Osage City football enters the 2026 season with high expectations once again after another deep postseason run a year ago.
The Indians reached the Class 2A state semifinals in 2025, finishing with a 10-2 record before their season came to an end against Nemaha Central for the third straight year. The Thunder, led by Kansas’ all-time touchdown leader Carter Hajek, proved to be the final hurdle once again. With Hajek now at Emporia State, head coach Andrew Gantenbein looks back on last season with plenty of pride.
Graduation claimed one of the most successful senior classes in program history, as the 2025 class finished as the winningest group to ever wear an Osage City uniform. Even with those departures, the Indians have plenty of talent returning. Injuries thrust Reed Silver into the starting quarterback role midway through last season, and Gantenbein is eager to see what the now-senior signal caller can accomplish with a full offseason as the starter.
Osage City returns five starters on offense and three on defense, including one of the state’s premier linemen in Camo Jackson. The 6-foot-4, 285-pound senior earned All-State honors on both the offensive and defensive lines, giving the Indians a dominant presence in the trenches. Gantenbein is excited about the experience and talent returning up front.
The Indians have owned the Flint Hills League in recent years, not losing a league game since Week 1 of the 2020 season. They’ll look to extend that streak while making another run toward a state championship this fall.
Osage City opens the season on September 4 with a road matchup at Olpe. The game will be featured as Country 101.7 FM’s Area Game of the Week.
