CVCA ROYALS
Watch Ohio High School Football Live on the NFHS Network all season
CVCA football’s returning starters (11)
CVCA football’s impact players
Although big brother Joey is now at Rutgers, linebacker Tommy Kopec will be the focal point on a defense that allowed just over eight point a game last season. He also will play a larger role in CVCA’s talented stable of running backs. … “Tommy will continue to play a second-level role, no matter where he ends up.” Cook said. “Offensively, we feel we’ve got a stable of the running backs, and he’s a big part of that. We know what he is capable of.” … Running back Zac Anderson returns after a big season. … “Zac is a phenomenal athlete,” Cook said. “He was also the center fielder on our baseball team that went to the state semifinals. He will be a key piece.” … Anchoring the Royals line will be senior Josiah Neumeyer, who can play anywhere along the front. … Cook is expecting an explosive season from RB/LB Reed Jones, who also will get more touches in the backfield. … “Reed had a really breakthrough season. He’s probably had the best offseason of his career this year,” Cook said.
What’s new with CVCA football in 2026
Although the Royals will have 28 lettermen back from last year’s state semifinal team, there are some positions to be filled after losing 11 seniors, several of whom were All-Ohioans. … “We’ll have some new starters running around at different spots,” Cook said. “The good thing about last year is that a lot of our backup football players played 11 halves of football. I think Lake Catholic and [Toledo Central Catholic] games were the only ones where we didn’t have our backups in. They’re experienced.” … Alex Mammone will be CVCA’s new staring quarterback. … Although CVCA may run a few different formations this year, don’t expect it to deviate from the ground-and-pound style of 2025. … “If you want to win a state championship in Ohio, you’ve got to run the football and stop the run,” Cook said. “We have a lot of things that don’t change.” … Change will come to the NCC in football next year when Benedictine and Lutheran West join the conference.
CVCA football’s outlook
By every measure, 2025 was CVCA’s football’s greatest season. The Royals won the NCC in their first year in the conference, claimed their first regional title and reached the Division III state semifinals. Can the Royals do it again? Although Cook is keen to focus on one game at time, he said he thinks CVCA has the talent. … “We don’t talk about it like that, but our goal is to have a Christ-like, state championship-caliber program,” he said. “Some of the biggest things are just doing it right day after day. We all want to be regional champs and our working to a state championship here. That stuff has not changed.” … Regarding the NCC, Cook said the Royals can win the the title, but expects the road to be tougher. … “We’re definitely counting on each team to improve,” he said. “The entire NCC is Division III right now. That means we could be seeing a lot of familiar teams in the playoffs.”
CVCA football schedule for 2026
Home games in all CAPS. All games at 7 p.m., unless noted.
Michael Leonard can be reached at mleonard@recorpub.com.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy football schedule, lettermen, 2026 preview
Reporting by Michael Leonard, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Michael Leonard, Akron Beacon Journal | USA TODAY Network
