By Jake McCoy

It’s almost that time of the year as teams across the state of Louisiana just completed their summer workouts last week and are slowly transitioning into regular season mode. This week is the LHSAA dead period as team across the state, including the Grand Lake Hornets will begin football practice this Monday in preparation for the 2026 season.

The 2026 version of the Hornets will have a slightly different look offensively as they implement a two quarterback system with Bransyn Mudd and Clint Taylor. Both players will start at both quarterback and receiver.

Zach Manuel will be another key, returning starter at the running back position as well as playing free safety on the defensive side of the ball.

Other players to watch this season are DE Caisen Maynard, WR/CB Mason Babineaux, LB/FB Luke St. Romain, TE/DL Kyle Welch, RB/FB/LB Baker Knowles, OT Oakley Dunnaway, SS/WR Ryder Shields, C Carson Eskind, OG/DE Andon Baccigalopi, OT/DT Dax Guillotte, MLB Tucker Tregle, OT Kohl Benton, OG Brycen Pender, DE Gavin George, and WR Noah Broussard.

The special teams will be strong again this year led by kicker Silas Pearce who will handle kickoffs The long snapper will be Carson Eskind and Ryder Shields, taking care of the punting duties when not long snapping is also Ryder Shields, and Zach Manuel will be the return specialist.

Coach Jeff Wainwright and his staff are looking to have another successful season and are aiming to not only win a District championship would make a deep run in the playoffs. Grand Lake defeated Montgomery in the first round last year before falling to Jeanerette in the second round. Last year’s success seems to have built some momentum going into the 2026 campaign, so it will be interesting to see just how well the Hornets can pick up where they left off.

We encourage everyone to come out and support the Grand Lake Hornets this season!