STROTHER YELLOWJACKETS
Coach: MIKE HEDGE
5-6
Strother heads into the 2026 season with experience and senior leadership after a 5‑6 campaign. Head coach Mike Hedge, now in his fourth year at the school, notes that the Yellowjackets return six starters on both sides of the ball and will be senior-heavy this fall. Assistant coaches Caden Simeck, Kevin Nichols and Eric Schultz round out a staff that will lean on continuity and an established core to push for improvement.
The offense brings back six starters and will operate out of multiple sets with a spread foundation. Senior running back/defensive back Peyton Moody (5‑10, 150), senior running back/linebacker Parker Moody (5‑10, 180), senior quarterback/linebacker Mylam Defries (6‑2, 195) and senior running back/defensive back Dorian Morales (5‑6, 165) headline the skill group. The multiple-formation spread look should allow Strother to move those pieces around and create matchups, giving the Yellowjackets flexibility to adjust week to week.
Defensively, Strother also returns six starters and bases from a 3‑2 look. The philosophy is straightforward: run and hit well, stop the run first and worry about everything else second. The Moody brothers, Defries and Morales are again central figures on that side, providing a veteran core that knows the scheme. Peyton Moody is the VYPE Top 100 nominee and is described as a great multi-sport athlete with the potential to surpass 1,000 rushing yards if he can stay healthy.
The Yellowjackets’ 2026 schedule opens Aug. 28 at home against Sasakwa before a trip to Bowlegs on Sept. 4. Strother then hosts Depew and Maud, travels to Keota and Elmore City, and faces Savannah at home. The regular season closes with road games at Quinton and Velma, plus a home date with Caddo.
8-28 – vs. Sasakwa
9-4 – at Bowlegs
9-11 – vs. Depew
9-18 – vs. Maud
9-25 – at Keota
10-9 – at Elmore City
10-15 – vs. Savanna
10-23 – at Quinton
10-30 – vs. Caddo
11-6 – at Velma
