CENTRALIA PANTHERS – FOOTBALL
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Centralia High School is coming off a 10–2 season and heads into 2026 with “some high expectations.” Head coach Tyler Forsee, in his 15th year at the school and seventh as head coach, writes, “We are coming off of a year where we had a lot of success on both sides of the ball and have several returning players that had meaningful game time experience.” He is supported by assistants Donnie Harn, Troy Motley, Ethan Buckman, Logan Ross, Justin Armontrout, Beau Gordon and Jesse Caballero, giving the Panthers a deep staff to sustain that success.
Centralia returns seven offensive starters and runs an “Unbalanced Single Wing Offense,” described as an “old school” offense that “fits our type of kids.” The row explains, “We are going to run the ball with a power game and misdirection. We don’t always have the most talented kids but we always have tough kids.” They note, “We return experience up front on the offensive line and have several backs who played meaningful minutes last season,” highlighting senior running back Ethan Ross, who posted “Passing: 171 Yards 3 TD’s, Rushing: 926 Yards 8.3 avg and 12 TDs. 1st Team All-CCC RB.” Senior running back Charlie Robinson added “Rushing: 343 Yards 9.0 avg 3 TD’s 2nd Team All-CCC,” and senior linemen Chris Brown and Zarek Poe form part of that experienced front. The coaches mention that “Oliver Bohlmeyer is a big, athletic player with tremendous talent and the ability to make impact plays,” and that “Charlie Robinson may be one of the toughest players I have ever coached,” concluding that with Ross, Bohlmeyer, Robinson and Cooper Gehring, “we expect to have another successful season on the ground” and can “break big plays or control the game by wearing down defenses with our inside run game.”
Defensively, Centralia returns eight starters and is “very encouraged about this group” of returners. Brown recorded “43 Tackles 4 TFL, 2 Sacks, 1 Fumble Recovery, 1st Team All-CCC,” while Louis Suddarth posted “68 Tackles, 7 TFL, 2 FF, 1 FR, 3rd Team All-State.” Bohlmeyer contributed “56 Tackles, 1 Sack, 5 Pass Deflections, 2 INT, 2 TD’s on Defense,” and Poe matched that line with “56 Tackles, 1 Sack, 5 Pass Deflections, 2 INT, 2 TD’s on Defense.” The defensive notes highlight that Suddarth and Robinson are “outstanding defensive players who have a strong nose for the football and embody the toughness we expect from our players,” suggesting a unit built on physical play and a deep understanding of the scheme.
August 28 – at Mexico
September 4 – vs. Hallsville
September 11 – vs. Highland
September 18 – at Hermann
September 25 – at Macon
October 2 – vs. Monroe City
October 9 – at Clark County
October 16 – at Palmyra
October 23 – vs. South Shelby
October 30 – District 1st Round (TBA)
