Coach Wade DeVries Prepares Roxana For Tough Hornets Football Opener

ROXANA — The Roxana Shells, coming off a 7-4 season and a second-round appearance in the IHSA Class 3A playoffs, are preparing under head coach Wade DeVries for their 2026 football opener against Nashville in Week 1 at Nashville.

The Shells will face a Hornets team that finished 5-5 overall in 2025. DeVries said the opener will require focus from his team.

"Nashville will be really good in the opener," DeVries added. "We have to get there and focus."

Cohen Dugan will lead Roxana at quarterback and should be a solid player, DeVries said.

Mekhi Shorter, an all-conference running back, also is expected to be a key part of the Shells’ offense. DeVries said Shorter has “incredible speed,” noting he ran 10.89 seconds in the 100 meters last track season and went under 23 seconds in the 200 meters. DeVries said Shorter should be a strong component in both sports.

Roxana also will look to Aiden Stemm, Mason Shaw, Bennett Luck and Zane Losch. DeVries said the four are big, talented players who will lead the group.

The Shells looked solid in a workout this week, and DeVries believes his team is ready for the tough season opener against the Hornets.

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