Photo: Joplin football battles the heat over the summer during team drills. Credit to Reflections of Life Photography.

The Joplin Eagles enter the 2026 season under longtime head coach Curtis Jasper looking to build off of a 5-6 campaign that ended with a 2-3 mark and fourth-place finish in the COC West.
 Last year’s team averaged 29 points per game while allowing 25, but graduation claimed 18 starters and 30 lettermen. Jasper, in his 12th year at Joplin (85-38) and 27th overall (161-62), returns just four starters and 10 lettermen yet remains optimistic about a hungry group ready to step up.

“I think they’re really excited,” Jasper said. “We graduated 30 seniors and only have two returners coming back on each side of the ball. The guys that we have coming up—a lot of them are really excited to get their opportunity and prove what they can do. … I think we can be a very scrappy team … but we have a lot of things we have to go out and prove.”

On offense, Joplin will run a pro-style spread. Senior quarterback Trenton McCadney (6-2, 178), a first-team all-conference, first-team all-area and third-team all-state selection at wideout, was the Eagles’ most explosive playmaker and anchors the attack. Junior center Titus Cole (6-1, 270), an honorable-mention all-area pick, junior running back Elijah Hurrell (5-10, 205) and senior wide receiver/defensive back Jacob Porter (5-11, 150) all return with experience.

Defensively in the 3-4 base, the Eagles’ starters return primarily on the line. Senior defensive lineman Alexander Flinn (6-1, 250), a second-team all-area honoree, junior defensive end Judah Meredith (6-3, 215), senior linebacker Myles Castleberry (5-9, 172) are all back. In the secondary, seniors Jack Lewis (5-9, 165) and Traveon Simmons (6-4, 190) return with experience.

Several newcomers are expected to contribute, including the Ball twins—Noah and Adian (both junior offensive linemen around 6-1, 260)—plus Edwin Padilla, Skylar Smith, Malakai Peckham, Michael Rhone and others across the roster.

The schedule opens with a Week 1 matchup road matchup Kickapoo (Aug. 28) before the Eagles open up at home with Nixa (Sept. 4) in Week 2.

“I think your biggest leap each year comes from Game 1 to Game 2,” Jasper said. “As much as you try to prepare them for game-like situations—until they are in the fire like that and experience it as a team—you just can’t replicate it.”

Lebanon, Waynesville, Carthage, Republic, Neosho, Willard and a home finale against Webb City on Oct. 23.

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