New Braunfels Canyon Cougars
Head Coach: Sean McAuliffe (3rd season; 13-11 record)
Last Season: 5-6; 3-3 in district (Lost to Medina Valley in bi-district)
Canyon Key Players and Storylines
Canyon has made the playoffs for four years in a row for the first time in school history. Sean McAuliffe and his players will expect to extend that streak this year with one of the San Antonio area’s top players.
This Cougar team will go as junior quarterback Knox Ford (1,155 passing yards, 561 rushing yards, 19 total TDs) goes. He’s a dual threat who earned first team all-district honors a year ago. Now, he will need the skill talent around him to step up after the Cougars graduated their starting running back and four leading receivers. Junior receiver Luca Cesternino is one of those young players to watch this year with his size at 6’3″, 185 pounds.
Knox Ford QB C/O 28
6’4″ 185 @Hudl https://t.co/wO8bhNelaM #hudl@JakeSpavital @CoachMeetch @ChrisWeinke16 @milwee4 @KUCoachZ @Coach_NateD @HarlonBarnett @CoachHalzle @michaeldes1 @mlombardiuncgm @AggieFootball @UGAAthletics @CoachTimYoder pic.twitter.com/dKdeUo9mYW— Knox Ford (@Knox_Ford11) January 23, 2026
Up front, center/tackle Asher Howard will lead the offensive line after earning second team all-district honors last year.
Defensively, the Cougars appear poised to take a step forward this year. They have a strong spine with linebackers Logan Andrews (74 tackles, seven TFLs) and Devin Lagunas (69 tackles) and safety Brody Schiller (60 tackles). Up front, 6’3″, 220-pound defensive end Clay Robbins (40 tackles, five sacks) is a legit playmaker off the edge.
Quarterback is arguably the most important position on the field, and the Cougars have themselves a good one. Pair that with the experience on defense and Canyon will expect to be dancing for the fifth consecutive year this fall.
Canyon Cougars 2026 Football Schedule
*Denotes District 27-6A Contest
August 27 (Thursday) — @ Madison at Heroes Stadium — 7:00 PM
September 4 (Friday) — vs. New Braunfels at Cougar Stadium — 7:30 PM
September 10 (Thursday) — @ Brandeis — 7:00 PM
*September 18 (Friday) — @ East Central at Hornet Stadium — 7:30 PM
*September 24 (Thursday) — vs. San Marcos at Cougar Stadium — 7:30 PM
October 2 — BYE
*October 9 (Friday) — vs. Samuel Clemens at Cougar Stadium — 7:30 PM
*October 15 (Thursday) — @ Wagner at D.W. Rutledge Stadium — 7:30 PM
*October 23 (Friday) — vs. Pieper at Cougar Stadium — 7:30 PM
*October 30 (Friday) — @ Steele at Lehnhoff Stadium — 7:30 PM
*November 6 (Friday) — vs. Judson at Cougar Stadium — 7:30 PM
