CARLISLE — Last season changed the expectations around Carlisle High School football.
The Indians didn’t simply put together one of the best seasons in program history. They established a standard.
A 10-win campaign, a trip to the Division V regional semifinals and a third-place finish in the Southwestern Buckeye League Buckeye Division proved Carlisle could compete with some of southwest Ohio’s top programs.
Now, Indians third-year coach Josh Koogle wants his team to take another step forward rather than spend the fall trying to recreate what happened a year ago.
“We’re kind of in where it’s getting serious,” Koogle said. “Practice today is a little more intense than it’s been, and that’s going to keep cranking up. We’re getting through installing the offense and the defense, figuring out how we’re going to practice and maximizing our time together. There’s a good feeling around Carlisle right now. We definitely have high hopes this season.”
Carlisle finished 10-3 overall and 4-2 in the SWBL Buckeye Division in 2025 before dropping a 40-36 heartbreaker to North Union in the Division V, Region 20 regional semifinals. The season marked the program’s deepest playoff run 10 years and continued the steady climb under Koogle’s leadership.
The Indians, however, enter 2026 with several key holes to fill.
Most notably, quarterback Kolby Morgerson transferred during the offseason after directing one of the SWBL’s most explosive offenses. His departure leaves Carlisle breaking in a new starter behind center, but the offense still features one of the conference’s premier playmakers.
Junior Alex Collins returns after leading the SWBL with 1,566 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns last season. Collins, along with returning back Trent Snodgrass, gives Carlisle a proven foundation as the offense transitions to a new quarterback.
“We’re going to be similar as far as scheme,” Koogle said. “We’re going to have a new face at quarterback, but two very familiar faces in the backfield. I’d put our two running backs up against just about anybody in the area in Alex Collins and Trent Snodgrass. A big portion of what we do offensively will be geared around those guys.”
Carlisle threw the ball frequently behind Morgerson last season, but Koogle expects a more balanced approach while a new quarterback settles into the role.
At the same time, the Indians expect several familiar defensive standouts to become contributors on offense.
Jake Fox and Luke Langdon have spent much of their varsity careers on defense, but both earned expanded offensive responsibilities after productive offseasons.
“They’ve really worked hard in the offseason,” Koogle said. “They look different. They’re thicker. They move better. Those guys will contribute offensively as well.”
Fox understands replacing last year’s senior class won’t happen overnight.
“We lost a lot,” the senior said. “We’re replacing a lot. I feel like we’re doing a pretty good job at it. Just keep building, being a family and sticking together, trusting the process.”
The biggest visual difference may come along the offensive and defensive lines.
Carlisle’s front featured several linemen weighing well over 275 pounds last season. This year’s group is leaner, but Koogle sees improved conditioning allowing players to handle larger workloads while contributing on both sides of the football.
“We’re much thinner,” Koogle said. “I also think we’re in better shape up front than we were last year as far as physical endurance and how we can handle 70 or 80 plays playing both ways. We’ll look a little bit different, but it’s the same idea. We want to run the ball, spread the ball around, make people defend the entire field and confuse them every once in a while with formations and things like that.”
Koogle also expects improvement on defense after spending more time working with that unit throughout the offseason. Simplifying the scheme has become a priority in hopes of allowing the Indians to play faster and eliminate costly mistakes.
“Our defense is going to be better this year,” Koogle said. “There’s a lot of returning faces over there, a lot of tackles and a lot of playmakers. We’re excited about our defense.”
Special teams remain another strength after Carlisle consistently won the hidden-yardage battle in 2025 — recovering 10-plus onside kicks while limiting opponents’ return opportunities.
The Indians won’t have much time to ease into the season.
Carlisle opens with Milton-Union before facing Miami East and Bethel in nonconference play. The SWBL Buckeye Division schedule again features perennial contenders Valley View, Brookville and Waynesville, along with Oakwood, Madison and Eaton.
Rather than shy away from that challenge, Koogle embraces it.
“In the past maybe the kids had heard a few times that we’re one of the smaller schools in the league or the schedule’s tough,” Koogle said. “This is who we want to be playing. These are the quality of opponents we want to be playing. We don’t want our kids looking for the easy route or the easy out. We want them to see a challenge in front of them and say, ‘Let’s put our head down, go to work and see what happens.’”
“It’s got some good teams,” Fox added. “Valley View is a powerhouse. Brookville, they’re up there. But I feel like we’re going to be up there this year. We can compete. I plan on being at the top this year.”
Carlisle’s path back into the regional race will look different without Morgerson directing the offense, but Collins’ return gives the Indians one of the league’s most dynamic offensive weapons and a foundation to build around.
“We didn’t get to a successful season like we had last year by one or two kids doing a certain thing,” Koogle said. “We got there because of the brand of football we played and the identity we developed. We’re not trying to replicate what we did last year. We’re trying to be the best version of ourselves every day. Where that takes us, I don’t know. That’s the beauty of high school football. We get to figure that out as we go.”
