St. Joseph-Ogden is kicking off the preseason sitting pretty at No. 2 in The News-Gazette’s Top 10 football poll, and if you ask me, that ranking feels earned. The Spartans are rolling into August 2026 with a serious foundation, especially with a new quarterback ready to carry on a legendary family name. The future is looking bright for a team that already made a deep run last year.
Lane McKinney Steps Up With History On His Shoulders
Talk about stepping into some huge shoes, but Lane McKinney isn’t just a name, he’s got the chops. This junior is poised to make his first start at quarterback on August 21 when SJ-O hosts Prairie Central, and honestly, the family legacy here is wild. He’s got the same last name as the signal-caller for the past two seasons, his older brother Kodey. Plus, their dad, Matt, was the quarterback for that 1999 Spartans team that finished second in state. Lane’s well-versed in what it takes to win here, for real.
He’s not new to making plays, either. Last season, while Kodey was under center, Lane was out there catching a team-high 58 passes for 521 yards and four touchdowns as a wide receiver. That’s not just a pass catcher, that’s a guy who knows the offense inside and out, a guy who knows what it takes to produce. Now, the 6-foot, 155-pound lefty is taking the reins, ready to lead this No. 2 ranked squad. You just know he’s going to bring that same playmaking ability to the quarterback position.
This O-Line Is Different, Led By A Future Duck
Seriously, the offensive line for SJ-O? They’re an absolute force. This unit averaged 36.8 points last season running their up-tempo spread offense, and they’ve got four returning starters, which is huge. Eleventh-year coach Shawn Skinner said it himself, “Having four-fifths of your line back is really big.” He’s seen them make serious strides during summer workouts and practices, and it’s easy to see why.
Leading that charge is Cameron Wagner, a 6-7, 305-pound senior offensive lineman who has been a starter since late in his freshman season. This guy is a certified road grader. Wagner committed to Oregon in mid-May and plans to sign with the Ducks in December, but first, he’s focused on creating havoc for the Spartans at left tackle and even on the defensive line. Coach Skinner is absolutely hyped about Wagner’s transformation, saying, “You should always make your biggest jump as a player between your junior and senior year. His jump is what has really stood out to me. Cam was always a big kid in the past, but he wasn’t grown yet. He was just truly a big kid. He is truly a big young man now. As somebody who is coaching him, there is an understanding of he’s capable of doing a little bit more. He was always willing to do that. But now, you feel confident if you ask him to do these things, he’s truly going to excel at them.”
The rest of the line is stacked, too. Willis Canamore, a 5-10, 200-pound senior, is at left guard. Juniors Landon May (5-8, 230) and Mason Osterbur (6-1, 190) are holding down right guard and right tackle. Liam Carter, a 6-0, 235-pound junior, is the only new starter, stepping in at center. Wagner isn’t kidding around when he talks about this group, saying, “Our offensive line is getting after it so much. It’s nothing like I’ve seen in my high school career. I love the physicality and the violence all the guys bring.” That kind of energy and commitment from the guys up front? It’s exactly what you want.
The Spartans finished 8-5 last season and played their best football in November, making a run all the way to the 3A state semifinals. That experience, combined with a dynamic new QB and an offensive line that’s ready to dominate, means this team is absolutely primed to chase glory again. Mark your calendars for August 21, because Lane McKinney and this crew are kicking off their season at Dick Duval Field, and they’re going to be out there proving why they belong at No. 2 and beyond.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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