2026 Team Preview: Bristol Warriors (1)

Veteran Defense Looks to Keep Warriors Among District 1’s Best

The Bristol Warriors have some significant shoes to fill following one of the program’s most successful senior classes, but head coach Mike Ciotti isn’t starting over in 2026.

Far from it.

Bristol returns a deep, experienced group of seniors and juniors who have already played meaningful varsity football, including 10 returning starters on defense. That veteran unit will be the foundation as the Warriors attempt to build on a 10-3 season that included the District 1 Class 2A championship.

The offense will undergo more change after losing several accomplished four-year contributors, but the pieces are there for Bristol to remain a factor in the Bicentennial Athletic League and District 1.

Looking Back at 2025

Bristol’s 2025 season began with a 21-15 loss to Palisades, but the Warriors quickly found their footing.

They responded with six consecutive victories, including wins over Pottstown, Hamburg and Executive Education Academy. Bristol also rolled past Renaissance Academy Charter, Interboro and Academy of the New Church during the streak.

After a 34-20 loss to Garden Spot, Bristol finished the regular season with convincing wins over Lower Moreland and Jenkintown.

The Warriors then dominated New Hope-Solebury, 48-8, to capture the District 1 Class 2A championship.

Their postseason run ended with a 49-21 loss to Lansdale Catholic in the District 1/12 Class 2A Subregional Final, but Bristol still had one game remaining.

The Warriors closed the year in style, defeating rival Morrisville 34-18 on Thanksgiving morning to finish 10-3.

Replacing an Outstanding Senior Class

The biggest storyline surrounding Bristol is what the Warriors lost.

Kyleal Cottrell, Brady Slate, Braylen Williams, Talon Nemeth, Marco Berrocal, Christian Manning and George Sar have graduated.

Ciotti described the group as one of the best senior classes in school history, with several four-year varsity players who accumulated significant experience and accolades.

Replacing that type of leadership and production won’t happen with one or two players.

Instead, Bristol will turn to a group that has been waiting for its opportunity.

The Warriors return numerous seniors and juniors who weren’t necessarily the headliners last season but contributed to Bristol’s success. Now they’ll be asked to move into larger roles.

How quickly that transition happens—particularly at the offensive skill positions—will be critical.

Experienced Offensive Front Gives Bristol a Foundation

While Bristol must identify new playmakers, the Warriors have experience where every offense wants it—up front.

Senior Shane Feeney, a 5-foot-10, 210-pound center, returns after earning first-team honors last season. Feeney recorded an impressive 34 pancake blocks, making him a key piece of the offensive front.

Senior Dom Capriotti, at 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, also earned first-team honors and returns after registering 14 pancakes.

Junior Gabe Greway, 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, added 16 pancakes, while junior Taymar Twyman, 5-foot-10 and 200 pounds, also gained varsity experience.

That returning strength in the trenches should help ease the transition elsewhere.

If Bristol can establish itself at the line of scrimmage, its new skill players will have time to grow into their roles.

New Playmakers Must Emerge

The offensive backfield and perimeter will feature some new responsibilities.

Senior Dejon Weeks and junior Jacob Cialella are among the players capable of contributing at running back, while senior Jacob Barber gives the Warriors an athletic option who can be used in different roles.

Senior Jones Beauplan returns at wide receiver and provides size at 6-foot-2, 170 pounds.

Senior Eddie Diaz, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound tight end, also gives Bristol an experienced target. Diaz caught two passes for 21 yards and a touchdown last season while contributing six pancake blocks.

The challenge will be developing chemistry quickly.

Bristol faces another demanding schedule, meaning the Warriors won’t have much time to work through growing pains.

Defense Will Be Bristol’s Calling Card

If there’s one reason to believe Bristol can quickly overcome its graduation losses, it’s the defense.

The Warriors return 10 starters from last season.

Ciotti expects the group to play fast, swarm to the football and make plays.

With experience returning at every level, Bristol won’t have to spend the opening weeks simply learning how to play varsity defense. Most of these players have already been in significant situations.

That could make the defense the team’s stabilizing force while the offense develops.

Weeks Leads Experienced Linebackers

Senior Dejon Weeks is at the center of that defense.

The first-team linebacker recorded more than 100 tackles last season. The provided statistical breakdown credits him with 68 tackles, three tackles for loss, four pass breakups, a forced fumble and three interceptions, including a 40-yard interception return for a touchdown.

Regardless of where he lines up, Weeks has demonstrated an ability to find the football.

He’ll have plenty of experience around him.

Cialella returns after recording 29 tackles and four tackles for loss, while Barber added eight tackles, a tackle for loss and a pass breakup.

Feeney can contribute at linebacker or nose guard, giving Bristol additional versatility in the middle.

With so many veterans returning, the Warriors should be able to play aggressively without sacrificing communication and assignment discipline.

Diaz, Capriotti Headline Defensive Front

Bristol also has proven production along its defensive front.

Diaz put together an excellent all-around season with 41 tackles, three tackles for loss, three sacks, four pass breakups and a fumble recovery. He also returned an interception 57 yards for a touchdown.

His ability to rush the passer while making plays in space gives Bristol a versatile defensive weapon.

Capriotti recorded 23 tackles and six tackles for loss while earning first-team honors on both the offensive and defensive lines.

Twyman contributed three sacks despite limited overall tackle production, showing the ability to get into the backfield.

Greway added a sack and a tackle for loss.

Bristol wants its defense flying to the football, and having a front capable of creating disruption should give its linebackers opportunities to make plays.

Beauplan Gives Secondary a Playmaker

Senior Jones Beauplan will be one of the leaders on the back end.

The second-team defensive back recorded 20.5 tackles, 11 pass breakups and an interception last season. He also returned a fumble 55 yards for a touchdown.

His 11 pass breakups demonstrate his ability to challenge throws and make life difficult for opposing receivers.

With nine other starters returning around him, Beauplan won’t have to carry the defense himself.

That’s what makes this Bristol unit particularly intriguing. There is experience and production at all three levels.

Special Teams Focuses on Field Position

Bristol’s special teams philosophy is simple:

Win the field-position battle every week.

For a team expecting to lean heavily on an experienced defense, that becomes especially important.

Making opponents consistently drive long fields can allow the Warriors’ veteran defenders to dictate games. At the same time, giving a developing offense shorter fields could make its transition much easier.

Special teams may not receive the same attention as Bristol’s returning defense, but it could play an important role in determining whether the Warriors can consistently win close games.

Players to Watch

Dejon Weeks, Sr., RB/MLB — First-team linebacker and one of the leaders of a defense returning 10 starters. Weeks surpassed 100 tackles last season and also intercepted three passes.

Eddie Diaz, Sr., TE/DE — Impact two-way player who recorded 41 tackles, three sacks, four pass breakups and a 57-yard pick-six. He should take on an expanded offensive role as well.

Dom Capriotti, Sr., OT/DT/DE — First-team two-way lineman who recorded six tackles for loss defensively and 14 pancake blocks offensively.

Shane Feeney, Sr., C/LB/NG — First-team offensive lineman who piled up 34 pancake blocks. His experience at center will be particularly important as Bristol develops a new group of skill players.

Jones Beauplan, Sr., WR/DB — Second-team defensive back who broke up 11 passes and returned a fumble 55 yards for a touchdown.

Jacob Cialella, Jr., RB/LB — Returning two-way contributor who finished with 29 tackles and four tackles for loss. He has an opportunity to take on a larger offensive role.

Gabe Greway, Jr., OL/DL — Returning lineman who registered 16 pancakes and provides valuable experience in the trenches.

Taymar Twyman, Jr., OL/DL — Recorded three sacks last season and could become an increasingly disruptive presence along the defensive front.

Jacob Barber, Sr., ATH/MLB — Versatile senior whose athleticism should give Bristol options on both sides of the football.

A Challenging 2026 Schedule

Bristol gets an immediate test with an August 22 scrimmage at Class 6A William Tennent before opening the regular season August 28 at Palisades.

That opener provides an early opportunity to avenge Bristol’s 21-15 loss to the Pirates last season.

The Warriors then host Archbishop Carroll and Executive Education Academy before road games at Springfield-Montco and Interboro.

October begins with Renaissance Academy Charter before Bristol travels to Academy of the New Church. The Warriors then host Delaware County Christian, Lower Moreland and finish October at Jenkintown.

And, as always, the season isn’t finished until Thanksgiving.

Bristol travels to Morrisville on November 26 for the annual rivalry game after beating the Bulldogs 34-18 last Thanksgiving.

My thoughts on Bristol:

The 2026 Bristol Warriors will be different from the team that won 10 games and a District 1 championship last season.

But different doesn’t necessarily mean rebuilding.

Bristol lost an exceptional senior class, and replacing that much experience—especially at the offensive skill positions—will be challenging. The Warriors need their new playmakers to develop quickly and their experienced offensive linemen to provide stability.

Defensively, however, expectations should remain high.

Returning 10 starters gives Bristol something few teams have entering a new season. Weeks leads an experienced linebacker corps, Diaz and Capriotti provide production up front, and Beauplan headlines a veteran secondary.

The Warriors have size, experience and playmakers throughout the unit.

That defense should give Bristol an opportunity to compete every Friday while the offense establishes its new identity.

After winning the District 1 Class 2A championship in 2025, the goal isn’t simply to replace what was lost. It’s for the players who helped build last year’s success to step forward and make the program their own.

If that happens quickly, Bristol has the pieces to remain one of District 1 Class 2A’s teams to beat in 2026.