2026 Friday Night Football season preview: Henrietta Bearcats

The Henrietta Bearcats are coming off a season worth remembering. Henrietta finished 8-5 in 2025 and made a run to the regional semifinals, turning heads across Texoma both on and off the field. The Bearcats also became a viral sensation thanks to their memorable playoff sendoff videos, moments as quintessentially Texas as Friday night football itself. Now, Henrietta enters 2026 looking to keep the momentum rolling. Leading the way is junior running back Cruse Coleman, who will be one of the focal points of the Bearcats' offense. Coleman has plenty of help up front, with four returning offensive linemen expected to pave the way. Those lineman will also be paving the way for new quarterback, sophomore Tucker Teague. Head coach Jay Jones says the goal is to challenge Teague every day in practice so the game feels easier on Friday nights. "It's going to be a thing where I'm going to try to put pressure on him in practice, so games feel slow," Jones said. "Just by the way I coach, the tempo, the way we do those things, I try to create that tempo and that pressure in practice so he feels it now. So when games happen, it's a little bit slower." Henrietta will need to find new playmakers in the passing game following the departure of Cooper Coleman, who led Texoma with 75 receptions for more than 1,000 yards last season. He is now continuing his football career at the college level. Pate Cody is expected to take on a larger role at receiver as the Bearcats look to replace a significant piece of their passing attack. Defensively, Henrietta brings back its entire defensive line, giving the Bearcats plenty of experience up front. Defensive end Reece Byerly headlines the group after recording six sacks last season. His ability to pressure opposing quarterbacks could be a major asset for Henrietta. The biggest question defensively comes at linebacker, where the Bearcats must replace two seniors from a year ago. Still, the pieces are in place for another promising season in Henrietta. And if you haven't seen the brand-new high school yet, it's hard to miss. The school sits directly behind the football field, creating a picturesque backdrop along the sideline and adding to the atmosphere surrounding Bearcats football. After a breakthrough 2025 campaign, expectations are higher in Henrietta. But with experience returning in the trenches, playmakers ready to step into bigger roles and plenty of momentum surrounding the program, the Bearcats appear ready to embrace it. The vibes are good in Clay County and Henrietta is ready for another run. Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Texomashomepage.com.