Pigskin Preview: Central football begins new era

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- The name on the jersey will read "Central" and the colors will be blue and white, but this season combines two proud traditions into one high school football program.

2026 marks the start of a new era of high school football in St. Joseph as the St. Joseph School District has moved to two high schools — Benton and Central.

With the move to two high schools, Lafayette's football program combined with Central, and these players are excited for the new opportunities.

"I'm super excited about Lafayette and Central coming together, you know, they're going to make us better," Central senior LaDanian Morris said. "We're going to make them better overall. We're just going to be a better program."

Another senior — Nathan Fleischman — said he's excited for the new season as he's one of the former Lafayette students coming over to Central.

"I grew up walking around with fellow Lafayette people, and I know Central people from sports and everywhere...it's fun here," Fleischman said. "We put in work, man. We get excited. We're ready to work."

The players are ready for the new opportunities and their head coach echoed those sentiments because this team is taking the best traditions from the two programs.

"You get to see some traditions in both that we're trying to combine," Central head coach Sheldon Farrell said. "Just getting those guys on the same page has been challenging at times because some guys are learning a whole new scheme and plays but you know, I think that's the exciting part about coaching."

Central will start the year against Staley at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28, at Noyes Field.