As summer break draws to close all across the state of Ohio, it means that it’s time for the pads to start popping at summer camp. Here in the small town of Convoy, Ohio, it’s already underway.
The Knights finished last season with a 6-4 overall record, 4-3 in the Northwest Conference. Just missing out on getting a playoff spot, in the final week of the regular season, in an extremely tough Division 6, Region 22.
The first thing to comes to mind for the 2026 Crestview Knights is dichotomy.
Why???
Because, while they return a lot of experience on both sides of the football (17 returning letter winners out of 44 players), they lost 90% of the teams’ overall production from last season.
Which truly shows just how good and versatile HB/DB Braxton Leeth, TE/DL Liam Putman and WR/DB Hayden Perrott were.
I was able to spend some time at a practice and at a scrimmage, this week against the Leipsic Vikings.
DL/OL #66 Will Sheets is the biggest returning name. The 6’5″, 235 lbs senior, had 45 tackles, 6 sacks, 13 TFLs, and 2 forced fumbles. He also starts at OT. He’s one of my favorite players to watch, as he’s so athletic. He does a great job of setting the edge on both sides of the football.
At 6’2″ 165 lbs, junior WR/DB #8 Cash Hammons is another favorite of mine. He played a lot as a sophomore last season and immediately performed well. 35 tackles and 3 INTs. In fact, he was an allsportfan.com player of the game last season.
6’0″, 210 lbs senior, OL/LB #55 Kale Lichtensteiger plays a hard-nosed game. As many of you know, I love playing a physical game and watching physical players. Kale is that, and fun to watch. He’ll stick his nose right into the gap and take on lineman or the back. He had 26 tackles and 3 TFLs last season.
There is absolutely no way to replace the production of All-State, All-Northwest Conference, and Division 6 Ohio Offensive Player of the Year HB Braxton Leeth (incredibly polite and well-spoken young man as well).
Knights Head Coach Cole Harting told me that they will use a committee approach this season (interview below).
#14 Tate Lichtensteiger and #22 Evin Brincefield will probably get the bulk of the carries this season, but they will ride whoever has the hot hand that game, regardless class.
6’1″, 185 lbs junior, #9 Cooper Miller will be the new starting quarterback.
I covered every JV game last season. He has a big arm. He’s tough (played with a broken arm), isn’t afraid to take on defenders when running the ball, and has no qualms about throwing it up and trusting his WRs to make a play.
I spoke with Knights Head Coach Cole Harting about the upcoming season, and what to expect.
My first question was about the loss of team production, especially on the offensive side of the football.
“Braxton had an incredible career, and we relied on his running ability. We had a couple good receivers with Hayden Perrott and Liam Putman, and if you look at that, that’s 90% of our yards gone. We’re looking for guys to step up and fill those voids. Fortunately for us, we’re returning four out of five starters on the offensive line. We’ve got good players to protect us up front and create some running lanes, and that’s a good spot to be in.”
The biggest issue on the offensive line last season, was center. There were problems with the snaps. I asked Coach Harting about that specific position and issue.
“Right now, our center position is not settled. Obviously, getting the snap back there is important, and we work on that everyday in practice. Last year, we had some snaps there were untimely, and those snaps came at crucial times in the game, and they cost us some possessions. I look to have that settled here in the next couple weeks.”
The loss of Braxton came up, and that’s were Coach spoke about the committee approach.
“Braxton had a once in a generation season. That type of season and career doesn’t just happen all the time. He was a phenomenal player, and I think it’s a hard ask for our kids to go and make a run at that type of season. Our kids will do a nice job of stepping up. We have a couple scrimmages coming up, and I think we’re going to figure out who can run the ball, the most effective. Throughout the year, we’re going to give all those guys opportunities. I’m going to play the hot hand, and that may change from game to game.”
I asked about the defense. How Will Sheets and Cash Hammons bring back experience, production, and how they’ll step into the leadership role now.
“Those guys have shown tremendous leadership so far. Cash is in our secondary and makes sure everyone is lined up in the right spot. Will does a nice job leading guys up front, and he causes havoc every single play. I expect those guys to have big years for us, and get our defense in a spot where we’ll be making plays and stops on a consistent basis.”
The Knights finish the season against three straight playoff teams from last year. Bluffton and Columbus Grove at home, then the season finale at Lima Central Catholic. I asked Coach Harting about the tough finish to the upcoming season.
“Well, that’s just how it worked out. Those were three very good teams and will be very good again this year. You just have to play them when you play them, and this year, it fell that we have to play them at the end of the season. I think our non-league schedule will prepare us well. We open up with Paulding, they were a good team last year, and I look for them to be good again. We play Minster in Week 2, and they’re going to be a very good football team. Wayne Trace is always a good opponent for us. So those teams are going to test us early.”
Coach Harting spoke about the improvement he expects to see from the NWC (Northwest Conference) as a whole.
“You look at Week 4 with Spencerville, Week 5 with Fort Loramie, and Allen East is a very solid team, I think Delphos Jefferson will be better compared to where they were last season. They had a really good defense last year. I think just overall our league is very good, and we’re going to have to be competitive every single week, and hopefully, by the end of the season, we’ll be playing our best football, and that’s where you want to be playing your best.”
It’s going to be a rough season for the Knights, as they play 5 teams that made the playoffs last year. The Paulding Panthers, Minster Wildcats, Bluffton Pirates, Columbus Grove Bulldogs, Lima Central Catholic Thunderbirds.
I think they can beat Paulding, but if they want a chance to make the playoffs this season, they’re going to have to sweep Weeks 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and then find a way to pull at least one upset against Minster, Bluffton, Grove, or LCC. That’s a tough ask. Matching last seasons record would be a great accomplishment.
The Crestview Knights open up the 2026 football season on August 21st, at home, against the Paulding Panthers.
by Sean McKenzie.
allsportsfan 
Leave a comment