CYRIL PIRATES
Coach: BRUCE HARRELL
10-2
Cyril heads into 2026 after a 10-2 season under head coach Bruce Harrell, who is entering his second year leading the program. Harrell notes that the Pirates “graduated 11 seniors from the 2025 squad” and will be a young squad in 2026, but he also points out that last year’s junior high team went undefeated, giving the staff confidence in the next wave of talent. That combination of winning tradition and new faces shapes a transitional but promising year.
Offensively, Cyril returns just one starter but will stick with its Air Raid identity. Junior receiver and VYPE Top 100 nominee Bravyn Thompson (6-1, 181) is the focal point after catching 14 touchdown passes last season, giving Cyril a true home-run threat in the passing game. Senior receiver Ryan Long (6-0, 172) adds another outside weapon with four receiving touchdowns, while junior quarterback Kutter Alcorn (6-3, 175), a transfer from Alex, steps in to run the Air Raid. Sophomore running back River Thompson (5-11, 188) and junior guard Amrek Wilson (6-2, 229) round out a young but intriguing offensive core that will grow as the season progresses.
Defensively, the Pirates bring back three starters and will base out of a 3-2 look while working to replace the production of last year’s seniors. Harrell is candid that “with numerous starters graduating we have lots of holes to fill,” but there are proven playmakers ready to step forward. Senior linebacker Malachi Dahmer (5-11, 207) returns after recording 66 tackles, junior defensive end Jeremih Alberty (5-11, 202) posted nine sacks, and River Thompson added 38 tackles from his defensive end spot as a freshman. That trio gives Cyril a solid nucleus in the front seven to build around as younger players step into expanded roles.
Bravyn Thompson is the program’s VYPE Top 100 nominee, and Harrell calls him a two-year starter in three sports and a big-time threat after his 14 receiving touchdowns. He also notes that Thompson is a two-year starter on State Tourney basketball teams and a two-time gold medalist at the state track meet, describing him as an all-around great athlete. River Thompson adds to Cyril’s explosive potential after helping lead the junior high team to an 8-0 record, becoming a varsity defensive starter late in the year and winning two golds at the state track meet as a freshman. Harrell believes the Thompson brothers give Cyril a homerun threat on the ground to go with Bravyn’s homerun ability in the passing game. With that brother combo and an incoming wave of undefeated junior high talent, Cyril’s youth comes with serious upside.
9/4 – at Ryan
9/11 – vs. Fox
9/18 – at Velma-Alma
9/25 – vs. Elmore City-Pernell
10/9 – at Hollis
10/15 – vs. Alex
10/23 – vs. Rush Springs
10/30 – at Waurika
11/6 – vs. Central High
