St. Joseph-Ogden enters the 2026 football season with plenty of talent, led by Oregon recruit Cameron Wagner and 1,000-yard receiver Kaden Wedig. A deep junior class gives the Spartans reason for optimism, while a smaller senior class could present a challenge as SJO pursues another playoff run.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
As a sophomore, Logan Umbarger saw playing time on both sides of the ball in 2025. Look for the junior to make big plays leading St. Joseph-Ogden into the postseason.
Head Coach: Shawn Skinner
Record: 59-42 Probable Senior Class: Maddux Musselman, Kaden Wedig, Brayden Waller, Paityn Mann, Zach Benoit, Willis Canamore, Jameson Ennis, and Cameron Wagner. 2025 Record: 8-5, 5-3 Program Record: 411-233-3 State title game appearances: 1989 (runner-up), 1997 (runner-up), 1999 (runner-up), 2006 (runner-up), 2013 (runner-up)
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
SJO head coach Shawn Skinner talks to a referee during the 2025 home playoff game against Vandalia. Winning 38-24, Skinner and the Spartans advanced to face Unity in the IHSA semifinals with a spot in the Class 3A title game on the line. See more St. Joseph-Ogden football photos at www.sjophotos.com.
Reasons to Cheer: A lot of eyes will be on senior Cameron Wagner. The Oregon recruit and four-star offensive lineman is stronger and quicker than ever. Few, if any, defenders in the conference will get by him, offering plenty of protection for SJO's passing game. Speaking of passing, 6-foot-2, long-armed wide receiver Kaden Wedig is ready to go big. The senior caught 52 passes in 11 games last fall for 1,020 yards. Expect him to fight for passes under double coverage by every team SJO faces this season. Will he be able to surpass his 10 touchdown catches in 2025? Finally, the Spartans have a huge, talented junior class, making the team a conference title contender for the next two seasons.
Reasons to Fear: Small upper class. Typically, playoff teams that make it to the state finals boast a roster of 15 or more seniors. The Illini Prairie Conference is the state's premier football conference, sending a member to the state title game four of the last eight years since its formation. Senior Jameson Ennis is the Spartans' most dangerous defensive weapon. He has played 16 varsity games, racking up 68 tackles, 27 credited as solo. He has three sacks playing in the middle linebacker spot. We are looking for junior Liam Carter to step up on defense. Gaining a lot of experience in his seven appearances as a sophomore, now with more size and speed, expect to hear his name often over the PA or in radio broadcasts. Opponents won't sleep on St. Joseph-Ogden's most versatile playmaker, Brayden Waller. The senior is a playmaker on either side of the ball. On defense, he tallied 45 tackles, with 23 solo and three for a loss. He can pass, run, receive and cause havoc on special teams.
Worth Noting:
• The Spartans and fans enjoy five regular-season home games at Dick Duval Field. Home or on the road, pack umbrellas, rain gear and extra dry clothes (swimwear optional) in case the current weather pattern continues through the fall.
• Week 7, the Spartans face Andrew of Tinley Park. If you're counting, the Thunderbolts' total enrollment of 2,147 is greater than SJO's first three opponents combined.
Outlook: When SJO was a member of the Sangamon Valley and Okaw conferences, making season predictions was easy. The Illini Prairie Conference, which has been represented in four of the last eight state championship games since the league was formed, is no cakewalk, with Unity, Monticello and Central Catholic in the mix with the Spartans for the conference title. The schedule is favorable, with Prairie Central, PBL and IVC on the front end of the season before traveling to Tolono to seek redemption against the Rockets, who prevailed in both contests in 2025. After the Week 5 game against Rantoul, the Spartans have a three-game gauntlet starting with Monticello on the road, followed by a home game against Central Catholic and Andrew. Regardless of whether St. Joseph-Ogden has no losses or four heading into the postseason, given the strength of its schedule, look for the Spartans to be one of the eight quarterfinalists in Class 3A.
2026 SJO Football Schedule
Aug 21 • 7:00 - vs Prairie CentralAug 28 • 7:00 - @ Paxton-Buckley-Loda
Sep 04 • 7:00 - vs Illinois Valley Central
Sep 11 • 7:00 - @ Unity
Sep 18 • 7:00 - vs Rantoul
Sep 25 • 7:00 - @ Monticello
Oct 02 • 7:00 - vs Central Catholic
Oct 09 • 7:30 - vs Tinley Park Andrew
Oct 16 • 7:00 - @ Pontiac
2025 Results:
Aug 29 - Prairie Central • W 44-7
Sept 5 - Paxton-Buckley-Loda • W 35-12
Sept 12 - Illinois Valley Central • 51-16
Sept 19 - Unity • L 40-10
Sept 26 - Rantoul • W 56-21
Oct 3 - Monticello • L 28-21
Oct 10 - Central Catholic • L 67-28
Oct 17 - Seneca • 39-36
Oct 24 - Pontiac • 53-21
Nov 1 - Benton • 17-14
Nov 8 - Roxana • 42-32
Nov 15- Vandalia • 38-24
Nov 22 - Unity 51-44
