07/20/2026
Daniel Sanders & Skylar Furr
St. Joe Bucks Co-Defensive Coordinators
2026 Gateway Assistant Coaches of the Year
Written by Coach C | SemiPro GameDay
Before championships are won, before trophies are lifted, and before the highlights make their way across social media, there is usually a defense that sets the standard.
For the St. Joe Bucks, that standard has long been built on toughness, discipline, and an attitude that dares offenses to survive four quarters.
In 2026, that identity came roaring back.
As long as I have followed the St. Joe Bucks, one thing has always remained true....they play defense at an elite level.
Gap sound.
Physical at the point of attack.
Disciplined.
Selfless.
Team-first football.
It became the foundation of what many throughout the Central Section came to know as the Program Killa Defense.
But when the Bucks entered the CMFL in 2025, something just didn't feel right.
The effort was there, but the results weren't always matching the standard. Close losses and near misses against the Oklahoma Bears, Joplin Crusaders, Tulsa Gators, and Kansas City Panthers left many wondering if the Program Killa Defense had lost its edge.
Daniel Sanders and Skylar Furr never believed that.
They weren't interested in excuses.
They weren't about to lower the standard.
They were going to fight for it.
That mindset became contagious.
When the 2026 season opened against the defending champion Oklahoma Bears, the football world got its answer. The Bucks completely shut down what was considered the CMFL's most explosive offense for three quarters on their way to a statement 20-14 victory.
The message was unmistakable.
The Bucks were back.
Bigger.
Faster.
More physical.
More relentless.
Every snap carried an edge.
Every pursuit looked violent.
Eleven defenders attacked the football as one.
That transformation doesn't happen by accident.
It happens because of leadership.
Under the direction of Coaches Daniel Sanders and Skylar Furr, the Bucks defense rediscovered its identity and once again became one of the most feared units in the league.
And the numbers leave very little room for debate.
2026 Regular Season
Defensive Numbers
Record: 7-1
Points Allowed: 99
Points Allowed Per Game: 12.4
Scoring Differential: +157
Holding opponents to barely twelve points per game in today's offensive-minded game is nothing short of remarkable.
Then came the postseason.
The Bucks limited the Missouri Cyclones to just 16 points in a 30-16 Gateway Divisional victory before surviving one of the league's toughest offenses by defeating the Kansas City Panthers 34-29 to capture the Gateway Conference Championship.
Over ten games entering the CMFL Championship, the Bucks finished with:
9-1 Overall Record
144 Total Points Allowed
14.4 Points Allowed Per Game
Those aren't just championship numbers.
Those are culture numbers.
Because what impresses me most about Coach Daniel Sanders and Coach Skylar Furr isn't just what happens between the white lines.
It's what happens away from them.
These two men pour themselves into their players every single day. They teach accountability. They teach family. They teach respect. They teach these young men how to become leaders in their homes, their locker room, and their communities.
That investment is written all across the St. Joe Bucks program.
Winning games is important.
Building men is even greater.
And these coaches have mastered both.
I want to personally give a huge shoutout to Coach Daniel Sanders and Coach Skylar Furr. I know firsthand how much they sacrifice and how many mountains they move for their players. Their commitment extends far beyond football, and the culture they have helped build is proof of that dedication.
Congratulations once again to Coach Daniel Sanders and Coach Skylar Furr, the 2026 Gateway Conference Assistant Coaches of the Year.
Together, they restored one of the CMFL's proudest defenses, elevated an entire football program, and reminded everyone exactly what the Program Killas are all about.
The standard has returned.
And the rest of the CMFL has been put on notice.
