The Butte Central Maroons finally kicked down the postseason door last fall. Now, with a new signal caller under center, they are looking to keep it open.
Central enters the 2026 season fresh off its first playoff appearance since 2019. The Maroons snapped a six-year postseason drought and produced their best season of the decade before falling to Whitefish in the opening round of the Class A playoffs.
This fall, sophomore Noah Sutton will be handed the keys to the Central offense.
The 5-foot-10, 160-pound quarterback will take over under center while also contributing in the defensive backfield. Sutton may be young, but he will have an experienced senior class surrounding him as he settles into the varsity role.
Senior receivers Joshua Sutton, Grady Button, GG Fantini, Cade Kelly and Teghan Sparks give the new quarterback several veteran options on the outside. Danny McCarthy brings senior experience to the backfield, while Bobby McCarthy, Gunnar O’Brien and Jack Nylund lead the offensive line.
Central’s roster also lists freshmen Mason McIntyre and Ryder Cunneen at quarterback, giving the program three signal callers across two classes.
Head coach Don Peoples Jr. will lead a 37-player roster featuring 10 seniors, three juniors, 11 sophomores and 13 freshmen.
After ending the playoff drought last fall, the challenge for Sutton and the Maroons is no longer simply getting Central back into the postseason. It is building on that breakthrough and showing that last season was only the beginning.
They kick off their season this Friday against Lockheed at Bob Green Stadium.
2026 Butte Central football roster
No. 0 — Noah Sutton, QB-DB, sophomore
No. 2 — Joshua Sutton, WR-DB, senior
No. 3 — Henly Mansanti, RB-LB, sophomore
No. 4 — Braydon Armstrong, RB-LB, freshman
No. 5 — Logan Bush, RB-LB, freshman
No. 7 — Grady Button, WR-DB, senior
No. 8 — GG Fantini, WR-DB, senior
No. 9 — Cade Kelly, WR-DB, senior
No. 10 — Teghan Sparks, WR-DB, senior
No. 11 — Treigh Hollow, WR-DB, junior
No. 12 — Mason McIntyre, QB-DE, freshman
No. 14 — Hugh O’Brien, TE-LB, sophomore
No. 15 — David Sandoval, WR-DB, sophomore
No. 17 — Ryder Cunneen, QB-DB, freshman
No. 18 — Blake Connors, WR-DB, freshman
No. 19 — Jace Rauch, WR-LB, freshman
No. 20 — Danny McCarthy, RB-DE, senior
No. 21 — Connor Hardy, WR-DB, sophomore
No. 23 — Jaxon Hiatt, WR-DB, junior
No. 24 — Palmer Kellicut, TE-DE, junior
No. 25 — Maurice West, RB-LB, sophomore
No. 28 — Mathew Vela Diamond, WR-DB, freshman
No. 36 — Burkley Lakkala, TE-LB, senior
No. 37 — Jampel Hanley, RB-LB, freshman
No. 38 — Brekyn Armstrong, WR-LB, freshman
No. 51 — Bobby McCarthy, OL-DL, senior
No. 55 — Brendon Rohan, OL-DE, freshman
No. 57 — Lane Batterman, OL-DE, freshman
No. 58 — Calvin Salmonsen, OL-LB, sophomore
No. 59 — Boston Lakkala, OL-DL, freshman
No. 63 — Gunnar O’Brien, OL-LB, senior
No. 65 — Roman Taylor, OL-LB, sophomore
No. 67 — Riley MacCumber, OL-DL, sophomore
No. 69 — Jack Nylund, OL-DL, senior
No. 75 — Hayden Salmonsen, OL-DL, sophomore
No. 77 — Grady Boyer, OL-DL, sophomore
No. 79 — Axston Sparks, OL-DE, freshman
