KQ2 Pigskin Preview: Nodaway Valley ready to bring the Thunder to the 2026 season

SKIDMORE, Mo. (KQTV) -- After a 9-2 season that saw a playoff exit to runner-up Rock Port in 2025, Nodaway Valley Thunder Head Coach Alan Calfee is confident for the upcoming 2026 season.

Coach Calfee is excited to welcome back the returners in 2026 and believes practices so far are showing promise.

"Earlier, we did a couple of team camps this summer and stuff, so we kind of got to look at what people looked like, and then (upper-level students) have had good summers," Coach Calfee mentioned. "Some of our first-year students are starting to get up to speed, doing less thinking and flying around and playing football. So overall, I've been very pleased with how it's going."

Putting trust into those upperclassmen like Junior Jax Cowden, who serves as a running back and linebacker for the upcoming season. The junior is also confident in the players returning to wear black and green in 2026.

"(I like) just the amount of guys we have, and really there's no downfall," Cowden shared. "We can put anybody in any position and know that will be all right. "

For Senior Tye Hoyt, getting new teammates for the Thunder in Freshmen joining the squad is more fun for that reason.

"We have lost several guys, that's for sure. But we've got to step it up, and some more freshmen that come into play," said Hoyt. "So my brother's one of the freshmen, so I mean, that's always fun when you play with your blood."

Nodaway Valley will begin its regular season on Friday, August 28, at 7:00 pm against St. Joseph Christian at home.