REJOICE CHRISTIAN EAGLES
Coach: BRENT MARLEY
13-1
Rejoice Christian enters 2026 in a unique position for a program that just went 13-1 and won back-to-back state titles, as head coach Brent Marley leads a team that is young on paper but rich in winning experience. He says 2026 “will feature a lot of returning players that didn’t get a lot of playing time during the 2025 season,” and that there will be “a lot of opportunity for players to step up and make an impact for our young team that only has 7 seniors.” Marley notes they “will need to improve daily and stay healthy through a very difficult non-conference early schedule,” and points out that “offensively we will only return 2 starters and defensively no starters return.”
On offense, Rejoice will continue to operate out of a spread look, with Marley saying, “We like to operate fast and utilize shifts/motions to gain an advantage.” Quarterback Kenyon Terwilliger (6-0, 195, Jr.) is expected to take over full-time after an efficient taste of action in 2025, when he completed 21 of 28 passes for 241 yards and three touchdowns and added 130 rushing yards and two scores on 15 carries. Receiver Tristan Willis (5-11, 165, Jr.) returns after posting 17 receptions for 195 yards and four touchdowns, while inside receiver Alex Yorman (5-11, 160, Jr.) caught eight passes for 86 yards and a score and added a 90-yard kickoff-return touchdown in the state championship game. Senior lineman Trace Sanchez (5-10, 220), a two-way standout and the Eagles’ lone remaining starter from both the 2024 and 2025 title teams, anchors the offensive front alongside running back Tanner Piazza (5-6, 155, Sr.) and receiver Jack Curry (5-11, 160, Jr.). With only two offensive starters returning but plenty of talented juniors stepping up, Rejoice will lean on tempo, motion and spacing to keep defenses on their heels.
Defensively, the Eagles will be almost entirely new but still aggressive and multiple. Marley describes the unit as “Multiple; Base out of a 3-4 but will change the fronts frequently,” allowing Rejoice to disguise looks and adapt to opponents. Nose guard Sanchez returns as the only player who started on both sides of the ball for the last two championship teams and is coming off a season with 70 tackles, three sacks and four forced fumbles, giving the Eagles a reliable disruptor in the middle. Around him, juniors Sam Nichols (5-10, 190) and Britton Knapp (6-1, 170), plus seniors JayR Marcella (5-9, 185), Nick Strle (5-9, 185) and cornerback Jackson Sanders (5-9, 150), will form a new core after several dealt with injuries last year. With no returning defensive starters on paper but a handful of experienced seniors and a scheme built on flexibility, Rejoice’s defense will grow as the season progresses, aiming to peak late while keeping the explosive offense in favorable positions.
8-28 – vs. Victory Christian
9-4 – at Cascia Hall
9-18 – vs. Perkins-Tryon
9-25 – vs. Westville
10-2 – at Sperry
10-9 – vs. Tulsa Central
10-15 – at Holland Hall
10-23 – vs. Henryetta
10-30 – at Claremore Sequoyah
11-6 – at Okmulgee
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