Sweet Home preview centers on returning defensive production and a key home stretch

Overview

• Jaylen Hawkins brings back 2024 production that included 237 rushing yards, four rushing touchdowns, one interception, four forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
• Elijah Humphey made 60 tackles and recorded two sacks in 2025, while Alonzo Hunt added 67 tackles, an interception, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.
• Joseph VanDusen's 2025 receiving production included 11 catches for 126 yards and two touchdowns.
• Tyler Minton had a kickoff-return touchdown in 2025, giving Sweet Home a returning special-teams scoring piece.
• Sweet Home is scheduled for home games against Niagara Wheatfield, Kenmore West, West Seneca West and Orchard Park, with road dates at Frontier, Williamsville North, Clarence and Amherst.

Sweet Home 2026 Football Preview

Sweet Home enters 2026 under head coach Jeremy Zimmer with returning experience on both sides of the ball.

Returning Production

Jaylen Hawkins, a senior RB/SS, brings back production in the run game and on defense. As a sophomore in 2024, he rushed for 237 yards and four touchdowns, intercepted a pass, forced four fumbles and recovered one fumble.

Elijah Humphey, a senior RB/LB, gives Sweet Home another returning defensive producer. His 2025 season included 60 tackles and two sacks.

Alonzo Hunt, a junior RB/LB, also made an impact in 2025. He had 67 tackles, intercepted a pass, forced a fumble, recovered two fumbles and scored a defensive touchdown. He also added 64 rushing yards.

Offensive And Special-Teams Pieces

Joseph VanDusen, a senior WR/DB, had 11 catches for 126 yards and two touchdowns in 2025.

Tyler Minton, a senior RB/S, added a special-teams spark in 2025 with a 90-yard kickoff return touchdown.

Fritz Theodore, a senior WR/LB/RB, had 34 rushing yards and 22 tackles in 2025. Isaiah Hayden, a junior OL/DL, added 17 tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack that season.

Schedule Landmarks

Sweet Home is scheduled to open Sept. 4 at Frontier, then stay on the road Sept. 10 at Williamsville North.

The home schedule begins Sept. 18 against Niagara Wheatfield. That starts a three-game home stretch that continues Sept. 26 against Kenmore West and Oct. 2 against West Seneca West.

The final three scheduled regular-season games are Oct. 9 at Clarence, Oct. 16 at home against Orchard Park and Oct. 22 at Amherst.

For Sweet Home, the early focus starts with defensive production from players such as Hawkins, Humphey and Hunt, a few proven offensive and special-teams pieces, and a schedule that gives the team a chance to settle in at home after two road trips to begin the season.