Twenty returning starters, a two-time all-state linebacker and a documented three-way quarterback race shape the Cardinals’ 2026 outlook.
Top 25 Public HSFB9/1/20265 min read
T25PS
Lincoln returns 10 starters on offense and 10 on defense, giving the Cardinals one of the most experienced rosters in Oregon Class 6A. That continuity begins with two-time all-state linebacker Leonardo Correani and extends through most of the offensive line and skill group.
. Lincoln went 8-2 on the field last season before self-reporting the use of an ineligible junior-varsity player for three late snaps and forfeited one win.
The preseason quarterback competition came down to seniors Owen O'Neill and Auden Rose and sophomore Nick Dillon. Lincoln will otherwise lean on a veteran line and a deeper backfield.
Team Snapshot
Location: Portland, Oregon
Head Coach: Cody Schnaufer
2025 Record: 7-3
2025 Finish: Oregon Class 6A first round
Returning Starters: 10 offense, 10 defense
Quarterback Competition: Owen O'Neill, Nick Dillon and Auden Rose
Experience Everywhere Around Quarterback
Lincoln can build the new offense around a deep backfield. Leonardo Correani will also play running back, joining Emmanuel Wisbrock and junior Antayus Wilkins in a three-headed backfield. Wilkins joined Lincoln over the summer and holds an offer from Northern Arizona. Greyson Murff produced about 1,000 all-purpose yards, while Reed Eldridge and Devin Prendergast return as experienced targets.
The line brings back Alex Lydgate, Ben Azzerad, Christian Villaverde-Rosales and Owen Moawad. That is meaningful continuity for any first-year starting quarterback because the Cardinals do not have to replace the passer and the entire unit in front of him at the same time.
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Dillon is a sophomore pocket passer who led Lincoln’s freshman team last year. Senior O'Neill is a converted tight end whose running ability fits Lincoln’s offense, while senior Rose rounds out the three-man competition. Grady Wilmot will focus on safety and remains committed to the University of Portland for baseball.
Correani Leads a Veteran Defense
Correani is a two-time all-state linebacker and was identified by Schnaufer as the state’s leading tackler. He returns to a defense with 10 starters, making the Cardinals’ continuity more than a simple head count.
Wisbrock, Murff, Eldridge and Prendergast also have two-way roles, while Grady Wilmot will focus on safety. Lincoln should begin the season with experienced players communicating at every level of the defense. The larger test is whether that group can carry its regular-season form into the 6A bracket after last year’s shutout loss.
Players to Know
Leonardo Correani, LB/RB, senior
The two-time all-state selection is the leader of a defense returning 10 starters and was identified by his coach as Oregon’s leading tackler. He will also be part of Lincoln’s three-man running back rotation.
Greyson Murff, WR/DB, senior
Murff returns after producing about 1,000 all-purpose yards and gives the eventual quarterback a proven two-way playmaker.
Emmanuel Wisbrock, FB/LB, senior
Wisbrock is an experienced runner and linebacker who will share the backfield with Correani and Wilkins.
Antayus Wilkins, RB/LB, junior
Wilkins joined Lincoln over the summer after rushing for 735 yards and six touchdowns as a sophomore. He holds an offer from Northern Arizona and gives the Cardinals another two-way option at running back and linebacker.
Reed Eldridge, WR/DB, senior
Eldridge adds another established target and defensive back to a senior-heavy perimeter group.
Devin Prendergast, TE/DE, senior
Prendergast gives Lincoln experience at tight end and on the edge of the defense.
Nick Dillon, QB, sophomore
Dillon is the young pocket passer among Lincoln’s three quarterback options, alongside seniors Owen O'Neill and Auden Rose.
Schedule Breakdown
Lincoln opens Sept. 4 against Grant before traveling to Lakeridge, the strongest nonleague test on the schedule. That game should provide a useful early measure of how the returning roster and new quarterback translate beyond the Portland Interscholastic League.
The Cardinals then play seven consecutive PIL games, beginning with Cleveland and road dates against Jefferson and Roosevelt. The Oct. 30 finale at Wells is positioned to carry league and playoff-seeding weight.
There are nine regular-season games. Lincoln’s experience supports high expectations within the league, but the season will ultimately be judged by whether the Cardinals move beyond the first round in November.
Complete 2026 Schedule
Sept. 4: Grant
Sept. 11: at Lakeridge
Sept. 18: Cleveland
Sept. 25: at Jefferson
Oct. 2: at Roosevelt
Oct. 8: McDaniel
Oct. 16: Franklin
Oct. 23: at Benson at Marshall High School
Oct. 30: at Wells
Biggest Question
Can 20 returning starters turn regular-season success into a deeper playoff run?
The quarterback decision matters, but Lincoln’s 2026 case is larger than one position. The Cardinals return most of a 7-3 roster, including an all-state linebacker and an experienced offensive line.
The 14-0 loss to Sandy is the clearest point of reference. Winning the PIL again would confirm Lincoln’s week-to-week quality. Reaching the quarterfinals would show that the returning group has taken a meaningful statewide step.
Bottom Line
Lincoln has rare continuity at nearly every position. Twenty starters return, while O'Neill, Dillon and Rose give the Cardinals three different quarterback options.
If the eventual starter provides steady play around the veteran line and skill group, Correani and the defense give the Cardinals a realistic path past the first round.
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: 8-1
Projected Postseason Finish: Oregon Class 6A state semifinalist
The returning-starter count supports an 8-1 projection. Lincoln has enough experience on the line, in the backfield and across the defense to avoid placing the entire season on one quarterback.
T25PS projects the Cardinals to advance two rounds farther than last season and reach the semifinals. A deeper run is possible, but it should depend on what the new quarterback and returning roster prove against Lakeridge and in November.
Thanks for reading,
Alex | T25PS
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