Friday nights in Whitley County usually involve two things: the smell of concession stand popcorn and a lot of noise coming from the direction of 1600 South State Road 9. If you were looking for the columbia city football schedule this past year, you probably noticed it was a bit of a rollercoaster. Honestly, it wasn't the dominant "steamroll everyone" season some fans were hoping for after that 8-2 run in 2024, but it had its moments of absolute brilliance.
Coach Brett Fox has been at the helm since 2014. He’s seen the highs and the lows. This 2025 season felt like a transition year, yet they still managed to scrap their way into the post-season with a 6-5 record. It’s that kind of grit that keeps the stands full even when the November air starts to bite.
The 2025 Campaign Break Down
The season kicked off with a massive statement. Columbia City traveled to Nappanee on August 22nd to take on NorthWood. People were skeptical. NorthWood is rarely an easy out, but the Eagles pulled off a 27-24 thriller.
Talk about a confidence booster.
Then came the blowout. On September 5th, the Eagles absolutely dismantled Bellmont with a 61-6 final score. It was one of those games where everything just clicks—the blocking, the routes, the defensive gaps. You’ve seen games like that where the home team looks like they’re playing a different sport entirely.
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But then the Northeast 8 conference schedule started to bite back.
Mid-Season Struggles
Things got rocky in the middle of September. Losses to Huntington North and DeKalb in back-to-back weeks cooled off the early hype. The DeKalb game on September 19th was particularly tough; a 28-7 loss at home is never how you want to spend a Friday night.
- Aug 22: @ NorthWood (W 27-24)
- Aug 29: vs Plymouth (W 35-13)
- Sep 5: @ Bellmont (W 61-6)
- Sep 12: @ Huntington North (L 14-21)
- Sep 19: vs DeKalb (L 7-28)
- Sep 26: @ New Haven (W 42-13)
- Oct 3: vs East Noble (L 10-41)
- Oct 10: @ Leo (L 7-30)
- Oct 17: vs Norwell (W 42-14)
It's weird how a schedule can look so lopsided. They’d go from scoring 42 points one week against New Haven to struggling for a single touchdown against a powerhouse like East Noble or Leo. East Noble was especially brutal this year, coming in ranked #28 and showing exactly why with that 41-10 victory over the Eagles.
Post-Season Redemption and the Final Stand
High school football in Indiana is all about the Sectionals. The columbia city football schedule extended into the playoffs, and that’s where things got interesting. They had a rematch against DeKalb on October 24th. After losing to them by 21 points in the regular season, nobody expected much.
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The Eagles flipped the script.
They ground out a 16-10 win in a defensive slugfest. It wasn't pretty. It was just a bunch of kids hitting hard and refusing to let their season end. That win set up a showdown with Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger on Halloween night.
Unfortunately, the clock struck midnight on the Cinderella run. Dwenger took a 21-0 win, ending Columbia City's season with a 6-5 overall record.
Why the Roster Mattered
You can't talk about the schedule without looking at who was on the field. This was a team that had to replace a lot of senior leadership from the previous year. Coach Fox had his hands full with a younger roster.
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We saw guys like Sam Bean (Senior LB) and Avery Fremion (Senior) trying to hold the line. Younger players like Tannor Ellis (Junior QB) and Noah Geiger (Sophomore RB) had to grow up fast. When you have a 6'6" Junior like Tanner Rider on the line, you have a physical advantage, but experience is something you can't coach—you just have to live through it.
Looking Toward the 2026 Schedule
So, what's next? If you're a fan, you're already thinking about August 2026.
The Northeast 8 conference isn't getting any easier. Leo and East Noble are still going to be "the giants" to slay. The key for the Eagles will be finding consistency in the passing game. Replacing a quarterback and several top receivers in 2025 led to some of those low-scoring outings.
Expect the 2026 schedule to follow a similar pattern: non-conference openers against schools like NorthWood or Plymouth, followed by the grind of the NE8.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
- Sync your calendars early: The IHSAA usually sets the "First Contest" date for late August. For 2026, keep an eye on Friday, August 21st or 28th.
- Watch the Junior Class: The 2025 roster was heavy on Juniors (Tannor Ellis, Gabe McDevitt, Jaxson Johnson). These guys will be the senior leaders in 2026.
- Check the Venue: Columbia City often plays better at home, but their road wins against NorthWood and New Haven show they can travel.
High school ball is unpredictable. You can look at the stats all day, but when the lights come on, it's about which group of teenagers wants it more that night. Columbia City proved they had the heart in the playoffs; now they just need the consistency to carry that through the whole season.
Keep an eye on the official Whitley County Consolidated Schools athletics page as the summer of 2026 approaches. That’s where the final, confirmed times and dates for the new season will drop first.