Looking Back: The Historic 2025 Season
The 2025 Mustangs rewrote the program’s record books. They started 8-0 for the first time in school history, averaging nearly 47 points per game early on, and claimed back-to-back Mid-State Activities Conference Blue titles with a perfect 5-0 league mark. The offense piled up 572 points while the defense limited opponents to 232.
Key milestones included the program’s first-ever regional championship and first state championship berth. In the playoffs, Montabella dominated Breckenridge 64-26 in a home regional semifinal (powered by Austin Jensen’s six touchdowns), blanked Merrill 26-0 for the regional title, and staged a dramatic 32-28 comeback win over Norway in the semifinals after trailing by as many as 20 points.
The run unfortunately ended in the state final at the Superior Dome, where the Mustangs fell 52-8 to a powerful Martin squad. Despite the lopsided score, however their was a lasting impact: Montabella has never achieved this level of success and they brought a legacy for younger players to aspire for.
Positives included elite production (Jensen led with 21 total touchdowns; Brady Kieff paced the rushing attack at nearly 121 yards per game), toughness in comebacks, and program-building depth that supported both varsity success and an undefeated JV. The group proved Montabella belongs among Michigan’s 8-player elite (national rank around 65, state rank No. 3 overall among small schools).
Negatives centered on inconsistency against top competition. A regular-season loss to Portland St. Patrick (16-42) exposed gaps, and the championship game revealed challenges matching Martin’s speed and physicality for a full four quarters. Turnovers and slow starts occasionally hindered momentum, lessons the returning core is determined to address.
However, despite the season not ending the way they desired, the Mustangs can hang their hat on one thing, their only two losses of the season ended up being the Division 1 and Division 2 8-Man MHSAA State Champions: Martin & Portland St. Pat's, Respectively.
Spotlight: Gabe Kauffman, QB - Class of 2027
Incoming Senior, dual-threat quarterback, Gabriel Kauffman emerged as a central figure in the 2025 success. The 5-foot-10, 167-pound signal-caller (now listed closer to 175-185 pounds after offseason work) completed 57% of his passes for 1,298 yards and 14 touchdowns with just five interceptions, while adding 529 rushing yards and eight scores on the ground (nearly 41 yards per game). His 108.8 passer rating and dual-threat ability fueled the high-powered attack. He earned first-team all-conference honors, second-team all-area recognition in multiple counties, and Player of the Game accolades.
Gabe attributed the success of his frame transformation to living in the weight room this offseason, "...it all starts in the weight room, it always does." His offseason goals were clear: make a roughly 20 pound jump this offseason while maintaining peak form, by being one of the hardest workers in the offseason possible. This type of mentality and focus is exactly what sets him apart from other available recruits.
Kauffman has aggressively elevated his recruiting profile this offseason. Working with NXTGen Recruits, he has shared Hudl highlight reels showcasing his 2025 production and dual-threat skills, maintained a strong 3.95 GPA, and attended multiple college camps and showcases. These include stops at Valparaiso, Toledo, Eastern Michigan, Wayne State, Prep Redzone Michigan Exposure Series events, and others, including a Ivy-League Trio of Princeton, Brown, and Harvard.
As a senior in 2026, Kauffman is positioned as the clear leader of the offense and a key piece in Montabella’s final 8-player push.
Offseason Progress as a Program
When talking with Gabe he made it clear that the focus has been on strength, conditioning, and refining the details that fueled last year’s breakthroughs—unselfish team play, adjustments, and competitive toughness.
This is Montabella’s final season of 8-player football. Rising enrollment (projected at 222 students for 2026-27, above the MHSAA 8-player playoff threshold of 215) triggers a return to 11-player in 2027 after a one-year grace period. The school has applied for football-only membership in the Central State Activities Association.
Returning talent includes key contributors such as Austin Jensen, Ethan Greene, Noah Carlson, Mason Bogart, and others from the junior and sophomore classes, balanced against the graduation of several seniors (including productive backs and defenders like Brady Kieff).
Looking Ahead: The 2026 Season
The Mustangs open with one of the toughest early schedules in the state: a Week 1 road trip to reigning Division 1 champion Martin, followed by a home game against defending Division 2 champion Portland St. Patrick. These early tests against the last two 8-player state title winners are designed to create urgency and accelerate growth. Gabe expressed excitement about the opportunity to "...get one back." He also talked about the ability to see where the team is at early on in the season, which will allow for them to make adjustments and potentially go on a long run as the season matures.
From there, Montabella will navigate Mid-State Activities Conference play against familiar foes such as Breckenridge, Merrill, Coleman, and others while chasing another conference crown and deep postseason run. They also will welcome some new programs to the schedule including a team that is on the opposite end of the spectrum, the Aggies of Dansville High School, who will be participating in their first official 8-man Division Season.
The goal is clear—unfinished business after falling short in the 2025 final. With Kauffman directing the offense, a core of experienced skill players, and a coaching staff that has already elevated the program to unprecedented heights, the Mustangs enter 2026 hungry to make their final 8-player chapter the most memorable yet.The foundation is strong. The hunger is real. For a program that has already rewritten its history, the 2026 season offers one more chance to chase the ultimate prize before a new era begins.
#NXTGENELITE #GOMUSTANGS
