Howard County Football Week 1 Preview and Predictions
The 2026 high school football season is here, and Howard County teams are ready to take the field for Week 1.
After weeks of preparation and last week’s scrimmages, the games now count. We’ve broken down each Week 1 matchup involving a Howard County team and picked the winners. Here’s a look at our predictions for the opening week of the season.
Rankings are from the Indiana Football Coaches Association preseason poll.
Mount Vernon (Fortville) (0-0) vs Kokomo (0-0)
Kokomo opens its 2026 season Friday against an opponent it last faced in 2014, with the Wildkats looking to start the Grant Foes era with a victory at Walter Cross Field. Foes is Kokomo’s third head coach in three years, while starting quarterback Luke Callaway returns to lead the Wildkats’ spread offense.
Mount Vernon (Fortville) enters the season on a 12-game losing streak dating to 2024, but the Marauders are led by Mike Kirschner, who begins his second stint as head coach after previously winning two sectional titles and a regional championship with the program.
Kokomo has a chance to make a statement in its season opener and give Foes his first victory as the Wildkats’ head coach. The last Kokomo coach to win his first game was Brett Colby in 2007, when the Wildkats also opened the season at home against Mount Vernon.
Winner: Kokomo
Western (0-0) vs Class 3A No. 11 Indian Creek (0-0)
Western opens the 2026 season Friday with a trip to Trafalgar to face a tough Indian Creek team. The Panthers lost last year’s season opener to the Braves in Russiaville, and this year’s matchup will present a different challenge for Austin Colby’s squad.
Western enters the season with a young roster and a new starting quarterback in junior Kasyn Messner. Colby has spent the offseason installing his system while preparing several players for extended varsity roles for the first time.
Indian Creek has continued to improve under head coach Max Goodin, both in its record and postseason success. The Braves return plenty of production from last year’s sectional championship team, giving them a significant experience advantage heading into Friday’s matchup. Indian Creek’s experience and overall talent could prove to be too much for the Panthers in Week 1.
Winner: Indian Creek
Northwestern (0-0) vs Manchester (0-0)
Northwestern is the only Howard County football team opening the 2026 season with a conference game. The Tigers travel to face Three Rivers Conference foe Manchester, looking to avenge last year’s loss to the Squires. That result has added motivation for head coach Shane Turnipseed and his team heading into the season opener.
Northwestern returns several key contributors from last year’s team, including junior quarterback Colin Cook. Cook was one of the area’s top quarterbacks a year ago and will look to lead the Tigers’ up-tempo offense to another productive season.
While Northwestern has the potential to put points on the scoreboard, stopping Manchester’s ground game could be a challenge. The Tigers struggled against the run at times in last week’s scrimmage, making their run defense an important area to watch in the season opener.
Winner: Manchester
Class 2A No. 7 Eastern (Greentown) (0-0) vs Oak Hill (0-0)
Eastern (Greentown) begins its 20th season under head coach Josh Edwards when the Comets travel to rival Oak Hill on Friday. Last year’s matchup provided plenty of drama, with quarterback Gibson Eagle connecting with Kaleb Hurt on the game-winning touchdown pass in the final moments, sending Comet fans into jubilation.
Eastern returns an experienced roster led by seniors Gibson Eagle and Abe Edwards. That experience could be a major advantage for the Comets as they look to start the season with another win over their rival.
Oak Hill also enters the season with an experienced head coach, as Bud Ozman begins his 28th season leading the Golden Eagles. Oak Hill returns several key contributors from last year, but Eastern’s experience and strength up front could give the Comets the edge. The Eastern offensive and defensive lines are expected to be among the best in the area and will look to set the tone under the Friday night lights.
Winner: Eastern
North White (0-0) vs Taylor (0-0)
Taylor begins its second stint under head coach Tim Weeks when the Titans host North White on Friday. Weeks last coached Taylor in 2000 and will look to build on the program’s recent success while helping the Titans start the season with a third consecutive season-opening victory.
Taylor will have several new faces in 2026, but seniors Keyshawn Galloway and new starting quarterback Dylan Underwood will look to lead the Titans into another successful season. North White has struggled against Taylor in recent matchups, with the Titans outscoring the Vikings 149-6 across two meetings last year.
This year’s matchup could be more competitive, but Taylor enters with the advantage and will look to its senior leaders to make the necessary plays to open the season with a win.
Winner: Taylor
The 2026 high school football season is here, and teams across Howard County are ready to put the offseason behind them. From rivalries and conference matchups to new coaches, new quarterbacks and experienced returning players, there are plenty of storylines to follow as Week 1 gets underway.
Be sure to get out and support your local teams under the Friday night lights. The Kokomo Post Sports team will be at Walter Cross Field for Kokomo’s matchup with Mount Vernon (Fortville), providing live coverage, score updates and highlights throughout the game. Follow along with The Kokomo Post Sports for coverage from around the county all season lon
