By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Editor's note: TopSports.news will post preview stories for all 10 Shawnee County high school football programs over the coming days, leading into the opening games of the 2026 season on Sept. 3 and 4.
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Perennial state football power Hayden, which has advanced to three straight state championship games, has a lot of spots to fill this fall, with Bill Arnold's Wildcats returning just one starter on offense and three on defense.
Bill Arnold's Hayden Wildcats will be aiming for a fourth straight trip to the Class 3A state championship game this fall. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But history tells you that by the end of the 2026 season Hayden is likely to be back in its accustomed position as a state contender.
"You sit there and you look, 'Yeah, we don't have very many starters returning on either side of the ball, but we have guys that have played varsity ball,' '' said Arnold, who has a 233-70 career coaching record. "We had two, three classes back to back to back that those seniors were really good players and these guys had to go against them every day in practice.''
Arnold is also hopeful that a productive winter and summer will pay off for the Wildcats.
"I thought we had a really good winter,'' Arnold said. "I thought the guys really made some great gains in the weight room January, February, March and in the summer we're able to do enough stuff, particularly with as many spots as we have to fill, that we were able to shuffle some people around so we're on the right track as soon as we got started (Monday).
"I'm old enough that now when you start in August is about where you used to be the third game into the season.''
The Wildcats won a pair of undefeated Class 4A titles under the late Tom Stringer in 1998 and 2004 and have continued to be a perennial state power in Arnold's 19 years seasons at the Hayden helm, including a 4A crown in 2008 and a 12-1 record a year ago, with Hayden's lone loss coming in a 38-6 loss to Andale in the state final.
Hayden senior Mason Becker (4) is a returning All-Shawnee County Top 22 pick for the Wildcats. [File photo/TSN]
Headlining the list of Wildcat returners are senior running back/defensive back/kicker Mason Becker (6-foot, 165), a TopSports.news All-Shawnee County Top 22 pick last season, senior running back/defensive back Logan Power (6-1, 175), senior offensive tackle/defensive tackle Mar Barnett (5-9, 220), senior halfback/inside linebacker Jace Wolff (6-0, 1900), senior offensive guard Andrew Droge (5-11, 200) and junior fullback/inside linebacker Evan Huntley (6-1, 195).
Becker was a perfect 100 percent on extra-point kicks last season, was two of two on field goals, carried the ball 32 times for 438 yards, caught 13 passes for 224 yards, had nine kickoff returns for 121 yards, scored nine touchdowns and was in on 30 tackles with five pass interceptions
Other top returners include junior quarterback Ryker Tetuan (5-11, 195) and sophomore free safety Jairus Todwong (6-1, 200).
Hayden will open its season with three straight road games, beginning at Eudora on Sept. 4.
The Wildcats will step outside of Kansas to play Missouri schools Kansas City-St. Piux X in Week 3 and St. Louis-St. Marys in Hayden's home-opener in Week 4.
"Our schedule we've upgraded quite a bit,'' Arnold said. "We've got four quality opponents right off the bat, which I think will help us.
"But at the same time I'm smart enough to know that I need to be patient with these guys a little bit and I think by the time we get to districts we should have everything figured out.''
HAYDEN
2026 football schedule
September -- 4 at Eudora, 11 at Tonganoxie, 18 at St. Pius X, Mo., 25 St. Louis, Mo.-St. Marys.
October -- 9 Perry-Lecompton, 16 at Santa Fe Trail, 23 KC-Bishop Ward, 30 Playoff.
Next up: Highland Park.
