NORTH ROCK CREEK COUGARS
Coach: JASON MURRAY
3-7
North Rock Creek enters 2026 believing last season’s growing pains can turn into real growth on the field. The Cougars went 3-7 in 2025 with a roster that leaned heavily on underclassmen, and 10th-year head coach Jason Murray is banking on that experience paying dividends. “We were really young last year,” he notes, adding that they are “hoping the experience that a lot of young kids got last year will really benefit us this year.” With eight starters back on both sides of the ball, NRC will have plenty of chances to prove it has taken a step forward.
Offensively, the Cougars return eight starters and will again operate out of a multiple-formation system tailored to their personnel. Murray explains that they “run a multiple formation offense” and “try to use what fits us best year to year depending on the skills and abilities of our kids,” with an emphasis on establishing the run and using it to set up play-action. Senior receiver and VYPE Top 100 nominee Tyson Hawkins (6-1, 160) headlines the group after catching 45 passes for 660 yards and five touchdowns last fall, giving the offense a proven big-play threat on the perimeter. Senior running back Reid Rollins (6-1, 180) is another key piece, coming off a season with 95 carries for 402 yards and five touchdowns. Fellow senior back Brodie Grace (6-0, 215) adds size and physicality in the backfield. Up front, seniors Cooper Ford (6-1, 250) and Zach Nowakowski (5-10, 200) anchor the line, while senior receiver Hunter Bertram (5-11, 175) returns after totaling 263 yards of offense. With that core back together, NRC expects a more consistent ground game and a play-action attack that can create chunk plays for Hawkins and Bertram.
Defensively, eight starters return in a 4-3 structure built on gap soundness and limiting explosives. “We will base out of a 4-3 defense,” the staff says, adding, “We want to be gap sound up front and eliminate the big play in the secondary.” Hawkins doubles as a defensive back, where he posted 49 tackles and an interception, while Rollins (80 tackles, one interception) and Grace (95 tackles, one interception) form a productive linebacker duo. Bertram adds 82 tackles from his linebacker spot, giving the second level plenty of experience and physicality. Senior linebacker Kash Christopher (6-0, 190) chipped in 27 tackles, and senior defensive lineman Chris Gonzales (5-10, 240) recorded 36 tackles up front. Hawkins is praised as “a really good athlete and smart player” with “big play making ability” on offense and “great instincts for the ball” on defense, while Nowakowski “does everything right on and off the field” and is a “selfless team player.” With a seasoned front seven, a legitimate two-way star in Hawkins and program leaders like Nowakowski, North Rock Creek believes the foundation is in place for a breakthrough year
8-28 – vs. Tecumseh
9-4 – at Crossings Christian
9-11 – at Harrah
9-25 – vs. Kingfisher
10-2 – at McLoud
10-9 – vs. Purcell
10-15 – at Mount St. Mary
10-23 – vs. Plainview
10-30 – at Marlow
11-6 – vs. OCS
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