College Station Cougars: From 0-4 Start to Playoff Ambitions in 2026
Source: KBTX News 3 Sports. Casualplayhub News adds summary, context, and editorial framing while linking back to the original report.
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COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) — The College Station High School Cougars are writing a new chapter in 2026, one that builds on the resilience that defined their 2025 campaign. After stumbling to an 0-4 start last season, the team roared back to win eight of their next nine games, including statement victories over top-10 opponents Pflugerville Weiss (35-31) and Angleton (42-23). That turnaround secured the program’s 12th consecutive playoff berth — a streak that has held every year since the school became eligible — before a season-ending loss to Port Arthur Memorial.
Now, head coach Stoney Pryor is preparing a youthful roster for the challenge ahead. Pryor, a 32-year coaching veteran, enters his fifth season at the helm with a stellar 44-11 overall record. He is backed by a experienced staff: Associate Head Coach Kyle Walsh, Offensive Coordinator Matt DeBerry, Defensive Coordinator Chance Locklear, and Special Teams Coordinator Jarrett Beckhusen. The Cougars lost several key players to graduation or college commitments, including quarterback Keaton Johnson (Rose College), wide receiver Zak Cosser, offensive linemen Bo Barrett (West Texas A&M) and Jeremiah Gonzales, and tight end Grady Pryor. Defensive lineman Turner Sampson (Sterling College) also departed.
But the cupboard is far from bare. The 2027 class features playmakers who emerged late last season. Running back Trey Walton, a first-team All-District selection, exploded for over 1,400 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging an eye-popping 8.8 yards per carry. At 6-foot-0, 180 pounds, he brings explosive speed and vision. Quarterback Noah Symank, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound signal-caller, saw backup duty last year, throwing six passing touchdowns and rushing for four more. His dual-threat ability adds a new dimension to the Cougars’ spread offense. Wide receiver Kashton Adams, a 6-foot-1, 170-pound athlete, primarily played defensive back in 2025 but will take on a two-way role as a primary target in the passing game.
Defensively, the Cougars return a fearsome edge rusher in Zahron Benford. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound junior was a first-team All-District selection after racking up 9 sacks and 32 tackles for loss. Linebacker Wade Couch emerged as a breakout force, recording 7 sacks, 17 tackles for loss, and a critical pick-six against Pflugerville Weiss. Inside linebacker Zan Stevens steps into a leadership role in the middle of the 3-4 defense, replacing three-year starter Cole Flanagan.
The team acknowledges the potential for early growing pains as a young roster gains experience. But the ceiling remains high. Key tests will come during a challenging mid-season district stretch: road games at Pflugerville Weiss, a home showdown with rival A&M Consolidated, and a trip to Georgetown. How the Cougars navigate that gauntlet will determine if they can replicate last year’s late-season magic.
Kyle Walsh, the associate head coach, summed up the program’s mindset: “It’s fun to be at a place where their aspirations and their goals are at the highest level, so that’s where we always want to end up getting to, but we also know that there’s a million steps along that way that we’ve got to chip away at.”
Senior linebacker Zan Stevens exuded confidence: “We’re going to make a huge impact [on defense] this year. I feel like a lot of people are going to be surprised.”
Quarterback Noah Symank emphasized the team’s chemistry: “We’re a family. We’re all really good friends. We’re all working for the same thing. I think we’ve always been a talented class, but it’s time for all the pieces to come together.”
Kashton Adams, who will play both sides of the ball, reflected on the lessons of last season: “There was times where leadership got hard [last year] and the paper crumbled and it folded... we know that we have to be structured leaders and we have to come together and play for each other.”
With a blend of proven talent and hungry newcomers, the College Station Cougars are poised to write another compelling story in 2026. The question is not whether they have the talent, but whether they can mature quickly enough to turn early promise into a deep playoff run.
Article commentary
The College Station Cougars’ 2026 season carries a narrative of resilience that feels almost scripted. After hitting rock bottom with an 0-4 start in 2025, the team’s ability to flip the switch and win eight of their next nine games — including two wins over top-10 opponents — speaks to the culture head coach Stoney Pryor has built. That turnaround was not a fluke; it was a testament to a program that has made the playoffs every year since its inception. Now, with a young core led by the 2027 class, the Cougars face a different kind of challenge: managing expectations while navigating a thin margin for error. The most intriguing storyline is the offensive evolution. Replacing a quarterback like Keaton Johnson, who moved on to Rose College, is never easy. But Noah Symank offers a different skill set — a big, physical runner who can extend plays. Combined with Trey Walton’s explosive running ability, College Station could become a nightmare for defenses if Symank’s passing develops. The spread offense, orchestrated by coordinator Matt DeBerry, will likely rely on a heavy dose of Walton early to take pressure off the passing game. The emergence of Kashton Adams as a two-way threat adds another layer, but the receiving corps remains unproven after the graduation of Zak Cosser and Grady Pryor. Defensively, the Cougars are anchored by a potent pass rush. Zahron Benford’s 9 sacks and 32 tackles for loss are elite numbers, and Wade Couch’s late-season surge suggests he can be a difference-maker. The linebacking corps, with Couch and Zan Stevens, has the potential to be the strength of the team. However, the secondary is a question mark. Adams’ move to wide receiver leaves a gap, and the defense will need new faces to step up in coverage. The 3-4 scheme relies on linebackers creating pressure, which plays to Benford’s strengths, but it also requires discipline in underneath zones. Perhaps the biggest challenge is the schedule. The mid-season stretch of Pflugerville Weiss, A&M Consolidated, and Georgetown is a brutal gauntlet. Weiss, a top-10 opponent last year, will be seeking revenge after the Cougars’ 35-31 win. A&M Consolidated is a fierce rivalry game that always brings intensity. Georgetown is a perennial contender. If College Station can emerge from that stretch with one or two wins, they’ll be in strong position for the playoffs. But dropping all three could derail momentum and expose the team’s youth. Leadership will be critical. The quotes from players and coaches reveal a group that understands the importance of structure and unity. Zan Stevens’ confidence is justified, but it must be matched by execution. Kashton Adams’ admission that “the paper crumbled” last year shows a self-awareness that could forge stronger bonds. Kyle Walsh’s reminder about “a million steps” is a humbling dose of reality for a team that knows what it’s capable of. Ultimately, the 2026 Cougars are a high-risk, high-reward squad. They have the talent to make a deep playoff run, but they also have the inexperience to stumble. The early non-district games will be vital for building chemistry and confidence. If they can weather the storm and grow through the season, College Station could be a dark horse in the playoff picture. If not, the story will be one of what might have been — a familiar tale for teams that peak too early or too late. Either way, this is a team worth watching, because resilience, once proven, is a dangerous weapon.