Newfane reloads around Spencer, Morello and defense for 2026 Class D push

Overview

• Chuck Nagel is entering his 15th varsity season as Newfane's head coach and his 21st season with the program.
• Newfane is aiming to fight for a Class D sectional championship and return to the state tournament after last year's first trip ended with a 20-16 loss to eventual state champion Tioga.
• Nasir Spencer is one of the central returning pieces after catching 31 passes for 417 yards and three touchdowns and adding 73 tackles with nine sacks in 2025.
• Jake Morello, Camryn Stover and Mikey Henning give the Panthers more proven two-way skill talent, while Jesse Hughey steps in at quarterback.
• The schedule opens Sept. 4 at Barker/Roy-Hart and includes home dates with Randolph, Silver Creek/Forestville, Franklinville/Ellicottville and Wilson.

Newfane Panthers 2026 Football Preview

Chuck Nagel has been part of Newfane football for more than two decades, and the Panthers enter 2026 with the standard raised again.

Nagel is entering his 21st season with the program and his 15th varsity season as head coach after six seasons as Newfane's head JV coach. His staff has continuity, too: defensive coordinator John Vosburgh has been with him for the past 14 seasons, Ryan Keys is entering his 10th season, Connor Hill is beginning his fourth, and Mike Capen is volunteering for a fourth season.

Nagel said the staff has found success in Class B, C and D, with league championships in each class Newfane has played in. Last season brought another step, as the Panthers made their first trip to the state tournament and lost 20-16 to eventual state champion Tioga.

This fall, the target is direct.

"We will be competitive within Class D and our non league games," Nagel said. "Our expectation is to fight for a sectional Championship and get back to the state championships."

Nagel also said a successful season would mean getting "back to 2025" with league, sectional and regional championships.

Skill Group Gives Newfane Options

Newfane brings back several two-way skill players who shaped last year's run.

Nasir Spencer is the breakout player Nagel pointed to, and he is also one of the team's primary leaders. Spencer is listed as a senior SB/LB, and his 2025 production shows why he will draw attention. As a junior, he caught 31 passes for 417 yards and three touchdowns while adding 73 tackles, four tackles for loss, nine sacks and two passes defended.

Jake Morello is another returning two-way piece and a special-teams player Nagel believes can make a difference. Morello, a senior SB/LB, caught 31 passes for 320 yards and three touchdowns in 2025, made 92 tackles with three tackles for loss, intercepted one pass and recovered three fumbles.

Camryn Stover gives Newfane proven work in the backfield and at linebacker. The senior RB/LB rushed for 464 yards and 10 touchdowns last season while recording 76 tackles, two tackles for loss, two sacks, two fumble recoveries and two passes defended.

Mikey Henning is also back in that skill group. The senior WR/DB caught 15 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns in 2025.

Hughey Steps Into Quarterback Role

Jesse Hughey is the quarterback Nagel expects to lead the offense.

"Jesse Hughey will be the QB, we expect him to manage the game and not put everything on his shoulders," Nagel said. "He's had a great off-season and is a natural born leader."

Hughey is listed as a junior QB/WR/DB. He saw passing work as a sophomore, completing 17 passes for 188 yards and two touchdowns in 2025.

Nagel said the Panthers will use a multi-formation offense that game-plans around each opponent, with enough flexibility in the skill group to fit that approach. He also noted that Newfane graduated only one player from last year's young offensive line.

The line group Nagel named on offense includes Josh McCabe, Levi Henning, Myles Lingle, Tommy Capen and Jayden Rivera.

"Everything starts with the line, this is the most important position group," Nagel said.

Defense Sets The Tone

Nagel expects defense to be Newfane's strength.

"Our defense will be our strength this season, but don't sleep on the offense," Nagel said.

The Panthers want to be fast, physical and communicative on defense while working from a base 4-3. Up front, Nagel pointed to Spencer, Weston Henning, Jarbarri Bartlett and Jayson Cole as a talented group that should be tough to block.

Spencer gives that unit a headliner after his nine-sack junior season. Josh McCabe is another senior leader with defensive production after making 20 tackles, one tackle for loss, one sack and forcing a fumble in 2025. Weston Henning, a junior lineman, added 21 tackles and one sack last season.

Nagel listed Spencer, Morello, Stover and McCabe as primary leaders and said they have had an outstanding offseason.

"A real fun group to be around!" Nagel said.

Schedule Landmarks

Newfane opens Sept. 4 at Barker/Roy-Hart at Barker Central High School, then plays its home opener Sept. 11 against Randolph at Newfane High School.

The Panthers stay home Sept. 18 against Silver Creek/Forestville and Sept. 25 against Franklinville/Ellicottville. October starts with a road trip to Southwestern/Frewsburg on Oct. 9, followed by an Oct. 16 game at Catt Little Valley.

Newfane closes the listed regular-season schedule Oct. 23 at home against Wilson.

For the Panthers, the season comes back to the pieces Nagel trusts: a defense he expects to lead the way, skill players who can fit multiple offensive looks, Hughey's growth at quarterback and a line group that will shape how far Newfane can push in Class D.