South Park leans on experienced line, young core entering 2026 football season

Overview

• South Park opens the 2026 schedule at Lockport on Sept. 5 before another road game at Williamsville East on Sept. 10.
• Tim Delaney said the offensive line should be the team's strength, with Jacob Ferdinand, Maliek Felder and Jimbo Schuster among the returning pieces.
• AZ Spearson is set to start at quarterback, while Jaylen Brown moves to DE/TE and remains available at quarterback when needed.
• Rashawn Robinson is a breakout player to watch after rushing for 318 yards, throwing for 464 yards and making 39 total tackles as a freshman in 2025.
• South Park's home stretch includes Hamburg on Sept. 18, Maritime - Tapestry on Sept. 24 and Kenmore East on Oct. 2.

South Park Football Preview

South Park enters the 2026 football season with a young roster and a clear place to start: the line of scrimmage.

Coach Tim Delaney said South Park has only six seniors, and he expects a young group to mature as the season moves along. The foundation is up front, where Delaney said the program returns four starters on the offensive line.

"Our running game should be strong," Delaney said. "Our OL has experience together."

Jacob Ferdinand, Maliek Felder and Jimbo Schuster are among the returning offensive linemen Delaney expects to help lead that group. Felder also brings defensive production from 2025, when he made 49 total tackles, including three tackles for loss and one sack as a freshman.

South Park's quarterback plan starts with AZ Spearson, a Class of 2028 QB. Delaney said Spearson will start and look to get the ball to Tyree Johnson. Jaylen Brown, who threw for 502 yards and one touchdown in 2025, has moved to DE/TE but can still help at quarterback when needed.

Rashawn Robinson is another player to watch. Delaney named him as a potential breakout player, and Robinson already contributed in several roles as a freshman in 2025: 318 rushing yards and a touchdown, 464 passing yards and six touchdowns, 39 total tackles, a forced fumble and eight passes defended.

Delaney also pointed to Josh Lee as a new contributor and Cataka Fekaniwko as a special-teams player who can make a difference, specifically on punt and kick coverage.

The identity remains familiar for South Park. Delaney said the team wants to play "FAST and PHYSICAL," and defensively he wants more speed, more physical play and more turnovers.

The schedule opens with two road games: at Lockport on Sept. 5 and at Williamsville East on Sept. 10. South Park then plays Hamburg on Sept. 18 at Riverside High School Stadium, Maritime - Tapestry on Sept. 24 at All High Stadium and Kenmore East on Oct. 2 at All High Stadium.

The closing run sends South Park to North Tonawanda on Oct. 9 and Starpoint on Oct. 16 before the regular-season finale against Grand Island on Oct. 23 at Riverside.

For a young team, the season's measure is growth into the playoff race. Delaney said South Park's goals do not change: win the division, take the playoffs one game at a time and build toward a group that could return much of its offensive and defensive lineup in 2027.