Two-minute drill: What to know about Paxton-Buckley-Loda football in 2026

Aug. 13—Since Paxton-Buckley-Loda joined the Illini Prairie Conference ahead of the fall 2021 football season, four different teams — Bloomington Central Catholic in 2023 and 2025, Unity in 2021, Prairie Central in 2022 and St. Joseph-Ogden in 2024 — have won conference championships. But PBL has kept itself competitive in one of the most rugged small-school conferences in the state. The Panthers finished fourth in 2021, tied for fifth in 2022, tied for third in 2023, placed fourth in 2024 and ended up fifth in 2025. All but one of those years also resulted in at least five wins and a playoff berth, with PBL's run of 10 consecutive playoff appearances ending last season. A 4-5 record, like PBL produced last season, should get the Panthers in to the expanded playoff field for the 2026 season. But eighth-year coach Josh Pritchard and his players want more. "I feel like last season was one of missed opportunities," PBL senior tight end Mason Loschen said. "We put ourselves in that position. I'm just ready to come back and make a playoff run this year. That's our main goal this year." Before PBL plays at reigning league champion BCC on Aug. 21 in their season opener, here are three items of note about the Panthers: ➜ Their quarterback is ... a player wearing No. 3. Instead of No. 80, like when Sam Hall made his first appearance as a high school quarterback back in 2024. Hall, a former wide receiver, started three games toward the end of his sophomore season because of a bevy of injuries to the rest of the PBL quarterbacks. Even helped guide the Panthers to a surprise first-round Class 3A playoff win at Monmouth-Roseville before he became the Panthers' starting quarterback in 2025. "Last year, he was still learning our system and had some improvements he needed to make," Pritchard said. "We didn't run him as much, but he's put on about 15-20 pounds since the end of his junior year. It's made for an easier, smooth transition." The Panthers will need to lean on Hall since they are replacing most of their other offensive starters. Loschen is back at tight end, with junior left tackle Jackson Cahill and junior left guard Jaxyn Humes also returning. "Coming into high school, I didn't want to play quarterback, so that was a surprise for me," Hall said. "But I feel like it's been good. I've learned a lot and had a great time." ➜ Shedding some light ... on the Panthers' running back situation. Mason Vaughan was the Panthers' featured back last season, but he has graduated. Pritchard, however, has high hopes for sophomore Hunter Shedd. He sees some similarities between Shedd and Robert Boyd-Meents, a 2025 PBL graduate who started three years and left as the Panthers' all-time leading rusher. "We want to use the clock, and if you can stop our run game, you'll probably beat us," Pritchard said. "If you can't, you'll be in for a long game. The best thing about Hunter is he's very, very coachable. He isn't afraid of the limelight by any means. He wants to do everything well. We're really excited to have him." ➜ Bragging rights in Ford County will be settled ... on the field this season. PBL and Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley are renewing their rivalry, with the two Ford County schools located 16 miles apart set to meet Sept. 18 at Jerry Zimmerman Field in Paxton. The two teams will then meet again during the 2027 season in Gibson City. This year's game marks the first between the Panthers and the Falcons since 2019. "Our kids wish we could play them every year," Pritchard said. "It's great for both communities and exciting for both schools. You'll have a lot of people come out." Count Hall and Loschen among the Panthers amped up to take on the Falcons at the midway point of the season. "I've always wanted to play them in football," Hall said. "It's going to be a great time." "I'm really hyped," Loschen said. "It's a game I've had circled for a long time. I'm friends with a lot of those kids and know a lot of them. It's just going to be fun seeing them on the field and playing them while letting the pads do the talking."