Necedah Cardinal Football

08/24/2026

Introducing Our 2026 Necedah Football Team Captains

We are proud to announce our three captains for the 2026 season: Eli Horak, Zach Stridde, and Chris Francke.

Eli Horak is a four-year starter for us and truly a do-it-all player. Eli leads by example every time he steps on the field and has been someone we can count on year after year. Eli was part of my first group here when I came in as an assistant, and now in year two as head coach, he continues to be a constant in this program. His experience, toughness, and leadership have earned the respect of his teammates. Congratulations, Eli!

Zach Stridde is a first-year football player for us as a senior, but you would never know it. Zach hit the ground running in strength training this winter and carried that work ethic through the entire summer. He picked up the playbook quickly, never looked back, and has become a huge part of our football team. His willingness to learn, compete, and do whatever the team needs has made an immediate impact on our program. Congratulations, Zach!

Chris Francke is a senior and four-year member of our football program. Unfortunately, Chris missed his entire junior season after suffering a torn ACL, but that never stopped him from being part of this team. He never missed a game or practice and was always there supporting and cheering on his teammates. Chris continued putting in the work throughout his recovery, including being in the weight room all summer. He is still working his way back, and we are excited for the day he gets to step back onto the field with his teammates. Congratulations, Chris!

Being named a captain is about more than being a good football player. It is about commitment, leadership, toughness, and putting the team before yourself. Each of these three has taken a different path to get here, but all three have earned the respect of their teammates and coaches.

Congratulations to our 2026 Team Captains — Eli, Zach, and Chris!

08/21/2026

Game 1 tonight! 7pm start.

08/18/2026

Media Day was a success! 📸🏈

A huge thank you to MLE Photo Art for coming out and giving our boys a great experience. They had a lot of fun, and it was a perfect break in the middle of a long week of practices.

Thank you for helping make it a great day for Cardinal Football!

08/08/2026

As we wrap up our first week of football with an 8:00 AM Saturday practice, I just want to say thank you.

Thank you to every player who showed up ready to work. In just one week, these young men have put in nearly 20 hours on the practice field. They’ve battled through the heat, sore muscles, long days, and countless reps without complaining. They’ve learned, they’ve competed, and most importantly, they’ve grown.

Thank you to our parents for getting your athletes where they needed to be, supporting them, and trusting the process. Thank you to our coaches for the countless hours they invest in these kids. And thank you to our community for believing in what we’re building. We see your support, and it means more than you know.

This was only Week 1.

08/03/2026

Every year, I pick a quote to define our season.

This year’s is simple.

“There can be no success without sacrifice. The two go hand in hand. If you desire to accomplish little, sacrifice little. But if you want to accomplish great things, be willing to sacrifice much.”
— John C. Maxwell

This is our motto.

Good Day.

See you tomorrow.
3:00 PM sharp.

GoCardinals

07/30/2026

August 4th.

We have a chance to be a part of something bigger than all of us.

See you August 4th at 3:00 PM for equipment handout.
Let’s get to work!

07/16/2026

Due to the hazardous air quality advisory issued for our area, High School Football Camp scheduled for Thursday, July 16, has been canceled.
Current conditions, along with the combination of poor air quality, heat, and smoke, create an environment that is not safe for outdoor activity. Local health officials are recommending that people avoid strenuous activity outside, and we feel the best decision is to prioritize the health and safety of all of our athletes, coaches, and families.
While we are disappointed to miss our final day of camp, keeping everyone healthy is our top priority. We appreciate everyone's understanding and flexibility.
Thank you to everyone who attended camp this week. We appreciate the effort, enthusiasm, and commitment you have shown as we continue building our program.
We will see everyone on Tuesday, August 4, at 3:00 PM for Day 1 of the season and equipment handout. We can't wait to get started!
P.S. Please help us spread the word. Even if you think someone has already heard from me, please reach out to teammates and friends to make sure everyone knows that today's camp has been canceled.
Go Cardinals!

07/11/2026

Two years ago, we suited up just 14 players for a varsity football game.

Today, we took 16 athletes to a 7-on-7 tournament.

That may not seem like a huge number to some, but to us, it represents progress. It represents kids choosing to be part of something bigger than themselves. It represents a program moving in the right direction.

I want to thank all 16 players who gave up part of their Saturday to compete. You represented Necedah with effort, toughness, and a willingness to learn. We saw tremendous growth from our first game to our last. The confidence, communication, and ex*****on improved every time we stepped on the field. Most importantly, you competed and played hard until the final whistle.

Thank you as well to all of the parents and family members who made the trip to support our players. Your encouragement and commitment mean more than you know. Building a successful program takes everyone, and your support is a huge part of that.

This is just the beginning. We are going to change this program. The train is moving, and we want everyone on board. If you’re thinking about coming out, now is the time. Be part of building something this community can be proud of.

We’ll see everyone Tuesday at 4:00 PM for football camp. Let’s keep building.

07/06/2026

Over the holiday weekend, I found myself thinking a lot about this upcoming season and what it is going to take for us to get where we want to be. I wanted to share these thoughts with our players, parents, coaches, and community because this journey belongs to all of us.

Success isn’t something that’s given. It’s something that’s earned every single day through hard work, sacrifice, discipline, and commitment.

If we’re going to bring Necedah Football back to where it belongs, it’s going to take every single one of us. The players, the parents, the coaches, the school, and the entire community all have a role to play. The good news is that we already have the most important pieces. We have great kids. We have supportive families. We have people who care deeply about this community. Now it’s time to bring those pieces together with one common goal.

To our players: This journey will require sacrifices. There will be early mornings, long practices, sore muscles, and moments where quitting seems easier than pushing forward. You’ll have to choose discipline over comfort, commitment over excuses, and team over yourself. Great programs aren’t built by talent alone. They’re built by young men willing to do what others won’t.

To our parents: Your support is just as important. Encourage your athletes on the difficult days. Hold them accountable when standards slip. Celebrate their effort just as much as their success. The lessons they learn through football, discipline, responsibility, perseverance, and teamwork, will last far longer than any scoreboard ever will.

To our community: Believe in these young men. Show up on Friday nights. Wear your Cardinal red with pride. Let our players know they represent something much bigger than themselves. A strong football program has always been about more than wins and losses. It becomes a source of pride for an entire town.

This process won’t be easy. There will be setbacks. There will be growing pains. There will be moments that test all of us. But we won’t let temporary struggles define where we’re headed. We will keep showing up. We will keep working. We will keep believing in each other.

We aren’t looking to build just another football team. We’re building a family. A family that celebrates together, battles through adversity together, and holds one another accountable because we care about each other. Accountability isn’t about tearing someone down. It’s about caring enough to help someone become the best version of themselves.

Every workout matters. Every practice matters. Every decision matters. Every person matters.

The name on the front of the jersey means something. It represents every player who came before us, every family that has supported this program, and every young athlete who dreams of one day wearing Cardinal red. It is our responsibility to leave this program better than we found it.

The climb back starts today. It starts with commitment. It starts with sacrifice. It starts with believing in something bigger than ourselves.

Together, we will change the culture. Together, we will earn respect. Together, we will build something this community can be proud of for years to

Let’s get to work.

Go Cardinals!

07/02/2026

Store closes at midnight grab your gear while you can!

Hurry, shop closes 07/02/2026!