The 2026 season is kicking off with an absolute banger: Brennan hosts Austin Vandegrift in the very first Express-News Game of the Week! This isn’t some exhibition, this is a Week One matchup that feels like it could be a playoff preview, pitting the Express-News Preseason No. 4 Brennan Bears against a Vandegrift squad that knows how to win.
Brennan’s Ready to Unleash the Offense Against a Tough Defense
Brennan is coming off a solid 10-2 season in 2025, where they finished second in District 28-6A with a 7-1 record. Yeah, their season ended in the second round of playoffs with a tough 13-7 loss against Austin Lake Travis, but that’s in the rearview mirror. Coach Steve Basore, with an incredible 150-49 record over 17 seasons, has five starters back on both sides of the ball, plus some serious depth. The key for them tonight? They gotta get that offense humming! They’ll need big plays from two-way standout Aiden Martin, who crushes it as both a receiver and a defensive back. And don’t sleep on Jayshawn Mitchell, the four-star college prospect running back. He can power through the backfield and catch passes, too. They’ll need every bit of that firepower against Vandegrift’s defense.
Vandegrift’s State Title Pedigree Meets a Major Comeback Challenge
The Vipers from Austin Vandegrift are no joke, man. These guys went 12-3 last year, making it all the way to the state semifinals before falling to Houston King. And get this: they’ve been to state in three of the last four seasons, even snagging a state title back in 2024! Coach Drew Sanders has a 174-74 overall record, so he knows how to get it done. The big question for them is how their offense will look. Quarterback Gavin Koester and running back Preston James both missed last season due to injuries, and they’re thrown right into the fire against a top 6A team in Brennan. Luckily, their defense returns multiple key players, including defensive back Griffin Gorrebeeck, who’s already projected as the District 24-6A Defensive MVP. They lead the series 1-0, so there’s history here, too!
This Week One clash kicks off tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Farris Stadium. You know both these teams are looking for a signature win to start the 2026 season strong. Who’s gonna make the statement? We’re about to find out!
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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