Aug. 21—TOLONO — The 2026 Unity football team doesn't return a single player who made a throw, carried the ball out of the backfield or caught a pass during last November's epic Class 3A state championship game against Byron.
The 2026 Unity football team doesn't have a record-setting quarterback like Dane Eisenmenger under center.
Doesn't have a hard-nosed running back in Crewe Eckstein.
Doesn't have play-making wide receivers like Tre Hoggard, Tyler Henry, Mason O'Neill or Maddix Sutherland.
Doesn't have a superb defensive end like Coleton Langendorf.
Or a quality linebacker like Caden Hensch.
Or a lockdown cornerback like Brayden Henry.
Doesn't matter.
The expectations around the tradition-rich program from southern Champaign County that has experienced just one losing season since 1994 never change.
Contend for the Illini Prairie Conference championship.
Host a first-round playoff game (this objective does change this year to receiving a first-round bye and then hosting a second-round playoff game in 2026 since the IHSA expanded the playoff field this season to 48 teams in each class compared to 32 teams).
Go on a deep playoff run. Play in the state championship game.
And try to deliver the Rockets their first state title after seven state runner-up finishes since 2000.
All of those previous accomplishments, all of those notable wins of the last 30-plus years, all of those standout former players, are in the past, though. None will play a snap for the Rockets, who are The News-Gazette's selection as the No. 1 area team in our 2026 preseason rankings, when they kick off the season at 7 p.m. on Friday at Rantoul.
"This is the 2026 Rockets," Unity second-year coach Tony Reetz said. "It's their story to write. It's not a continuation of the 2025 team. It's a whole new chapter to the same book."
Replacing Eisenmenger, a three-year starter at quarterback for Unity and The News-Gazette's 2025 All-Area Player of the Year who is now a freshman quarterback at Illinois, rests on Carter Schmid. The 6-foot-4, 175-pound junior served as Eisenmenger's backup last season, receiving minimal playing time. When Schmid did step back and throw, however, he completed 6 of 9 passes for 173 yards and a touchdown.
Those numbers should increase exponentially this season for the multi-sport athlete who also plays basketball and is already a state medalist in the 300-meter hurdles for the Rockets.
"He can throw the ball a lot better than I thought he could," said Hudson DeHart, Unity's senior left guard who started all 14 games last season. "Even though he hasn't really played a lot, he's shifty, and he's a dual-threat quarterback."
Reetz said he has liked what Schmid has done this offseason, in summer workouts and in the first two-plus weeks of practice to improve his game.
"I don't think he feels this way, but we've made it very clear to Carter: he does not have to be Dane Eisenmenger," Reetz said. "He needs to be Carter Schmid and play to his strengths while doing what he's comfortable doing. When you do the things you're comfortable with, you're probably going to find success."
Schmid could give Unity a solid option in the run game, too, and when he's not either eluding defenders with his feet or making plays with his arm, will likely hand the ball of to senior Michael Hardin. The 5-10, 195-pound Hardin rushed for 122 yards and three touchdowns on 26 carries last season, but enters this season as the Rockets' primary running back.
"We had a special package for him last year as he played more on the defensive side last year," Reetz said. "He's really surprised me with how well he's ran the ball so far."
Unity will have to replace two 1,000-yard receivers from last season in Hoggard and Tyler Henry, who combined for 32 touchdown catches.
Senior Rush Little (6-5, 185), junior Beckham Brink (5-10, 170), junior Jackson Cheely (5-9, 155) and sophomore AJ Daly (5-10, 160) are some possibilities at wide receiver this season.
"There's a lot of newcomers," Reetz said, "but that's one of the things I'm excited to see is who steps up."
Reetz and the Rockets don't have to guess what the majority of the offensive line will look like. Unity returns three starters in DeHart (6-0, 220), senior left tackle Cash McCann (6-4, 290) and senior center Elias Krall (5-11, 280).
"Our offensive line will be the strength of our team," Reetz said. "For me, and I think a lot of other coaches feel this way, is that if you're going to start building a team, you want to start with the offensive line first because that allows everyone else to do their jobs. With a new quarterback, with some new skill guys, having so many offensive line starters back really makes their jobs easier."
Junior Nolan Meharry (6-3, 250) saw playing time last season as the Rockets' top backup on the offensive line, and he'll man either the right guard or right tackle spot this season. Junior Landin Miller (5-7), 200), sophomore Jack Terven (5-11, 235) and sophomore Owen Lighty (6-0, 275) are also in the mix for playing time on the right side of the offensive line.
The Rockets will have a new defensive coordinator this season for the first time in almost three decades. Conner Plotner replaces Dave Fink after Fink, an Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee, retired following the 2025 season.
The defensive side of the ball for the Rockets features a clear leader on the field. Linebacker Keegan Germano returns after making a team-high 143 tackles last season, and the 5-10, 200-pound senior verbally committed to play college football at Butler on Aug. 11.
"He is able to read offenses very well," Unity senior defensive back Adam Reedy said. "He seems to know where the ball is going before it's there. It's very nice to have in front of you."
Germano said the confidence he gained from his breakthrough junior season should only benefit him for his senior season.
"I learned a lot about how football works from my sophomore to my junior year," Germano said. "Once I was able to pick up keys and study film, my play jumped. I'm a big believer in practice how you play, and that's what I try to tell the younger guys. Effort is all you. That has carried over from last year, and that's the standard our defense has is to play with an intensity that our opponent can't match."
Germano will look to make plays this season in front of a revamped defensive line. Reetz said the Rockets will move senior Evan Puckett (6-0, 195) down to defensive end after Puckett started last season at linebacker. Junior Bradley Smith (5-11, 205) is another option at defensive end, while senior Carson McCune (6-1, 190), senior Austin Scott (6-0, 290), senior Matthew Brady (5-11, 265), junior Reece Winfrey (6-3, 230) and junior Tysen McConaha (5-10, 240) could also see time along the defensive line.
Joining Germano at linebacker are sophomore Kale Cowan (6-2, 210) and junior Garrison Cler (6-0, 175). Reedy (5-11, 185) gives Unity a veteran presence in the defensive backfield, with senior Alex Bromley (5-10, 165), junior Sawyer Weller (5-8, 155), junior Tyson Durham (5-11, 160) and sophomore Hayden Smith (6-0, 165) candidates to see time, as well, in the secondary.
Senior Walker Hall (5-11, 160) returns to handle the kicking duties, with Schmid likely to serve as Unity's punter.
The first four weeks of the season should signify whether these Rockets could win their first Illini Prairie championship since 2021 and only their third since the league came into existence in 2017. After Friday night's game at Rantoul, Unity welcomes in Monticello on Aug. 28 at Hicks Field in Tolono, plays at reigning league champion Bloomington Central Catholic on Sept. 4 and hosts rival St. Joseph-Ogden on Sept. 11. BCC is the only team who defeated Unity in the regular season last year, while Monticello nearly beat the Rockets before falling 21-20 in the second round of the 3A playoffs. Unity outlasted SJ-O 51-44 in the 3A state semifinals.
"It's gritty. It's tough," Germano said. "I think it's one of the best conferences in 3A in the state."
Now it's up to Germano, DeHart, Reedy and the rest of the returning Rockets to mesh well with the many names on this year's Unity roster who haven't reached the same recognition of their predecessors. Yet.
"We have a lot of new guys who don't have a lot of experience playing varsity football," Reedy said, "but we've got a lot of talent, and I'm excited to see how these new guys step up to the occasion."
Reetz agreed.
"We don't need these guys to be Tre Hoggard or Tyler Henry or Coleson Miller," Reetz said. "We just need them to be who they are, and we'll build a team to their strengths. I'm excited for the opportunity for these guys to step into the spotlight and away from the shadows of last year's senior class. This is their time to shine, and I think they're going to shock a lot of people."
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