Park Vista Community High School's football team is building on late-season momentum as the Cobras set their sights on the state playoffs in 2026. The Cobras struggled to find their footing early in 2025, but finished strong, winning four of their last five games.
"Felt good throughout the second half of that season," senior Harris Bender said. "We're just working towards being able to carry that through the whole season, like you said, and we have all the pieces in place now, it's just about executing." The ultimate goal is the state playoffs and eventually a state title, something the program has not achieved since 2017.
Park Vista head football coach Donald Hanna emphasized the importance of taking the season one step at a time. "We got to take it one game at a time," Hanna said. "We can't look past anyone. We got to handle business weekly and if we do that, do our job, that'll get us in the playoffs." Senior Erik Lee echoed that sentiment, noting the team has the talent necessary for success but must be willing to work for it. "Coming in, I feel like we got the guys that we need to get it done," Lee said. "But also, we got to put the work in to get there as well."
Senior Justice Jones expressed confidence about the team's prospects for the upcoming season. "It's going to feel amazing, because I already know it's gonna happen, definitely," Jones said. The Cobras are looking to build on their late 2025 success and translate that into a full season of strong performances in 2026.
Park Vista opens the 2026 season on the road against Atlantic in August. The team hopes its improved play from the end of last season will carry over as they pursue their first state playoff appearance and potential championship run since claiming the title in 2017. With returning seniors providing leadership and the coaching staff preaching a game by game approach, the Cobras believe they have the right combination to achieve their goals this fall.