Montrose Looks to Turn Experience Into Progress in 2026
Montrose enters the 2026 season with something every rebuilding program values: experience.
The Meteors finished 3-7 last fall, but the record does not tell the entire story. Montrose earned road victories over Susquehanna Community, Holy Redeemer and Renaissance Academy Charter while several young players gained meaningful varsity time on both sides of the football.
Now many of those players return.
Head coach Brett Stage welcomes back an experienced quarterback, multiple offensive linemen, several skill-position players and nine defensive starters. The Meteors must replace tight end and defensive end Nate Thurman along with linebacker Mike Hillier, but the overall roster returns far more experience than it loses.
That continuity creates optimism.
Montrose believes its offensive line can become the foundation of the team. If the front controls the line of scrimmage, the Meteors have enough athleticism behind it to become more productive.
Defensively, the emphasis will be on assignment discipline, teamwork and physical play up front. The Meteors want their defensive linemen to occupy blockers and allow an athletic linebacker group to run freely.
Special teams will also receive increased attention as Montrose searches for advantages in close games.
The Meteors still have work to do, but the returning experience gives the program an opportunity to make measurable progress in 2026.
Nabywaniec Returns to Lead Offense
Senior Weston Nabywaniec returns at quarterback after gaining valuable experience last season.
His leadership will be important for an offense that expects to improve significantly.
Nabywaniec has already faced varsity defenses and understands the speed of the game. That experience should help him make quicker decisions and become more comfortable directing the offense.
The Meteors do not need him to force plays.
They need him to protect the football, manage the offense and get the ball to the athletes around him.
A strong offensive line should give Nabywaniec more time to operate. If the running game becomes consistent, he should also benefit from clearer throwing lanes and more effective play-action opportunities.
His development will be one of the biggest factors in Montrose’s offensive success.
Offensive Line Sets the Tone
Montrose’s offensive outlook begins up front.
Senior Ethan Smith, junior Brayden Heaton and junior Christian Baker return to form an experienced core along the offensive line.
That continuity should become one of the team’s greatest strengths.
The Meteors want to control the line of scrimmage and establish a physical identity. If the offensive line creates movement, Montrose has several athletes capable of producing behind it.
Smith brings senior leadership and experience.
Heaton and Baker gained valuable varsity time as underclassmen and now have an opportunity to take another step forward.
The line must communicate effectively, avoid penalties and stay consistent against a variety of defensive fronts.
Montrose’s offensive improvement will depend heavily on this group.
If the front controls early downs, the Meteors should be able to sustain drives and take pressure off Nabywaniec.
David and Aukema Lead the Backfield
Junior Tim David and sophomore Sawyer Aukema return to lead the rushing attack.
Both players gained important experience last season and should benefit from playing behind a veteran offensive line.
David brings physicality and experience as a two-way contributor.
He can run between the tackles and should receive opportunities to become a dependable every-down option.
Aukema gives the backfield another young athlete with significant upside.
His versatility allows Montrose to use him in several roles, and his development should add depth to the offense.
The Meteors may use both backs to keep the running game fresh and create different looks.
Their success will depend on patience, ball security and the ability to finish runs.
If David and Aukema consistently take advantage of the blocking in front of them, Montrose should become much more effective offensively.
McComb and MacNamee Return at Receiver
Junior Evan McComb and sophomore Liam MacNamee return to lead the receiving group.
Both players gained varsity experience last season and now have an opportunity to take on larger roles.
McComb brings experience and athleticism on both sides of the football.
He should become one of Nabywaniec’s primary targets and can help the offense create plays on the perimeter.
MacNamee is another young player with considerable potential.
His continued development should give Montrose an additional weapon in the passing game.
The receiving corps must create separation, catch the football consistently and contribute as blockers in the running game.
The Meteors want their athletes to make plays once the offensive line establishes control.
McComb and MacNamee will be central to that plan.
Offense Must Play Through Its Strength
Montrose’s offensive identity should be straightforward.
Control the line of scrimmage.
Run the football effectively.
Allow Nabywaniec to distribute the ball to experienced playmakers.
The Meteors return enough veterans to execute that approach.
Smith, Heaton and Baker provide experience up front.
David and Aukema give the offense multiple options in the backfield.
McComb and MacNamee add athleticism on the perimeter.
The key will be consistency.
Montrose cannot afford negative plays, turnovers or penalties that put the offense behind the chains.
Long-yardage situations were difficult for the Meteors last season.
A productive running game would help prevent those situations and allow the offense to dictate tempo.
If the offensive line performs as expected, Montrose should be able to improve significantly.
Smith and Susz Anchor Defensive Front
Senior Ethan Smith returns to lead the defensive line.
Their experience will be essential as Montrose attempts to improve against the run.
The Meteors want their defensive front to control the line of scrimmage and keep blockers away from the linebackers.
Smith brings toughness and leadership as a two-way lineman.
Susz provides another experienced presence in the interior.
Junior Brayden Heaton returns at defensive end, while sophomore Julian Repchick adds another promising young contributor up front.
The defensive line does not need to make every tackle.
It must maintain gap discipline, occupy blockers and create opportunities for the linebackers.
If the front consistently wins those battles, the entire defense should benefit.
David and Aukema Lead Linebackers
David and Aukema also return at linebacker.
Their athleticism should allow the Meteors to play faster defensively.
David brings varsity experience and should become one of the unit’s primary leaders.
Aukema gained important playing time as a freshman and now has a chance to become a major contributor.
The linebackers must read plays quickly and stay disciplined.
Montrose wants them to run freely, but that will only happen if the defensive line controls blockers.
The group must also improve its tackling.
The Meteors cannot allow short runs to become explosive plays.
David and Aukema will be responsible for pursuing from sideline to sideline and helping organize the defense.
Experienced Secondary Returns
Montrose returns considerable experience in the secondary.
Nabywaniec, McComb and MacNamee all return after contributing defensively last season.
That familiarity should help the unit communicate more effectively.
Nabywaniec brings senior leadership and an understanding of opposing passing games from his experience at quarterback.
McComb provides athleticism and versatility.
MacNamee continues to develop as one of the team’s promising young defensive backs.
The secondary must limit explosive plays and become more consistent in coverage.
Montrose also needs the group to support the run without abandoning its responsibilities.
If the defensive front and linebackers handle their assignments, the secondary should have opportunities to create turnovers.
Defense Must Play as One Unit
The primary defensive goal is unity.
Montrose wants every player to understand and execute his responsibility on every snap.
That sounds simple, but it is essential.
One missed gap, poor pursuit angle or coverage breakdown can result in a long touchdown.
The Meteors must become more disciplined and dependable.
The returning experience should help.
Many of the defenders already understand the scheme and have played together.
Now they must communicate and trust one another.
The defensive line must control blockers.
The linebackers must fit their gaps.
The secondary must stay disciplined.
If each level performs its role, Montrose should become much more difficult to move against.
Controlling the Line Is Essential
Montrose’s defensive success will begin at the line of scrimmage.
The Meteors allowed several opponents to control games physically last season.
That must change.
Smith, Susz, Heaton and Repchick will be responsible for establishing a stronger presence up front.
The goal is not only to stop the run.
It is to create unfavorable down-and-distance situations.
If opponents face third-and-long, Montrose can become more aggressive with pressure and coverage.
Winning early downs would also help the defense get off the field and preserve energy for the offense.
The defensive front is therefore one of the most important position groups on the roster.
Aukema Provides Stability at Punter
Aukema returns as the starting punter.
His experience gives Montrose continuity in an important special teams role.
A dependable punter can help the Meteors control field position and protect the defense.
Aukema must continue developing consistency with distance and placement.
The coverage unit must also execute its assignments.
Good punts can quickly lose value if the return team allows a long runback.
Montrose wants special teams to become a legitimate strength rather than an overlooked phase.
Playmakers Can Create Special Teams Edge
The coaching staff believes the Meteors have players capable of making an impact on special teams.
That could become especially valuable in close games.
A long return, blocked kick or well-placed punt can change momentum immediately.
Montrose must treat every special teams snap with the same importance as offense and defense.
The unit needs disciplined blocking, secure catches and reliable tackling.
Penalties must also be avoided.
The Meteors are looking for any advantage they can create, and special teams may provide one of the best opportunities to gain it.
Players to Watch
Weston Nabywaniec, Sr., QB/DB: Experienced two-way senior who will direct the offense and provide leadership in the secondary.
Ethan Smith, Sr., OL/DL: Veteran lineman expected to anchor both sides of the line of scrimmage.
Brayden Heaton, Jr., OL/DE: Experienced two-way lineman who should play a major role in Montrose’s physical identity.
Christian Baker, Jr., OL: Returning offensive lineman who helps form the foundation of the offense.
Tim David, Jr., RB/LB: Versatile two-way athlete expected to lead the ground game and linebacking corps.
Sawyer Aukema, Soph., RB/LB/P: Promising young contributor who will impact offense, defense and special teams.
Evan McComb, Jr., WR/DB: Returning playmaker expected to become a primary option in the passing game and secondary.
Liam MacNamee, Soph., WR/DB: Young two-way athlete with an opportunity to take a major step forward.
Julian Repchick, Soph., DL: Developing young lineman who adds depth and upside to the defense.
My thoughts on Montrose
Montrose enters the 2026 season with a roster built around experience and continuity.
The Meteors return most of their offensive starters, including their quarterback, several linemen and multiple skill players.
They also return nine defensive starters and their punter.
That gives Stage and his staff a strong foundation.
The biggest question is whether that experience will translate into more consistent execution.
Offensively, everything begins with the line.
If Smith, Heaton, Baker and the rest of the front control the line of scrimmage, David, Aukema, McComb and MacNamee should have opportunities to make plays.
Nabywaniec must manage the offense efficiently and protect the football.
Defensively, Montrose must play with greater unity and discipline.
The front must occupy blockers, the linebackers must run freely and the secondary must limit explosive plays.
Special teams also has the potential to create an edge if the Meteors approach it with the necessary focus.
Montrose showed last season that it could win close games, earning three road victories by six points or fewer.
The next step is becoming more competitive from week to week.
If the experienced offensive line establishes control, the defense performs as a unit and special teams creates favorable field position, the Meteors should improve on their 3-7 record and become a more difficult opponent in the Lackawanna Football Conference.
Head Coach: Brett Stage
Assistant Coaches:
Jordan Hannon
Dylan Flexer
Ray Melnikoff
Ryan Harvey
Cody Scepaniak
Alec Gennarelli
Stan Anderson
Mike Caviness
Greg Kunai
Team Name: Montrose Meteors
District: 2
Class: 3A
League: Lackawanna Football Conference, Division 3
2025 Record: 3-7
8/22 Holy Cross (1A) 7:00 pm L 6-32
8/30 @ Susquehanna Community (2A) 1:00 pm W 20-14
9/06 @ Columbia-Montour Vo-Tech* (4A) 1:00 pm L 12-38
9/12 Morrisville (1A) 7:00 pm L 8-42
9/18 Riverside (2) (2A) 7:00 pm L 6-60
9/26 Carbondale Area (3A) 7:00 pm L 0-40
10/04 @ Holy Redeemer (2A) 7:00 pm W 30-25 at WVW Spartan Stadium
10/10 @ Tunkhannock (3A) 7:00 pm L 10-15
10/18 @ Renaissance Academy Charter (1A) 1:00 pm W 12-7
10/24 Delaware County Christian School* (1A) 7:00 pm L 6-30
2026 Schedule:
Date Opponent Kickoff
8/22 Sayre (1A) 1:00 pm Scrimmage
8/28 Nativity BVM (1A) 7:00 pm
9/03 @ Susquehanna Community* (2A) 7:00 pm
9/11 Columbia-Montour Vo-Tech (4A) 7:00 pm
9/19 @ Holy Cross* (1A) 1:00 pm
9/25 Renaissance Academy Charter (2A) 7:00 pm
10/02 Tunkhannock (3A) 7:00 pm
10/09 @ Old Forge* (1A) 7:00 pm
10/16 @ Carbondale Area* (4A) 7:00 pm
10/23 Holy Redeemer (2A) 7:00 pm
10/30 @ Lackawanna Trail* (1A) 7:00 pm
Key Starters Lost:
Nate Thurman TE/DE
Mike Hillier LB
Offensive Starters Returning:
Sr. OL Ethan Smith
Sr. QB Weston Nabywaniec
Jr. OL Brayden Heaton
Jr. OL Christian Baker
Jr. WR Evan McComb
Jr. RB Tim David
So. RB Sawyer Aukema
So. WR Liam MacNamee
Defensive Starters Returning:
Sr. DL Ethan Smith
Sr. DB Weston Nabywaniec
Jr. DE Brayden Heaton
Jr. DB Evan McComb
Jr. LB Tim David
So. LB Sawyer Aukema
So. DB Liam MacNamee
So. DL Julian Repchick
Special Team Starters Returning:
So. P Sawyer Aukema
Key Newcomers:
Jr. TE/DE Lincoln Hobbs
So. QB Evan Strohl
So. FB/LB Wyatt Smith
So. OL/LB Keith Gregory
Sr. K Guilherme Martinez Alves
Sr. FB/LB Gabriel De Llano Duran
2026 Offensive Outlook: We have a lot of varsity experience on offense and it all starts up front with our offensive line. As long as our O-line can control the line of scrimmage we will be successful with our athletes behind them.
2026 Defensive Outlook: Defensively we need to learn to play as a unit and do our individual jobs every play. It is also very important to control the line of scrimmage and let our linebackers run free.
2026 Special Teams Outlook: We have playmakers on special teams that can make an impact in that aspect of the game. We need to treat special teams as a very important part of the game to get an edge anywhere we can.