the main attraction that was mustsee football even though they looked like an opening act, Reed joked.

In 2025, with a senior-filled roster, the Longhorns remained as the main event by producing a blockbuster-movie-like season while recovering from a tornado earlier in the year.

Yes, the Reeds and Walters received much of the attention, but what keeps Gordon at the top of many rankings is the kids who practiced against the star players every day, who are now the leading roles.

“ We’ ve been repping the same stuff that they’ ve been doing all three years, we were just behind them,” said Campbell.

As the scout team that emulated opponents for the past three years, Campbell and the rest of the Longhorns pushed the upperclassmen to dynasty status and now have their shot to do what only one other 6-man team has done in the state of Texas— win four in a row.

Since Fort Hancock’ s run in the late 80s to early 90s, no team has dominated the way Gordon has.

Although not part of the first three, one transfer already gets goosebumps from the idea of a 4-peat.

Keegan Hayes, formerly of Benjamin, knows the feeling of lifting a trophy inside AT & T Stadium and being a key player on a championship team. During his freshman year, Hayes was named UIL’ s Defensive MVP in Benjamin’ s rout of Oglesby in 2023, where he recorded 14 tackles and a blocked kick.

As one of the best players in 6-man over the past three years, Hayes’ timing in joining the Longhorns couldn’ t be better. His father, Nathan, was hired in July as the head basketball coach and assistant football coach.

Combining two of the best minds 6-man football has to offer has been seamless for Reed, as a friendship with Nathan goes back 25 years. Despite coaching in six state championship games and winning four, Nathan told Reed he simply wanted to blend in and observe.

For Keegan, it’ s hard to imagine he won’ t fill in the role left by Stryker. He possesses great athleticism and running ability to open the passing game, but it’ s his selflessness for the betterment of the team that embodies what Gordon is all about.

Keegan was confident in saying Gordon was a top-3 team in the state regardless of his arrival.

“ A lot of people aren’ t giving these guys the credit they deserve,” Keegan said.“ They’ ve been playing against one of the best teams ever to play 6-man.”

Campbell bounced off Keegan’ s praise by saying Gordon’ s newest addition is the missing piece.

Moreover, on Keegan’ s belief that many of his new teammates aren’ t getting enough recognition, he and Campbell said players like Jaiden Dixon and Tristan Ross are on their way to being the head-turners of 2026, as long as the confidence in themselves is there.“ To be honest, I think that’ s what I’ m most excited to sit back and watch because it can be so many of them,” said Reed on who he believes will be the surprise players of the season.

2026 will be the first full season for the Longhorns in their new stadium after spending much of last year playing on the road.

Believing that away games benefited the team last year, Reed said this year’ s group needs the comfort of playing at home.

Gordon fans should prepare to stay past halftime, Mike noted. But Campbell made sure to emphasize that the 2026 Longhorns are trying to win it their way.

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