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Eden/North Collins brings proven playmaking back from eight-win season

The Raiders return Silas Nellis after a 1,138-yard receiving season, with Peyton Taylor, Trent Blasz and several young players among the names back on the roster.

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Pre-season Football

WNY Athletics Staff ·

Overview

  • Eden/North Collins enters 2026 after an 8-2 season.
  • Senior Silas Nellis returns after a 2025 season with 76 catches, 1,138 receiving yards, 21 receiving touchdowns, 81 tackles and four interceptions.
  • Trent Blasz made 40 tackles in 2025, while Peyton Taylor had 38 and Troy Flynn-Fletcher recovered two fumbles.
  • Eden/North Collins is scheduled for home games against Alden, Barker/Roy-Hart, Springville and Akron.

Eden/North Collins Raiders 2026 Football Preview

Eden/North Collins enters the 2026 football season with a clear piece to build around: Silas Nellis is back after a highly productive receiving season.

The senior wide receiver and defensive back caught 76 passes for 1,138 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2025. He also gave the Raiders major two-way value with 81 tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack, four interceptions, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and two passes defended.

That production was part of an 8-2 season for Eden/North Collins. The Raiders beat Lake Shore, Maritime - Tapestry, JFK, Medina, Cardinal O'Hara, Tonawanda, Alden and Portville before closing the year at Southwestern/Frewsburg.

Nellis Leads The Skill Group

Nellis is listed as a Class of 2027 WR/DB, and his 2025 season gives Eden/North Collins a proven player in the passing game and secondary.

Peyton Taylor, a junior listed at QB/DB, also returns after contributing on both sides of the ball in 2025. Taylor caught nine passes for 73 yards and a touchdown, and defensively he finished with 38 tackles and three tackles for loss.

The roster also includes several younger skill players. Owen Waters, Brodey Krempa, Gavin Hallick, Josh Jamison, Trenton Kane, Greysen Taylor, Lukas Soule and Jamie Green are all listed as underclassmen on the 2026 roster.

Returning Defensive Production

Trent Blasz gives the Raiders another returning player with prior varsity production. The junior RB/LB had 40 tackles, two tackles for loss and one sack in 2025, while adding 42 rushing yards.

Troy Flynn-Fletcher, a sophomore OT/DT, recorded 14 tackles and two fumble recoveries as a freshman in 2025.

The senior group also includes Mike Keen at RB/LB, Josh Warrior on the offensive and defensive lines, Blake Gernatt at center and defensive tackle, and Colin Soda on the offensive and defensive lines. Nellis is part of that Class of 2027 group as well.

Schedule Landmarks

Eden/North Collins is scheduled to open Sept. 3 at Tonawanda at Clint Small Stadium. The Raiders' home opener is Sept. 11 against Alden at Eden Senior High School's MS/HS Turf Field.

The Raiders stay home Sept. 18 against Barker/Roy-Hart, then visit Cleveland Hill on Sept. 26. October starts with a home game against Springville on Oct. 2, followed by an Oct. 8 trip to JFK.

The regular-season schedule closes with a home game against Akron on Oct. 16 and a road game at Lake Shore on Oct. 23.

For Eden/North Collins, the season starts with a roster that has one established headliner in Nellis, several returning players with 2025 production and a younger group with room to shape the next step after an eight-win year.

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