CHEROKEE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Coach: BRYCE SCHANBACHER
10-3
Cherokee enters 2026 off a 10-3 season under head coach Bryce Schanbacher, who is in his 19th year with the program. Schanbacher says of the Chiefs, “We have a good core group of our guys coming back on both sides of the ball”. He also notes that they have been working extremely hard this past offseason and are eager to get back out there. After a strong 2025 campaign, Cherokee expects to contend again in Class A with experience, speed, and physicality.
Offensively, Cherokee returns four starters and will operate from a single-back shotgun spread with a strong option-heavy rushing attack. Schanbacher says they have great speed in the skill positions and want to run a high-paced attack, leaning on tempo and misdirection. Senior running backs Trig Ream (6-2, 185) and Tyson Ream (5-7, 145) headline the ground game. Junior quarterback Dawson Schanbacher (6-2, 200) directs the offense, while senior tight end Wyatt Parker (6-0, 190) and senior lineman Antonio Banderas (5-10, 250) provide size on the edge and up front; sophomore Jordan Alvidrez (5-9, 155) adds versatility as a running back/wide receiver and is expected to be an important piece after missing his freshman season with injury.
Defensively, the Chiefs bring back four starters and will line up in a 3-2 front designed to maximize their speed. Schanbacher says, “We try to be fast and physical,” noting they have “a ton of speed on the field defensively” and “look to be physical on every snap.” Banderas and Parker anchor the defensive line at end, while Tyson and Trig Ream man the linebacker spots, giving Cherokee experience and toughness in the middle of the defense. In the secondary, Dawson lines up at strong safety and sophomore Creed Patterson starts at cornerback, rounding out a unit that blends physicality with range.
Trig Ream is the program’s VYPE Top 100 nominee after being named the Enid News & Eagle All-NW Oklahoma Player of the Year in 2025. Schanbacher calls him the “leading rusher and the heart and soul of our team,” praising him as “a fast and physical player on the field and a great young man off the field.” Alvidrez is a “great athlete who missed his freshman year due to injury,” but is back and stronger than ever. With that leadership, speed, and physicality, Cherokee expects to stay among the state’s most consistent small-school programs.
