The team’ s biggest takeaways covered the entire spectrum of good and bad. For defensive tackle / guard Caleb Chabvuta, the nerves of playing his first year of football in general were suppressed by the similar learning process of his teammates.

“ I wasn’ t the only one that had to catch up. Everybody was learning a new game,” said Chabvuta.

Safety / running back Dalton Benkim expected more confusion as the season went along after Keene’ s initial transition into 11-man, but it never came.

Wide receiver / defensive back Glant Phillip did realize that individualism could carry a 6-man team to victory; however, in 11-man, trust needed to be instilled on others doing their job.

As for the games themselves, the Chargers scored 40 or more points in five of their games and gained plenty of knowledge from their first loss to McKinney Christian, where they felt unprepared.

Entering year two, things look a lot different for the program in many ways.

First, the loss of eight starters and a lack of depth leads to the bodies on the field changing around in 2026, including Gabriel Contreras. Expected to play running back last year before breaking his collarbone in week one versus Cross Roads, Contreras is back and transitions to quarterback to replace Daiden Duncan.

“ Knowing his game is a great baseline for me,” he said.

Although Contreras admits Duncan was more athletically gifted than he is and can’ t replicate that in the offense, the time rehabbing his injury allowed the new quarterback to see the plays through the coaches’ eyes and improve his football IQ. The biggest difference for Keene this season is the opponents.

Stepp confirmed that the move to a UIL district was his decision and the plan was to join a district either after year one or three of the switch to 11-man to match with realignment.

The reason behind no longer being outlaws

was simple— playing for a purpose.

After the regular season finale against Hampton Prep, it didn’ t matter how many games Keene won. Its season was over.

That didn’ t sit well with Stepp, and neither did it for the players as the initial excitement of 11-man vanished