2026 Teams to Know Season Preview: Daniel Hand (CT)
Lucca Boyce, a proven defensive core and sophomore quarterback Jake Rusher lead the Tigers’ pursuit of state title No. 16.
Top 25 Public HSFB9/1/20265 min read
T25PS
Daniel Hand’s defense of its latest Connecticut championship begins with several new starters on both sides of the ball. The Tigers went 12-1, beat Killingly 37-13 in the Class SS final and secured the 15th state championship in program history. Only two offensive starters and four defensive starters are back.
The rebuild still has a clear center. Senior Lucca Boyce returns after rushing for 1,462 yards and 17 touchdowns, and coach Erik Becker has named sophomore Jake Rusher as the new quarterback. As a first-year varsity starter he will have the benefit of having one of Connecticut’s most productive returning backs with him in the backfield.
That distinction matters against a schedule that opens at Rhode Island champion Bishop Hendricken and later includes Fairfield Prep, Shelton and West Haven. Hand has enough proven talent to remain a Class SS title contender, but this team will have to earn that status with several new starters playing important snaps.
Team Snapshot
Location: Madison, Connecticut
Head Coach: Erik Becker
2025 Record: 12-1
2025 Finish: Connecticut Class SS state champion
Returning Starters: 2 offense, 4 defense
2026 Starting Quarterback: Jake Rusher, sophomore
A Young Offense With Two Defined Leaders
Boyce gives Hand a dependable starting point. He also caught four touchdown passes last season, so his value is not limited to carries between the tackles. Defenses will begin with him, and the Tigers can use that attention to create manageable opportunities for Rusher and a new receiving group.
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Rusher is listed at 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds. Becker identified him before the season as a player ready for a larger role, and current reporting has him taking over for graduated starter Bobby Reh.
Senior Grady Van Hine gives the rebuilt line an experienced 6-foot-3, 240-pound two-way player. Sophomore receiver Thomas Cahill is one of the newcomers Becker expects to contribute. Their development will determine how much support Hand can build around Boyce and Rusher.
The Defense Can Set the Early Standard
Hand returns several of its most productive defenders. Senior Brayden Dempsey recorded 9.5 sacks, while sophomore safety Thomas Pshybyshefski made 71 tackles as a freshman. Wilson Walker, Diego Portley and Nate Kessell were also identified by Becker as part of the defensive core.
Four returning starters is not a veteran unit by Hand’s standards, but those players cover important levels of the defense. Their experience gives the Tigers a foundation while the rest of the lineup settles. It is the clearest reason to expect Hand to remain competitive during the offense’s transition.
Players to Know
Lucca Boyce, RB/DB, senior
Boyce is the established offensive centerpiece after producing 1,462 rushing yards, 17 rushing touchdowns and four receiving scores in 2025.
Jake Rusher, QB, sophomore
Rusher is the confirmed starting quarterback. His first varsity season begins with a proven running back beside him and an immediate road test against Bishop Hendricken.
Grady Van Hine, OL/DL, senior
Van Hine is a 6-foot-3, 240-pound two-way lineman whose experience will matter for an offense breaking in a new quarterback and a defense replacing several starters.
Brayden Dempsey, DE/OL, senior
Dempsey returns after recording 9.5 sacks and is the most productive pass rusher back on the defense.
Thomas Pshybyshefski, WR/SS, sophomore
Pshybyshefski made 71 tackles as a freshman and returns as one of Hand’s most productive defenders.
Wilson Walker, LB/FB, senior
Walker recorded 125 tackles as a junior and returns as one of the defense’s most productive players. He also gives Hand a physical option at fullback.
Diego Portley, DB/RB, senior
Portley averaged 11 yards per carry and recorded 40 tackles as a junior. His production at defensive back and running back gives Hand another experienced two-way option.
Schedule Breakdown
The Sept. 12 opener at Bishop Hendricken gives Hand an interstate test before Connecticut play begins. The Tigers then host the Nonnewaug/Lakeview/Shepaug Valley co-op and travel to North Haven.
Fairfield Prep and Cheshire visit Strong Field in consecutive weeks. After an open date, Hand plays at Shelton and West Haven on back-to-back Fridays. That is the most demanding portion of the schedule and should show how far Rusher and the new starters have developed.
Lyman Hall, Sheehan and the Thanksgiving trip to Guilford close the regular season. Hand’s ten-game schedule gives the new lineup time to improve, but the middle stretch offers little margin for a slow transition.
Complete 2026 Schedule
Sept. 12: at Bishop Hendricken (Rhode Island)
Sept. 18: Nonnewaug/Lakeview/Shepaug Valley co-op
Sept. 25: at North Haven
Oct. 2: Fairfield Prep
Oct. 9: Cheshire
Oct. 23: at Shelton
Oct. 30: at West Haven
Nov. 6: Lyman Hall
Nov. 13: Sheehan
Nov. 25: at Guilford
Biggest Question
How quickly can the new offense support a championship-level expectation?
The quarterback is named and the lead back is proven. The unanswered part is the group around them. Hand must replace nine offensive starters, which means Rusher will be learning alongside new linemen and new skill players rather than stepping into a veteran unit.
The schedule should provide an honest answer. If the offense is operating cleanly by the Fairfield Prep, Shelton and West Haven games, Hand will enter November with a realistic chance to defend its title.
Bottom Line
Daniel Hand is rebuilding most of its lineup without lowering its standard. Boyce gives the offense proven production, Rusher gives it a settled quarterback plan and the defense returns several players who made an impact on last year’s championship run.
The Tigers may look different in September than they do in November. Their ability to improve through a difficult schedule is the central reason another Class SS title remains within reach.
This preview is presented as part of MISTER F00TBALL’s National High School Football Composite Rankings, partnered with and powered by Prep Gridiron Logistics, the only rankings to include every national poll and every team receiving a Top 25 vote.
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T25PS Prediction
Projected Regular-Season Record: 9-1
Projected Postseason Finish: Connecticut Class SS state champion
One regular-season loss is a reasonable expectation for a team replacing 10 total starters against this schedule. Boyce and the defense should keep Hand competitive while Rusher and the new offense gain experience.
T25PS projects the Tigers to be better prepared in the postseason than they are on opening night and to win state title No. 16. That is an ambitious forecast, but it is supported by the program’s recent standard and the proven players at the center of the rebuild.
Thanks for reading,
Alex | T25PS
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