The excitement at Evergreen Park Community High School is creating an electric atmosphere among students, teachers, staff members and all of Mustang Nation as the EPCHS football team makes its final preparations for the start of the 2026 season this Friday. 

Many of the team’s key players heading into the season are already well-known to Mustang fans, as the team returns eight starters on offense and another eight on defense. What up until last season could be considered a young core has now developed into an experienced group that has its sights set on success in not only the nine-game regular season slate but beyond into a recently expanded IHSA football playoff format.

“The standard has been set and the expectations are high,” EPCHS football Head Coach Jim Ramazinski said. “With a more experienced group we are looking to compete for a conference championship and make a deep playoff run. Our seniors have set a great example with many being three year varsity starters, and they have led us through a great summer camp.”

Returning to anchor the offense will be junior quarterback Brady Bruen. Bruen had a strong start to his 2025 sophomore season in which he led the Mustangs to a 3-0 start, but suffered a knee injury later in the year.

The multi-sport athlete battled through recovery to play baseball this past spring, and Ramazinski says he looks good and is “100 percent” ready to return to the field and start for the Mustangs in their season opener this Friday against the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences at home. 

Ramazinski said to expect a healthy balance between the air and ground games on offense. Seniors Gavin Wheeler, Garret Kazmierowicz and Cory Isaac, a three-year starter, will give the Mustangs multiple options in the rushing game. Kazmierowicz, who debuted in the backfield late last season due to injuries, is fully prepared to take snaps at the position this year. 

“He’ll be out there,” Ramazinski said. “Last year he was a full out defensive lineman who we put out there out of necessity. He’ll get more reps this season.” 

Senior Tyler Phelps is expected to make big plays as the team’s leading wide receiver. 

“Tyler is going to be a huge offensive threat for us,” Ramazinski said. “He got really fast during this past track season. He’ll be a great two-way player for us as a defensive back as well.” 

The receiving core will also return starters Jake Bishop, a junior and Jeremiah Briscoe, a senior. Jaylen Chothen could also get some looks at the position, Ramazinski said. 

“We have many three year starters and returning starters who are focused and determined to win,” Ramazinski said. “With this experience the Mustangs expect to compete at the highest level each week.” 

Protecting Bruen will be a young but gritty offensive line led by junior Cai’vion Wright.

Defensively, the Mustangs will be led by defensive linemen Kazmierowicz and Landon Robinson-Gwin in addition to Jacob and Esau Ruvalcaba, a pair of brothers who will lead the linebacker core. 

“The consistency I’ve seen from the Ruvalcaba brothers in summer camp and the work they put in, you just know they are true football players and know what it’s all about,” Ramazinski said.

The secondary will be bolstered this year by Trevell Moore, a sophomore safety who Ramazinski said has made great strides from performing at the Frosh/Soph level a season ago. Chothen, another sophomore safety, will return after having started as a freshman in 2025. 

Cole Nardo will return at kicker after missing all of 2025 with an injury. Now a senior, Nardo connected on an impressive 41-yard field goal as a sophomore and will give the Mustangs an additional option while in field goal range. 

The Mustangs will seek a return to the IHSA postseason in a new playoff format that will feature an increase from 32 to 48 teams per class. 

“Our key is to start every game fast,” Ramazinski said. “We will need to have excellent first quarters, and as the season progresses we’ll need to make sure our guys are able to jump into different roles and be ready.” 

“Everybody is needed on our team,” he added. “We will need everyone on our roster to be a contributor throughout the year.”