Lockport leans on Stowe, athletic skill group for 2026 AA push

Overview

• Marcus Wyche is leading Lockport as interim head coach after multiple years as an assistant in the program.
• Scott Stowe returns at quarterback after throwing for 979 yards and nine touchdowns and rushing for 437 yards and seven scores in 2025.
• Gavin Fluellen is a breakout candidate after recording 45 tackles and four tackles for loss as a junior.
• Lockport expects to spread the field and share the ball, with Hudson Campbell, Trevon McCutcheon, Charles Johnson III and Dallas Kasperek among the skill names to watch.
• The Lions' schedule includes home games against South Park, Grand Island, Lancaster and Jamestown, plus road trips to Hutch-Tech, Health Sciences/BASC/Charter, Niagara Falls and Bennett.

Lockport Lions 2026 Football Preview

According to Joe Scapelliti, Lockport enters 2026 with Marcus Wyche leading the program as interim head coach, and the Lions' outlook starts with athleticism.

Wyche is in his first season filling the head-coaching role after serving for multiple years as an assistant in the program. The group he inherits has experience at quarterback, several returning two-way pieces and a clear picture of how it wants to play.

"The 2026 Lions are an athletic bunch led by Senior QB Scott Stowe," Joe Scapelliti said. "Expect the ball to be shared around on offense and an athletic swarming defense. This year's team will be an improved group after putting in a great offseason of work."

Lockport's larger target is to compete each week in AA. Scapelliti said the Lions are still looking for a signature AA win since returning in the 2024 season, and he pointed to the challenge of a division that includes Jamestown, Bennett, Lancaster and Health Sciences C.S.

Stowe Leads The Offense

Stowe is listed as a senior QB/DB, and Scapelliti called the returning quarterback the team's foundation.

"As Stowey goes, so do the Lions," Scapelliti said.

Stowe gives Lockport a proven dual-threat presence. In 2025, he completed 98 passes for 979 yards and nine touchdowns while also rushing for 437 yards and seven touchdowns.

The Lions plan to spread the field and create chances for their athletes in space. Scapelliti said the team wants to be known as "an unselfish bunch of blue collar kids who hustle on every play."

Hudson Campbell is one of the returning skill players in that mix. In 2025, the senior RB/LB rushed for 264 yards and a touchdown and caught 14 passes for 162 yards and another score.

Scapelliti also named Trevon McCutcheon, Charles Johnson III and Gavin Fluellen among the returning skill-position players, with Dallas Kasperek listed as a new contributor and one of the team's leaders. Kasperek is listed as a senior WR/DB.

Fluellen, Line Group Shape The Defense

Fluellen is the player Scapelliti identified as a potential breakout candidate. The senior WR/LB brings prior defensive production after finishing 2025 with 45 tackles and four tackles for loss.

Lockport's defensive identity will be built around speed and pursuit.

Scapelliti said the Lions want to be an athletic group that swarms to the ball and plays fast, physical defense.

Up front, Zackary Pagan, Alexander Garcia-Pagan and Angel Rivera are among the returning linemen Scapelliti mentioned. Pagan is listed as a senior OL/DL, Garcia-Pagan as a junior OL/DL and Rivera as a senior OL/DL.

Rivera had 25 tackles, three tackles for loss and two fumble recoveries in 2025. Pagan added 11 tackles and two tackles for loss as a junior.

Johnson is another senior leader Scapelliti named. He is listed as a WR/DB and recorded 42 tackles with one tackle for loss and one fumble recovery in 2025.

Schedule Landmarks

Lockport's schedule opens Sept. 5 against South Park at Emmet Belknap Middle School, then continues Sept. 11 at Hutch-Tech at All High Stadium.

The Lions return home Sept. 19 against Grand Island and Sept. 26 against Lancaster. October starts with an Oct. 2 trip to Health Sciences/BASC/Charter at Buffalo State University's Coyer Field.

Lockport hosts Jamestown on Oct. 10, visits Niagara Falls on Oct. 17 and closes the regular-season schedule Oct. 23 against Bennett at All High Stadium.

For the Lions, the season comes back to the same core ideas Scapelliti described: Stowe directing the offense, the ball moving to multiple athletes, and a defense trying to play fast enough to stand up in AA.