Crandall opens the 2026 season Friday night against a Denton Braswell team that may be considerably better than its 2-8 record from last season suggests.
The Pirates bring back one of the more explosive collections of offensive playmakers in Class 5A Division I.
Braswell counters with 16 returning starters, several productive defenders, and a new coaching staff led by Justen Evans.
Here are five matchups that could determine which team leaves Carrico Stadium with a season opening victory.
1. Darrik Ward Jr. vs. Braswell’s Linebackers
Crandall’s offense starts with Darrik Ward Jr. Ward rushed for 1,246 yards and 18 touchdowns last season while averaging more than six yards per carry, and he enters his junior season as one of the Pirates’ most established offensive weapons.
Braswell appears built to challenge him. The Bengals return linebackers Huran Brown III and Grant Goshton, while athletic senior Taven Brown adds another experienced option at the second level.
Brown recorded 14 tackles for loss last season, and Goshton finished with 72 tackles.
This will be an important early test for Crandall’s offensive line. If Ward consistently reaches the second level with room to run, Braswell will be forced to bring additional defenders closer to the line of scrimmage, which would create opportunities elsewhere.
However, if Braswell’s linebackers can contain Ward without extra help, the Bengals can devote more attention to Crandall’s passing game.
Edge: Crandall, if Ward gets through the first wave.
2. Jeremiah Douglas vs. Braswell’s Secondary
This may be the matchup Braswell fears most. Jeremiah Douglas enters the season after catching 63 passes for 1,029 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2025.
He is capable of producing underneath, stretching the field vertically, and turning routine completions into explosive plays.
Braswell safety Emanuel Fuller gives the Bengals a proven answer on the back end.
Fuller recorded 95 tackles as a sophomore and was one of Braswell’s most productive defenders, and the Bengals also have a new defensive coordinator in Eddie Moten, whose coaching background centers heavily on defensive backs.
But Crandall presents more than a simple Douglas problem. Quarterback Isaac Briones completed 68 percent of his passes last season, and Braswell cannot devote its entire secondary to one receiver while ignoring Crandall’s other weapons.
If Douglas begins winning one-on-one matchups, Braswell could quickly be forced to alter its coverage, and that could change the entire game.
Edge: Crandall, because Douglas has already proven he can take over games.
3. Crandall’s Offensive Line vs. Ivory Marshall
Braswell defensive end Ivory Marshall is one of the most important players Crandall must identify before every snap.
Marshall recorded 73.5 tackles and 13 tackles for loss last season, and his ability to disrupt plays behind the line can create exactly the situations Braswell needs against Crandall.
The Pirates are dangerous when the offense stays on schedule. Ward becomes difficult to contain, play action becomes available, and Briones has multiple options in the passing game.
Negative plays change that equation. A tackle for loss on first down or pressure on Briones can turn an explosive offense into one facing obvious passing situations.
Crandall does not necessarily have to dominate Marshall. The Pirates simply cannot allow him to repeatedly wreck possessions.
If Crandall’s tackles keep the edges clean and give Briones time, Braswell’s secondary will have a much more difficult assignment.
Edge: Whichever side controls first down.
4. Zahir Trufant vs. Crandall’s Run Defense
Braswell’s offensive priority should be obvious: get Zahir Trufant involved early.
Trufant rushed for more than 600 yards last season despite playing in an offense that struggled to score consistently, and his performance against Coppell showed his ceiling.
Trufant rushed for 197 yards and two touchdowns against a team that eventually finished 10-2. He also caught a touchdown pass as Braswell pushed Coppell to the final minutes before losing 25-21.
Crandall cannot allow that version of Trufant to appear Friday night. Senior linebacker Cayson Hardman and Crandall’s defensive front will have to tackle cleanly and prevent Braswell from consistently reaching second and short.
The Pirates should have an advantage if they can force Braswell into obvious passing situations, but the problem comes if Trufant begins producing five and six yards at a time.
That allows Evans to use the full offense and prevents Crandall from attacking the quarterback.
Edge: Potentially the most important matchup of the game.
5. Braswell’s Quarterback Run Threat vs. Crandall’s Defensive Discipline
Braswell enters Friday with more uncertainty at quarterback than Crandall.
Junior Zaivyn Nyaku appears positioned to play a significant role after receiving varsity quarterback experience as a sophomore, and what makes Nyaku dangerous is his mobility.
Evans has historically used offenses that make defenses account for numbers in the box. With Trufant at running back and a quarterback capable of keeping the football, Crandall’s defensive ends and linebackers cannot simply chase the running back.
One missed assignment can open the edge, and one defender collapsing too aggressively can turn a quarterback keeper into a major gain.
Crandall does not need to guess correctly on every read. The Pirates need to remain disciplined enough that Braswell earns its yards rather than receiving them because someone abandoned an assignment.
That becomes especially important in Week 1 against a new coaching staff whose complete offensive package has not yet appeared on regular season film.
Edge: Crandall, if the Pirates remain assignment sound.
The Matchup That Could Decide Everything
Braswell’s defense versus Crandall’s offense is the battle that stands out entering Friday.
The Bengals return experienced defenders and have upgraded their coaching staff, while Crandall counters with a 1,200 yard running back, a 1,000 yard receiver, and an experienced senior quarterback.
If Ward establishes the run and Douglas begins creating explosive plays, Braswell may struggle to keep pace.
But if Marshall and the Braswell linebackers create negative plays, force turnovers, and keep Crandall from finding an early rhythm, the Bengals have enough offensive weapons to make this a four-quarter game.
For Crandall, the formula is straightforward: protect the football, control Trufant, keep Braswell’s quarterback contained, and make the Bengals defend Ward and Douglas for four quarters.
Win those battles, and the Pirates should put themselves in position to open the season 1-0.
