Seniors pictured (from left to right): Noah Hines, Caden Stauffer, Kobie Henley, Jaxton Kitchener, Rogelio Lara, Yaden Montanez, Keondre Johnson, Armane Redmond, Maddox Girard, Jaxon Anthony, Conner Riley, Simon Flores, Armando Franco, Jay Curtis, and Brysen Augustine.
After finishing the 2025 season with a 3-8 record, the Cougars learned what they were capable of.
Going toe-to-toe with the eventual 5A state champions, mounting comebacks and winning in the postseason showed that Salina South football was undergoing a complete program turnaround.
“We were a very different team [last year] from a buy-in standpoint,” third-year head coach Christien Ozores told KSAL.
The Cougars embraced the day-to-day process of preparation and played for each other, even when the results weren’t showing in the win column.
Being close, but not close enough, was the theme of South’s 2025 regular season. The Cougars played their closest game with Salina Central in five years and suffered three one-possession losses over a five-week span, but rather than let those setbacks define their season, the players rallied.
“We lost a couple of really close games that were heartbreakers,” Ozores said. “But instead of letting it get uglier, the kids bought into each other even more and we started to see some success later in the season.”
The pinnacle of that success came during South’s run through the postseason. As the 14-seed in the 5A West Bracket, South upset both the 3-seed Andover and 6-seed Liberal on the road. The season ended in a matchup of epic proportions against the eventual 5A state champions, Salina Central. South led its cross-town rival at halftime 17-14 but ultimately fell 49-24.
“We haven’t talked about last season very much, we’ve moved on,” Coach Ozores shared. “What we have talked about is getting off to a fast start and not waiting to turn it on in the playoffs and bringing it Week 1.”
Along with the continued buy-in across the program has come increased participation. South entered the first week of official practices with more than 90 student-athletes across the middle and high school levels, the most the program has seen in years.
One player who has risen through every level of the program is junior quarterback Izrael Telles, who returns for his second varsity season. Telles burst onto the scene in Class 5A last season, finishing with the sixth-most passing yards in the state at 2,269 to go along with 24 touchdowns. All while being just 15 years old.
“The arm talent is there, the IQ is there, the leadership is getting better,” Ozores said.
A year later, Telles is more mature and ready to live up to the expectations. He’ll once again have a talented group of receivers to target on the perimeter, including several familiar faces and an exciting new transfer.
South’s second-leading receiver from last season, Jay Curtis, returns for his senior year after breaking out for 772 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.
Jaxton Kitchener is also back for his senior season, bringing valuable experience after stepping into the starting lineup during the second half of last season. Kitchener caught 20 passes for 194 yards and a touchdown in 2025.
One of the new faces in the receiver room is Sacred Heart transfer Noah Hines, who has been a welcomed addition to the South program. Hines joins an already experienced group while also bringing the versatility to contribute at multiple positions, something he showcased throughout his career with the Knights.
“Noah’s been a great addition for us,” said Ozores. “He’s been very quick to learn things and understand what we’re trying to do to get those guys the ball in space so we’re excited to welcome him in.”
Isiah Fox and Slade Pickerill will look to see increased opportunities in the passing attack after starting multiple varsity games last year at tight end, both are back for their junior seasons.
Joining Telles in the backfield will be senior running back Armane Redmond, who took impressive strides last season and, like the Cougars, saved his best football for the postseason when running the ball was paramount.
“He’s the heart and soul of our program,” Ozores said of his senior running back. “As many ways as we can feed Armane inside or outside the hole and just let him go to work, we feel like we’re going to be successful.”
Redmond ran for 1,053 yards and scored seven touchdowns, including one in each playoff game when he also averaged over 100 yards in the postseason.
Leading the way for the Cougar offense will be a group of lineman that focused on getting stronger this summer. Productive weight lifting sessions have South’s offensive lineman looking like a group that’s ready to control the line of scrimmage.
“Our lineman realize that is starts with them and if they can take over the game then it makes things a lot easier for our skill guys,”said Ozores. “Those guys have had a great offseason.”
Coach Ozores had equally high praise for the way his defense has looked early on. Led by seniors, the experience at all three levels of South’s defense has shown throughout the offseason and first official week of practice.
“Our defense has looked really good this offseason,” Ozores said. “We’re going to need those guys to help us finish games.”
Starting with the secondary, South returns several starters in Kobie Henley and Caden Stauffer, both seniors.
South’s linebackers have also added size and emerged as major factors in creating turnovers, led by seniors Maddox Girard and Jaxon Anthony. The two combined to force six of South’s 10 turnovers last season, with Anthony leading the way with an impressive five interceptions. Girard also came up with one of the biggest plays of the season in the first-round playoff win at Andover, forcing and recovering a fumble despite playing with a broken thumb to save the game.
Finally, one of the younger units on last year’s squad will enter the new season battle-tested. The Cougars’ defensive line returns juniors Corbin Sparks-Beason and Devin Matthews, along with senior Connor Riley.
Matthews is expected to see the biggest increase in snaps after playing in just three games last season. Riley started every game and recorded 32 tackles, while Sparks-Beason appeared in seven games and made an impact with 19 tackles.
After winning more games than they have since 2017, belief is building throughout South’s program, and the Cougars are determined to show that last season was just the beginning.
The first chance to see the Cougars in action comes Friday, August 21, at 7 pm for their first scrimmage. A preseason jamboree will follow August 28 in Newton, before South opens the regular season September 4 at Salina Stadium against the defending Class 5A state champions, Salina Central.
