By DAMON SMITH
One season after experiencing the highs and lows of an up-and-down campaign, the Ben's Ford Christian Eagles enter the 2026 football season with something to prove.
After finishing 5-6 a year ago and reaching the postseason before falling to Southampton Academy, the Eagles are looking to recapture the consistency that produced back-to-back winning seasons and a 9-2 finish in 2024. The foundation is there. Now, the challenge is putting all the pieces together.
Head coach Destin Pittman guided a young squad through a season filled with explosive offensive performances, including victories over Heritage Christian Academy (52-14) and Acadiana Christian (46-40), but defensive inconsistencies prevented the Eagles from taking the next step.
This fall, expectations are higher. Ben's Ford returns a solid nucleus of players who gained valuable varsity experience in 2025. Juniors Cole Thibodeaux, Jaylin Knight, Kaiden Keating, Jonah Mitchell, Brody Applewhite and Connor Hillhouse headline an experienced class expected to lead the program, while sophomores Brayson Boyet, Cullen Lott, Wyatt Nobles, Myles Pierce, Chris Kuhn and Kaden Dantin provide depth on both sides of the football.
The Eagles have built their identity around a physical rushing attack, and that philosophy isn't expected to change. Last season, Ben's Ford routinely controlled games on the ground, including a remarkable 480-yard rushing effort in its playoff win over Acadiana Christian. If the offensive line develops quickly, the Eagles should again be among the area's most productive offenses.
Defensively, improvement will determine just how far this team can go. While the Eagles flashed the ability to create turnovers and make timely stops, they struggled against several of the top teams on the schedule. Finding consistency, especially against quality competition, will be a major emphasis throughout preseason camp.
Special teams and depth could also become deciding factors as the schedule progresses. With another year of experience and increased competition for playing time, coaches believe the roster is better equipped to handle the physical demands of an eight-man football season.
Ben's Ford Christian has established itself as one of the stronger small-school eight-man programs in the region, and another playoff appearance remains the expectation rather than the goal. If the defense can match the production of an offense capable of putting points on the board in a hurry, the Eagles have every opportunity to compete for a district championship and make a deep postseason run.
