Mustangs Aim To Continue Ascent in 2026

By : Jeremy Brown

When North Oldham head coach Brock Roberts took the reins of the Mustang program in March 2023, he regularly began using the phrase (and hashtag on socials), “It can happen in Goshen.”

Roberts inherited a program that went 21-62 from 2015-22 with 8 consecutive seasons under .500 and four seasons of 2 wins or less in that span. His message of “It can happen in Goshen” was to instill belief in a locker room and community that had experienced nearly a decade of losing.

Fast forward three years, and one can now safely say “It’s happening in Goshen.”

Here’s the power of belief: Roberts has led the Mustangs to a 26-11 record in three years at the helm, including a Class 4A District 3 Championship in 2025. From 7-5 in Year 1, to 9-3 in Year 2, and then a 10-3 Year 3 that saw North Oldham reach the KHSAA Quarterfinals – the Mustangs have continued to redefine what success means in Goshen year by year.

It’s no longer trying to hit .500 and maybe win a first-round playoff game. It’s about winning District Championships and playing deeper into the postseason. North Oldham got over the second-round playoff hump last fall with postseason wins over Grant County and Spencer County before falling in the quarterfinals at Class 4A runner-up Franklin County. Roberts’ first season ended in a 58-0 loss at Franklin County. His third season ended with a hard-fought 42-25 defeat, a one-possession game deep into the third quarter, at Franklin County.

The Mustangs are incrementally closing the gap with the Class 4A heavyweights, and with a deep, 19-man senior class, they are eager to take yet another step as a program in 2026.

North Oldham returns 8-of-11 starters from an offensive unit that ranked 5th in the KHSAA in scoring at 43.1 points per game. But its three losses are significant in quarterback Colin Daniels (NOHS all-time leading passer), wideout Luke Tompkins (NOHS all-time leading receiver), and center Jack Szydlowski (1st Team All-District).

Senior transfer Brodie Pfeiffer gets the keys to the high-flying Roberts’ offense this season at quarterback, and he’ll get three of the Mustangs’ top 4 receivers back from last season in Andrew Davis (32 rec., 593 yds, 6 TD), Conner Nesmith (29 rec., 385 yds, 7 TD), and Jackson Davis (18 rec., 290 yds, 5 TD). He’ll also have an 1,100-yard running back to handoff to in senior Ronin Renton (‘27), who led the record-setting Mustang offense with 22 total TDs (20 rush, 2 rec.) in 2025.

Mustang quarterbacks have been First-Team All District in all 3 of Roberts’ seasons, and twice have been named District Player of the Year (Jace Bullock - 2023; Colin Daniels - 2025). Pfeiffer (‘27) looks to continue that trend as the next gunslinger in Goshen. Roberts has noted Pfeiffer’s preparation, arm talent, and rushing ability this offseason - and all were on display in North’s first preseason scrimmage at North Hardin on Aug. 7. Pfeiffer totaled 337 yards (212 passing, 125 rushing) and 3 touchdowns, including four completions of 20+ yards in the Mustang victory.

Setting the tone up front will be one of the biggest offensive lines across the KHSAA this season. Last year, the Jacob Vance-coached OL unit helped North average over 8 yards per play. The Mustangs’ top 6 players in the projected offensive line rotation weigh in at an average of 268 pounds, led by two-time All-District guard Harrison McGraw (‘27) and All-District tackle Willie Sequira (‘27). Games are won in the trenches, and all signs point to another year of scoreboard fireworks for the Mustangs.

The North Oldham defense led the entire KHSAA with 39 turnovers forced in 2025, and it returns 6-of-11 starters from that unit. Tompkins is also a big loss on this side of the ball (8 INTs), and three other All-District players (Price Duke, Carlin Swigart, Max Watson) depart as well.

Defensive coordinator Randy McGraw expects another big season from Andrew Davis (‘28), who has emerged as one of the top defensive backs in the state and picked up multiple Division I offers this offseason. First-Team All-District linebacker Preston Smith (99 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 3 fumble recoveries) anchors a deep linebacking corps that also features fellow senior Brody Dressel (‘78 tackles, 8 TFL, 3 fumble recoveries, 2 INT). Harrison McGraw (All-District DL/OL) and Nesmith also return as cogs in a unit with a handful of new starters.

North Oldham opens the 2026 season at Lafayette in Game 2 of the Fayette County Frenzy (Bowl) on Aug. 21. The Mustangs have opened each of Roberts’ previous three seasons against 6A foes and have gone 3-0 in those openers. From there, the schedule mirrors the 2025 season, with host locations flipped. North takes on county rivals Oldham County and South Oldham in Weeks 3 and 4, and hosts 5A Seneca before beginning District 3 play at Doss on Sept. 25. They’ll host Breckinridge County in their lone home district contest of 2026 before wrapping district play with back-to-back road trips to Valley and Waggener. The Mustangs close the regular season at Atherton, a 5A semifinalist in 2025.

The Mustang senior class of 2027 is 9 wins away from becoming the all-time winningest class in North Oldham Football history. One can look at the schedule on paper, anticipate a few postseason games, and reasonably expect that record to be within reach…but games aren’t played on paper. They’re played on football fields under Friday Night Lights. The first test is 10 days away at Lafayette.