ONAWAY — The Onaway Cardinals will be aiming to record their first winning season since 2023 this fall.
With a new conference to look forward to, the Cardinals hope to start the season fast, gain momentum, and perhaps pull off a surprise or two against one of the tougher opponents they’ll see.
As the countdown to the 2026 season continues, here’s some thoughts I have on the Cardinals.
Make noise in Bridge Alliance?
When I looked at Onaway’s 2026 schedule, there’s several games that stand out.
But what makes this season unique is that the Cardinals, like their rivals from Inland Lakes, are also a member of the new Bridge Alliance 8-Player football conference, except they’ll be competing in the Valley Division. While the Cardinals still face Inland Lakes in a Week 2 contest, the Bulldogs are a part of the Straits Division, which on paper looks more difficult than the Valley, especially knowing Inland Lakes must face tough U.P. teams like Pickford and Rudyard.
However, while the Cardinals still face familiar opponents like Bellaire, Forest Area and Central Lake in the Straits Division, the division also consists of Gaylord St. Mary, a foe they’ve struggled with for several years now, and Cedarville, another formidable program from the U.P.
If Onaway can hold its own in this new league, a strong season looks likely.
Who’s going to lead the Cards?
Last fall, the Cardinals benefited in a major way from the return of Lelin Splan, who delivered a superb senior season and was Onaway’s top offensive threat. But with that being Splan’s final season, that means others will have to emerge and compensate for his production.
Thankfully for the Cardinals, they do have solid players back, led by senior Zach Schmoldt, who had success at fullback in 2025, and sophomore Chris Pauly, who could play quarterback again for Onaway.
Schmoldt brings experience, while Pauly logged plenty of reps and had his own fair share of big plays for the Cardinals during an impressive freshman campaign. Together, those two will need to show consistency if Onaway wants to win.
Another to keep an eye on is senior Phineas Benson, a talented returnee who shined at tight end in 2025.
Most exciting matchup?
In the past, the Cardinals have opened their season with Inland Lakes — and it hasn’t gone well in any of those games.
Onaway won’t be facing its M-68 rival in Week 1 this year, but it will be taking on Rogers City, a Presque Isle rival, at home, to begin its campaign.
The Cardinals fell well short at Rogers City last fall, but with the game being in Onaway, anything can happen.
If they win, what a start.
If not, it’s not the end of the world.
Of all the opening-season matchups in the Cheboygan area, this might be the most intriguing one.
Let’s see what the Cardinals have in a few weeks.
Contact sports editor Jared Greenleaf at jgreenleaf@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @sportsCDT
This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Three things to watch with 2026 Onaway High School football team
Reporting by Jared Greenleaf, Cheboygan Daily Tribune / Cheboygan Daily Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jared Greenleaf, Cheboygan Daily Tribune | USA TODAY Network
