CORN BIBLE ACADEMY CRUSADERS
Coach: PEYTON McNUTT
5-7
Corn Bible Academy moves into 2026 on the heels of a 5-7 season and a shift into Class C, giving the Crusaders a fresh landscape to attack in year two under head coach Peyton McNutt. While he acknowledges the team is “graduating a lot of veteran players this season,” McNutt believes the future is bright, pointing to “some great younger players anxious to fill in,” the leadership of senior lineman Jaxon Slagell, and a move into a new district as reasons why “CBA looks forward to a bright future in Class C.” With four offensive and three defensive starters back and a strong core in the trenches, Corn Bible is positioned to remain competitive while its underclassmen grow up.
On offense, the Crusaders return four starters and want to spread the field to create running lanes for their younger skill players. McNutt says, “We want to spread the defense out and have some space for our speed to run the ball with our younger guys,” using formation width to open interior seams. The offensive line is the foundation, led by sophomore tight end Nathan Cooke (6-2, 225), sophomore guard Lawson Robertson (5-11, 240), senior guard Vince DuBois (5-10, 200), and senior center Slagell (5-10, 220), all of whom bring size and experience. McNutt notes that the line has “a lot of experience and leadership behind them that will keep our quarterback and running back being successful,” highlighting how critical that group will be as new skill players step into bigger roles. With a veteran interior and a philosophy built around space and speed, CBA’s offense is designed to make life easier on a young backfield.
Defensively, Corn Bible returns three starters and leans on that same core of two-way linemen. Cooke and Robertson both flip to defensive end, giving the Crusaders a pair of sturdy edge players in front of Slagell, who moves from center to defensive end as a senior leader on that side of the ball as well. Rather than living in one static front, the Crusaders emphasize disguise and pressure; McNutt says they use “different blitz coverages and disguises that look complicated to the offense but simple on defense,” simplifying reads for his players while forcing opposing quarterbacks to decipher movement. That approach should help a young back seven play fast as newcomers fill in behind the experienced front.
With Slagell’s senior leadership, a rugged offensive line, multiple two-way linemen returning, and a wave of eager underclassmen, Corn Bible Academy’s trajectory in its new district will largely depend on how quickly its young skill players adjust to Friday-night speed, but the long-term outlook under McNutt appears encouraging.
8-28 – at Canton
9-11 – vs. Balko-Forgan
9-17 – vs. Cordell
9-25 – at Timberlake
10-1 – vs. Sharon-Mutual
10-8 – at Geary
10-15 – vs. Beaver
10-22 – vs. Tyrone
10-29 – at Waynoka
11-5 – vs. Buffalo
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