained limited varsity experience as a freshman, while both will be asked to help set the pace for a roster that should grow together over the next several seasons.
The largest transition will come at quarterback.
Stringfellow said two freshmen are training at the position and both will take varsity snaps. Sharing the role should allow each player to gain experience without placing the entire offense on one young quarterback from the opening night.
Mull’s presence in the backfield should also ease that transition. A dependable senior runner can help Fort Thomas stay out of difficult situations while offensive coordinator Zack Walker brings the freshmen along.
Sky Lorenzo will coach the offensive and defensive lines, while Danny Olson returns as defensive coordinator.
Fort Thomas will begin the season August 21st at Salome before returning home for an important early 1A South game against Duncan on August 28th.
The Apaches travel to Baboquivari for another region contest September 4th, giving their young lineup two important games within the first three weeks.
Fort Thomas then begins a stretch of four consecutive non-region games. The Apaches host Desert Heights Prep on Septtember 11th and Superior on September 18th before traveling to Ray on September 25th. Mayer visits Fort Thomas on October 2nd.
The final region game comes October 9th at St. David. With only three region games on the schedule, each one will carry considerable weight.
Fort Thomas closes the regular season October 16th at Maryvale Prep.
The early region schedule will challenge the young Apaches before they have much varsity experience, but the middle portion of the season should give them time to develop before the trip to St. David.
Stringfellow believes the athleticism is there for Fort Thomas to be entertaining immediately, even as the younger players learn.
“This year, we have great potential and are ready to bring exciting, fast and explosive football both on the road and at home,” he said.
Mull gives the Apaches an accomplished two-way senior around whom to build. Tessay and Declay will take on larger responsibilities, while the two freshman quarterbacks begin learning under varsity conditions.
Fort Thomas will be young, but the Apaches expect their progress to become more visible with each week.
How quickly that happens will determine what they can accomplish in 2026.
