North Adams-Jerome football looks to challenge expectations in 2026

NORTH ADAMS — The North Adams-Jerome football program has faced its share of adversity over the past couple of seasons, especially when it comes to injuries and turnover with senior graduates.

Jonesville football has playoff expectations, new stadium to call home

However, the 2026 Rams are looking to not let numbers or its past get in the way of progress this season.

The Rams enter 2026 looking to take another step after finishing 2-7 in Hodshire’s first season. North Adams-Jerome has not posted a winning season since 2021 and has five victories over the past four years, but last fall included a promising start before injuries tested a thin roster.

With more experience returning and younger players beginning to buy into the program, Hodshire sees a group better equipped to build on Year 1.

“Now it’s starting to click, the terminology is clicking,” Hodshire said. “Now the strategy is starting to click.”

That progress will have to continue while North Adams-Jerome replaces several of its biggest contributors.

Quarterback Conner Arsenault graduated after accounting for more than 1,500 yards of offense and 19 touchdowns last season. Kaleb Hale, James Johnson and Nathan Todd are also gone. Johnson was a key contributor on defense and special teams, while Todd finished second on the team in receiving.

Senior Ryker Campbell takes over at quarterback after contributing to other offensive roles last fall. Campbell said watching Arsenault helped prepare him for the transition.

“I feel like watching Conner last year helped me come into this,” Campbell said. “He taught me a lot from last year and it’s going to be a big step, but I think we got it. I’ve been putting in the work, I’ve been out here every day, so I think we got it down.”

Campbell did not hide what he expects the identity of the Rams’ offense to be.

“We’re going to run it down your throat,” Campbell said.

That approach puts added importance on senior Keegan Hull, one of the Rams’ most experienced players. Hull enters his fourth varsity season and is expected to contribute at right guard and fullback.

Hodshire said North Adams-Jerome has made changes along the offensive front after relying heavily on basic zone-blocking concepts last season.

“Football, especially at as small of a school level as we are, is won and lost with the men in the front trenches,” Hodshire said.

Hull said the team’s offseason message has been simple: “Get better every day.”

“We’ve come a long way in terms of growth, strength and coordination with our plays and just overall looks,” Hull said. “This year, I’m really hoping that we can push that ball forward on the offense and keep it back on the defense.”

Senior Carter Rader is another player expected to take on an expanded role. Rader recorded 37 tackles last season and should remain one of the Rams’ defensive leaders while taking on more responsibility at running back.

Campbell singled out Rader as a player he expects to make an impact.

“Carter Rader, I think he’s going to show out this season at running back and I’m excited to watch it,” Campbell said.

Junior Chazze Northrup also returns after emerging as one of North Adams-Jerome’s leading tacklers last fall, giving the defense another experienced piece.

When North Adams-Jerome takes the field in Weeks 1 and 2, it will be clear that the team has obvious hurdle that will challenge its season expectations ach new game — numbers.

It was a slow start to the summer for Rams football, as numbers slowly grew over time. The Rams are playing catch-up, especially with new roster additions, heading into the first weeks of the season after not participating in the annual scrimmage before Week 1.

The Rams will not overwhelm opponents with sheer numbers this fall, but Hodshire has seen encouraging signs that the players in the program are committed to making up for a lack of depth.

Throughout the offseason, athletes from multiple grade levels took advantage of opportunities to work together and build the foundation for the season ahead.

“The fact that everyone’s buying in and I can see it, it just makes me want to work even harder as a coach,” Hodshire said.

That participation matters for a small roster that saw firsthand how quickly injuries can reshape a season. Rader said staying healthy and keeping players on the field will be one of the biggest hurdles in reaching his goal of a winning season.

Those hurdles will be a priority challenge for North Adams-Jerome who has several important games later on its schedule. The Rams have already seen what happens when numbers dip too low for a team.

Its scheduled matchup with Athens was canceled due to low numbers — with Athens now joining a co-op with Battle Creek St. Phillip. A replacement hasn’t been found ahead of Week 1, but the Rams will certainly look to take advantage of that week as they have a looming matchup with a Bobcat team that is circled on coach Hodshire’s calendar.

Burr Oak visits Sept. 11 in a game Hodshire specifically wants to see improvement after the Bobcats shut out North Adams-Jerome last season.

After that, the Rams host Pittsford for homecoming Sept. 25 before traveling to Litchfield Oct. 2 for a matchup that has taken on more of a rivalry theme now titled the ‘Southern Border Brawl’.

The Rams will be tested and challenged in 2026, and the players will look to give North Adams-Jerome a shot at its first winning season since 2021. Hodshire would like to see North Adams-Jerome reach those goals, but he said his definition of progress goes beyond the standings.

“A successful season is never measured off wins and losses,” Hodshire said.

Rader believes the Rams faithful will notice the difference as the 2026 battles throughout the season.

“It’s not going to be the same North Adams from the past years,” Rader said. “We’re coming.”

North Adams-Jerome takes on Stryker Week 1 before a potential break in Week 2. Check in online at hillsdale.net for the Week 1 scoreboard to see how the Rams did against the Panthers.

This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: North Adams-Jerome football looks to challenge expectations in 2026