The St. Joseph Goats reflect on 2026 season ahead of AL Championship game Saturday
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- The St. Joseph Goats are back in the Arena League Championship game for the first time since the team's inaugural season in 2024 in Kansas City.
Known as Arena Mania III, the Goats will look to win their first title as they take on the Arkansas Diamonds. In week one, St. Joseph blew out the Diamonds on the road by a score of 40-14.
When the team moved to St. Joseph last season, the 2025 campaign didn't quite go as planned as they didn't make the playoffs. However, Goats Head Coach Dorsey Golston III had big plans for 2026.
"Coming into the season, our mindset was getting to exactly where we're sitting at right now. We knew it was gonna come with some ups and downs. I started the season recruiting as soon as the season ended last year," Golston III said. "I definitely wanted to take the next step and give everything I could to become better."
The path to a championship game is never easy. However, for team veteran and former Mizzou Tiger, Boo Smith, trust in his team's abilities is what helped.
Smith said winning, what turned into a 57-55 shootout win, against the Nebraska Siege last weekend was big for the team.
"That's just trusting one another. (The defense) trusts us to go score. We trust them to get the stops, and on our sideline we were actually like, hey, we know what we gotta do," Smith said about the win in Nebraska in the playoffs.
Team quarterback Angelo Trujillo took experiences from other games throughout the Arena League season as motivation during the battle against the Siege.
"There's been multiple games this season where our backs are against the wall, and we have overcome them. We responded how we knew we could respond. And I think those moments that would make championship-caliber teams. "
With veteran leadership and a strong core, the team allows rookie talent like team wide receiver Adarius Ealy to make the most of the game.
"We started (the season) off great, as we rode high, we got smacked in the face," Ealy said about the Week 4 loss to Nebraska in St. Joseph. "But the vets- one thing the vets never did: they never let me hang my head low, take my head up, get back to grinding details."
Another important aspect that players said fueled them to return to town for the second year is the fans.
"Saint Joe's has been amazing. They've pretty much welcomed us with open arms as possible," Goats General Manager Aden Monzon said. "Anywhere you walk in St. Joseph with Goats stuff on, people talk to you and ask you questions about what you do with them."
The St. Joseph Goats' biggest game starts at 7:00 pm at the Civic Arena in Downtown St. Joseph on August 8. For tickets, visit stjgoatsfootball.com.
