2026 Team Preview: The Mifflinburg Wildcats
Tagged under: District 4, News, pfn, Team Previews
Davin Ridall | August 10, 2026
The Mifflinburg Wildcats
Head Coach: Cody Botts
PIAA District 4
Class 3A
Heartland Athletic Conference
2025 Season Record: 10-3
Key Starters lost:
Chad Martin- QB and LB
Landen Murray- WR
Jackson Griffith- WR and C
Offensive Lineman: (Xzavier Croll, Jack Whittaker, Nate Criswell, and Mason Schneck)
Defensive Lineman: (Chace Aikey, Nate Criswell, Mason Schneck)
LB’s (Xzavier Croll, Kaiden Kmett, Cole Reibsome, Chad Martin)
DB’s (JP Marr and Jackson Griffith)
Offensive Starters Returning:
Landon Moser- RB 104 carries for 661 yards and 10 TD’s 6.4 avg
Seth Hartman- RB 90 carries for 518 and 7 TD’s
Landon Tucker- OG
Brady Threet- TE 6 catches for 45 yards, 1 TD
Luke Brubaker- TE 6 catches for 67 yards, 1 TD
Defensive Starters Returning:
Landon Tucker- NG 53 tackles, 16 TFL; 2 sacks, 4 hurries; 1 caused fumble, 1 fumble recovery
Landon Moser- OLB 42 tackles, 5 TFL 3 INT for 10 yards
Jackson Marr- C 26 tackles; 2 INT for 35 yards and 1 TD; 3 fumble recoveries for 90 yards; 1 caused fumble, 1 pass deflection
Special Team Starters Returning:
Kicker- Jaden Boyer
Key Newcomers:
Grady Brubaker- WR and Corner
Brennen Snyder- QB and Safety
Isaiah Kurtz- LB
Hudson Troup- LB
Hayden Showalter- WR and Corner
Liam Tressler- OT
Lucas Miller- Center/OG
2026 Outlook:
Offense:
Offensively, we’ll certainly have a different look in 2026 after graduating one of the most explosive quarterback-wide receiver combinations in program history with All-State quarterback Chad Martin and All-State wide receiver Landen Murray. Those are two outstanding players that will be difficult to replace, but we’re excited about the talent and athleticism we have returning.
One player we’re excited to add to the mix is Brennen Snyder. As a three-sport athlete, Brennen has the ability to create explosive plays every time he touches the football. His versatility and athleticism give us another dynamic weapon and allow us to be creative in how we get him involved.
We also return both of our starting running backs in Landon Moser and Seth Martin, who each rushed for over 500 yards last season. Having two experienced backs who understand our offense gives us confidence that we’ll continue to be physical and productive in the running game.
Up front, we’ll have some new faces. We graduated the majority of our offensive line, so we’ll be relying on a talented group of young linemen to step into bigger roles. While they’ll gain experience as the season progresses, we’re excited about their potential and believe they’ll continue to develop into a strong unit.
At wide receiver, we may not have one player replacing the production of Landen Murray, but I really like the depth and athleticism of this group. Hayden Showalter, Grady Brubaker, and Jackson Marr are all capable playmakers who I believe will make a significant impact this season. They each bring something a little different to the offense, and we’re excited to watch them continue to develop.
One of the strengths of our offense will be at tight end, where we return both Brady Threet and Luke Brubaker. Those two were instrumental in our success a year ago, especially with the way they set the edge in our run game. Their experience, toughness, and willingness to do the dirty work make them extremely valuable to what we do offensively.
Overall, our offense will definitely look different from a year ago, and you’ll likely see us do some different things from week to week based on our personnel. While we’ve graduated some outstanding players, I feel very good about the group we have returning. They’re a hardworking, athletic group that’s eager to prove themselves, and I’m excited to see what they’re capable of accomplishing in 2026.
Defense:
Defensively, we’ll have a much different look in 2026 after graduating eight of our 11 starters from last year’s unit. While replacing that much experience is never easy, I’m excited about the talent, athleticism, and competitiveness of the group we’ll have on the field this fall.
Everything starts up front with All-State nose guard Landon Tucker. Landon has proven, down after down, that he can disrupt opposing offenses. He’s a physical presence at the line of scrimmage, commands double teams, and allows the players around him to make plays. He’s one of the leaders of our defense, and we’ll continue to build around him.
I’m also looking forward to Brady Threet stepping into a much larger defensive role, whether that’s at defensive end or outside linebacker. Brady is an extremely physical player with a high football IQ, and his versatility gives us flexibility in how we use him defensively.
At linebacker, we’re fortunate to return one of the best players in the area in Landon Moser. He plays the game the right way, flies to the football, and brings tremendous leadership to our defense. Alongside him, I’m excited to watch Isaiah Kurtz and Hudson Troup step into larger roles in the middle of our defense. Both have had outstanding offseasons, adding over 20 pounds while continuing to improve their strength and physicality. They’re downhill linebackers who love contact and fit the style of defense we want to play.
In the secondary, Jackson Marr gained valuable experience last season and came up with several big plays in key moments. I’m looking forward to seeing him take another step in his development and become a leader in our defensive backfield.
Overall, I’m really excited about the athleticism we’ll have on defense. While we may be younger and less experienced than we were a year ago, I believe we’ll be faster across the board. We have a group of players who love to compete, play with great effort, and fly to the football. As they continue to gain experience throughout the season, I expect this defense to develop into a fast, physical, and aggressive unit that reflects the identity of our program.
Special Team:
We’ll have some new faces on special teams this season after graduating Landen Murray, who was a dangerous playmaker in the return game. While we’ll miss his ability to change a game with the ball in his hands, we’ve got several young, athletic players competing for those opportunities. It’s a group that’s hungry to prove themselves, and I’m looking forward to seeing who emerges throughout camp and the season.
We’re also excited to have Jaden Boyer back for his senior year after a solid junior season. Jaden gained valuable experience last fall, and I expect him to continue building on that this year. He’s put in a lot of work during the offseason, and we’re looking forward to seeing that translate on Friday nights.
As with every season, our goal on special teams is to be fundamentally sound, win the field position battle, and take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves. With a mix of experienced players and young athletes competing for roles, I think this group has the potential to make steady progress throughout the season.
2026 Schedule and team news page
08-22
|
vs. Southern Columbia (0-0) |
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08-28
|
vs. Shikellamy (0-0) |
– |
09-04
|
vs. Selinsgrove (0-0) |
– |
09-11
|
@ Bloomsburg (0-0) |
– |
09-18
|
@ Hughesville (0-0) |
– |
09-25
|
vs. Loyalsock (0-0) |
– |
10-02
|
vs. Warrior Run (0-0) |
– |
10-09
|
@ Central Mountain (0-0) |
– |
10-16
|
@ Midd-West (0-0) |
– |
10-23
|
vs. Montoursville (0-0) |
– |
10-30
|
@ Lewisburg (0-0) |
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