sailor. mnsun. com Fall Football Preview • Thursday, August 27, 2026 Page 17
ARMSTRONG FALCONS
Youthful year provides new path for high achievement
DOMINIC BISOGNO dominic. bisogno @ apgecm. com
The winds of change are very much caught under the wings of the Falcons as Armstrong looks to build a fresh and strong season from a crew that said goodbye to 27 seniors last spring. It is a mission that will ask a lot of key leaders on the field, many of whom are excited to give their answer.
Veteran head coach Jackson Negen knows there will be hills to climb this fall, but finds genuine promise in a young roster outfitted with a few big performers from the class of 2027.“ We’ re going to be young this year. We don’ t have a ton of returners, but we do have some experience coming back in key spots,” Negen explained.“ We’ re pretty deep at running back and we feel good about that group. I don’ t want any of those guys standing next to me when we’ re playing, so we have to figure out some things. I think there’ s going to be more twoway stuff this season than we’ ve had in the past. Us coaches were doing a lot of tinkering around over the summer, so it’ s going to be a learning experience for us too.”
A stark increase in the competitiveness of Armstrong’ s regular-season schedule in 2025 saw the team’ s streak of section championships cut short, instead seeing that honor go to eventual state champions Spring Lake Park. The Falcons were far from out of the mix, though, going 5-5 in 2025 and 1-1 in section play.
One of the year’ s biggest returners is Ben Francis, the running back who managed to
( SUN PHOTO BY DOMINIC BISOGNO)
Senior Ben Francis( middle), a key returner at running back, takes part in a drill at a recent Armstrong football practice.
put a sizable dent in the numbers lost when record-breaker Kevon Johnson graduated in 2025. Francis is excited to take the lead with a young group that he feels just needs a bit of motivation.
“ It’ s a younger group, but it’ s a high-energy group too. There’ s high hopes here,” Francis said.“ We never want to end the season on a loss, especially a repeat loss, so getting back to games like Buffalo and Spring Lake Park is going to be a big deal. … Leadership is a big goal for me this year. I want to improve, but I want to make everyone around me better if I can. We have a lot of younger guys, so I just want them to be able to feel confident.”
Fellow running back Zahki Nix will also provide some offensive experience and noted that the Falcons feel the need to prove themselves this fall.
“ We’ ve got a lot to prove this season. I know there’ s some people doubting us because of the seniors we lost, but I feel like we can overcome that,” Nix continued.“ Things are looking good out here. … The expectation is to game-plan for every opponent. We shouldn’ t take anyone lightly and we know they won’ t take us lightly either. I think the main thing for us is to just stay working hard. I’ ve got to be there for my teammates and stay coachable.”
A major question mark does float over the quarterback position, which has a few contenders this year. It is not a situation the Falcons have had to deal with much, with last year’ s one-season tenure by Gabe Hall marking the conclusion of a streak of three three-year quarterbacks, the last being Dawson Franke, over nine years.
Negen, however, is not overly worried by the need for answers and finds confidence in the energy around the program and the immense experience and know-how shared across his coaching staff.
“ The expectations will always be that we’ re trying to win,” Negen said.“ We’ re going to do things right and I think our program is at a place now where kids feel they can win, even when we’ re young. They’ re used to it. … I like our young guys. Our freshman team last year was one of the best we’ ve ever had, so we have a pool to work with. They might get thrown in a little earlier than I wanted, but they can do a job. … This staff has been around and most of them have been with me since I started here, so we’ ve seen it before and the kids know what to expect from us.”
QUICK HITS
Head Coach Jack Negen 12th Season
Last Year’ s Record: 5-5
Key Returning Players
Armstrong returns some offensive stars with two-way potential, including Ben Francis, who added 800 rushing yards and seven touchdowns as a junior. Lineman Max Peters-Hebert and linebacker Henry Cronin will provide some familiar faces, while Jordan Wordlaw could bring some continuity at quarterback after two starts in 2025.
Schedule
Sept. 3 Burnsville Sept. 10: At Park Center at 6 p. m. Sept. 18 Irondale Sept. 25: At Buffalo Oct. 2: Spring Lake Park Oct. 8: At Elk River at 6 p. m. Oct. 14: Cooper at 6 p. m. Oct. 21: At Alexandria
Game times 7 p. m. unless otherwise noted