Last season

Record: 1-10 overall, 0-6 in Greater Triad 1A/2A conference (seventh)
Playoffs: Lost in 1A first round to Winston-Salem Prep

2026 preview

Chatham Central coach Derrin Little thought 2025 would be the season that his team’s wins reflected its improvement.

Leading up to last year, the Bears were given a whole offseason to prepare now junior quarterback Brooks Albright for the starting role, and they added a versatile two-way athlete in Nick Glover to help put points on the board. It led to the best start for the program in recent memory, a 30-26 season-opening win over Graham. But with injuries to Albright and Glover, those that ended the former’s season early and left the latter partially healthy, the Bears endured a campaign of close losses and another disappointing record.

So, what’s the plan for 2026? Reload with new weapons and more experience and close the gap.

“What we focused on this offseason was really just learning how to win in general,” Little said. “When you lose four games that are under one score, you know we had two of them that were one-point losses, I think we’re so close, and I think they realize how close that they are. And, it’s really been them that’s taking on the leadership and the ownership to say, ‘Hey it’s time for us to go and win.’”

Little, entering year four at the helm, said this is the best he’s felt about the Bears ahead of a new season, and his pass-heavy offense is a reason.

With the graduation of Glover, Chatham Central added junior receivers Nolan Mitchell and Matthew Victorino from in-county rival Jordan-Matthews. Mitchell, a speedy athlete, was arguably the Jets’ most dangerous receiver last season with his ability to extend plays after the catch. Victorino, standing at 6 feet, 4 inches, provides a much needed size at the position and solid instincts as a safety.

“(Mitchell) brings the explosion,” Little said. “Our guys, I tell everybody, we’re a bunch of possession catchers. We really kind of lack some of that true speed to really run by people, especially losing Nick from last year. That was kind of the one we used to take the top off. Whereas now, you’re bringing in a guy who can catch a bubble and take it 60. He can catch a 3-yard slant and take it 60. Or, we can straight up run the go route.”

Said Little, “Same thing with (Victorino), honestly. I don’t think (Jordan-Matthews) used him as much offensively as we’re going to use him, but he gives us that bigger target that we haven’t had since we lost (Luke Gaines) a couple of years ago.”

The Bears are also returning starting receivers Hance Rameriez (senior), Sayvion Burnette (senior) and Carson Jackson (senior) alongside speedy running back Tyler Congrove (junior) . Combine that with Albright coming into his third year at the head of the offense, and it creates a skill group that can effectively score against other teams (as shown in Chatham Central’s 7v7 sessions this summer).

“We’ve seen the maturation process of (Albright),” Little said. “Every once in a while, he still goes and he tries to be willy nilly, ‘I’m going to gun this one.’ But for the most part, we see him making the correct decisions now.”

Said Little, “Now, (Albright) is correcting everybody else.”

Chatham Central also has plenty of continuity on the defensive side as it’ll once again have the 2025 Chatham News & Record Defensive Player of the Year Gavin Williams (junior) and senior Bryson Alston leading the linebacker corps. Senior Wilson Hinshaw, who had 4.5 sacks last season, will once again come off the edge.

As there’s a lot of optimism in the skill positions, the key for Chatham Central will be how well its offensive line can protect Albright and anchor the unit. The Bears hope to stay healthy, especially being a smaller team, so that they can finish games — and the season — the way they want to.

“I truly think that we’re right around that corner,” Little said.

Schedule
*conference game

Aug. 21 — vs. Graham
Aug. 28 — at Jordan-Matthews
Sept. 4 — at East Columbus
Sept. 11 — vs. North Moore
Sept. 18 — at Winston-Salem Prep*
Sept. 25 — at North Stokes*
Oct. 2 — BYE
Oct. 9 — vs. College Prep and Leadership*
Oct. 16 — vs. Bishop McGuinness*
Oct. 23 — vs. South Stokes*
Oct. 30 — at South Davidson*