Following an 8-3 season during which Hamlin made the playoffs for the second consecutive year, the Pipers will try to ride a wave of momentum into the 2026 football season. But to match or exceed the exploits of their predecessors, the latest version of Pipers will likely have to see a number of new players evolve into heroes this fall.

Hamlin returns just 11 lettermen, which means a good number of starters this season — particularly at the skill positions — haven’t taken many meaningful snaps under the Friday night lights. The good news is that the new front-line players are already blending nicely with the proven leaders, giving coach Jason Botos reason for optimism when the Piper open the season on Aug. 28 hosting Crosbyton.