The 2026 Rhode Island High School Football season promises to be one of the most interesting seasons we have seen in a long time, especially in Division One.
Here is our preview for the upcoming season.
Preseason Top 10
1. LaSalle Academy
2. Bishop Hendricken
3. North Kingstown
4. Portsmouth
5. Westerly
6. Cranston West
7. St. Raphael’s
8. Central (Providence)
9. South Kingstown
10. Classical (Providence)
10 players to watch
Elijah Guertin, DE, Bishop Hendricken
Ryan Santo, TE/DE, Bishop Hendricken
Jalen Moseley, WR/DB, LaSalle Academy
Lucca Sisto, DE/OLB, LaSalle Academy
Nickolas Stafford, RB, North Kingstown
Mikey Bettencourt, OL/DL, North Kingstown
Daniel Cummings, WR/DB, Westerly
Johnny Germain, RB, St. Ray’s
Alex Hayes, QB/DB, Narragansett
Jabari Jackson, ATH, LaSalle Academy
Division Favorites
Division 1: Bishop Hendricken: The Hawks will once again be favored in D1 but LaSalle and North Kingstown return talented teams that could push the Hawks and be in the mix. Cranston West is a sleeper in the division and they proved last season they could be play with the top of the division.
Division 2: Westerly: Despite losing quarterback Landon Husereau, I still like the Bulldogs thanks to Dan Cummings and a talented senior class returning. Burriville is the one program that could push them and k ok them off of the top of the mountain. Classical and Johnston moving up to Division Two could potentially be competition as well.
Division 3: East Greenwich: The Avengers return a good group and with Division Three looking drastically different, they are well positioned to make a state championship run with quarterback Mark Bradshaw back.
Division 4: Narragansett: The Mariners won it all last season and despite graduating a good senior class, there is no reason to believe that this team cannot make another run after back to back Super Bowl appearances.
Teams to Watch
North Kingstown: The Skippers return several talented seniors including running back Nickolas Stafford. They are a legitimate contender in Division One but some questions need to be answered early on if they are to go on a run. The opener at LaSalle will tell us a lot.
Burriville: The Broncos are back in Division Two and return a good bulk of their talent from last season. After a down season in 2025, Burriville has the pieces to make another state championship run.
Portsmouth: The Patriots graduated a good senior class but this is a proud program that should never be counted out. Even in Division One.
Cranston West: Tommy Milewski’s Falcons got the attention of the state last season and with junior quarterback Jonathan Leroux at the controls, West could surprise folks once again.
Smithfield: New coach Robb McCoy is inheriting a good program that had a tough season in 2025. They went 5-3 but it came with some controversy. McCoy has the experience to turn things around. He just needs support.
Johnston: The Panthers are in Division Two now and could surprise people thanks to the return of quarterback Ethan Archambeault and a talented group of returning skill players.
St. Ray’s: A lot of talent has left the program but this team is well coached and has talented led by standout running back Johnny Germain.
Cumberland; After a late coaching change, the Clippers struggled last season. I expect a return to respectability this season for one of the more consistent programs in the state in recent years.
Final Thoughts: It should be an interesting season in the Ocean State, especially in Division One. It is hard to bet against Hendricken because they have been so dominant through the years but LaSalle and North Kingstown are legitimate threats. Division Two is wide open thanks to some movement but I still think it will come down to Westerly and Burriville. With so many schools moving up and down, Divisions 3 and 4 are wide open this season.