2026 Team Preview: Havana Ducks

[Edgytim]

Havana Ducks

Head Coach: Kolten Hammond

Assistant Coaches

Steve Snider Trey Murphy Bryce Kelly Nate Turner Gilbert Robison

School Nickname/Mascot: Ducks

Conference: Lincolnland South

Team Twitter Handle: @Koltonhammond

2026 Regular Season schedule (if known):


vs Farmington
@ Princeville
vs Carlyle
@ ROWVA
vs Rushville
@ South Fulton
vs A-Town
vs LVC
@ United

Returning Offensive Starters for 2026:

QB: Jack Turner
TE: Drake Stephens
H: Brock Ellett
G: Lukas Miller
G: Chris Velazquez
C: Max Layton
WR: Caleb McDaniel


Returning Defensive Starters for 2026:

FS: Jack Turner
SS: Brock Ellett
CB: Drake Stephens
DE: Draidan Mayfield
DE: Gavin Martin
DT: Reid Emme
LB: Chris Velazquez
LB: Carson Tyler
LB: Lukas Miller


Newcomers to Watch

RB: Carson Tyler
WR: Hunter David


2026 Team 7on7 or Team Summer Camps:

Summer Camp @ Monmouth with Ridgeview Lexington.

Impact Player for Havana:

Havana has a very solid group of experienced returning starter back for the 2026 season. The Ducks will lean on senior OL/LB Lukas Miller who was an all conference selection in 2025. Also Havana sophomore do it all QB/FS/K Jack Turner was also an all conference player in 2025 and is another multi-positional starter and impact player this fall.

EDGY's Preseason Thoughts on the 2026 Havana Ducks:

Havana and 5th year head coach Kolton Hammond posted a 4-5 record in 2025 and just missed out on making the IHSA state playoff field. Hammond has posted a 10-26 record in 4 seasons and after a rough few seasons has the Ducks program headed in the right direction.

The biggest question for Havana in 2026?

Can the Ducks put up a winning season in 2026 and make some noise in the IHSA expanded football playoff field? Havana as mentioned above welcomes back a nice core of returning starters and impact players. The conference schedule is always tough and will be again in 2026. Making the state playoff field is fine even in an expanded playoff field, but posting a winning regular season no question is a higher bar for many programs including Havana.

Preseason Ranking? Conference title contender. 2026 IHSA state playoff qualifying team.

 

[cornerrat#1]

All.... One of the teams greatest fans. Long gone but not forgotten. Ratsy


Pork & The Havana Ducks/Roudy Friends

 

[Anon1751544614]

All.... One of the teams greatest fans. Long gone but not forgotten. Ratsy


Pork & The Havana Ducks/Roudy Friends

not my type of music but they sure provided a good time.--net-se.

 

[AlabamaTimberwolf]

Crazy story from the past was a playoff game between Havana and Cuba. I can't remember which team lost but the head coach of the losing team made his team run 100 yard wind sprints after losing a close game. I miss the Havana/Cuba games!

 

[Anon1751544614]

Crazy story from the past was a playoff game between Havana and Cuba. I can't remember which team lost but the head coach of the losing team made his team run 100 yard wind sprints after losing a close game. I miss the Havana/Cuba games!

so a team lost in the playoffs ending their season and the head coach made the team run? i'll bet the seniors didn't run. this so strange.

 

[cornerrat#1]

not my type of music but they sure provided a good time.--net-se.

All.... When Pork would roll into town on occasion at one of the local saloons a large crowd would attend. Now most of the time these were places that played rock but the showman on stage he was always drew people to watch.

And along with those regulars country girls from all around wearing of course cowboy boots. Icing on the cake as they say. The good old days.... Ratsy

 

[AlabamaTimberwolf]

so a team lost in the playoffs ending their season and the head coach made the team run? i'll bet the seniors didn't run. this so strange.

I cut the article out of the SJR back in the day but I'm not sure I have it. It wouldn't work in today's America that's for sure!~

 

[AlabamaTimberwolf]

This came up with the search to locate if it was ever saved. I will have to find my old scrapbook for the article.

"Having an entire team run wind sprints immediately after a playoff loss is a classic, traditional high school coaching tactic used in the 1980s to enforce discipline, ensure players put everything on the field, and establish conditioning, regardless of the scoreboard."

So it was used a lot back in my years of playing...

 

[SiuCubFan8]

This came up with the search to locate if it was ever saved. I will have to find my old scrapbook for the article.

"Having an entire team run wind sprints immediately after a playoff loss is a classic, traditional high school coaching tactic used in the 1980s to enforce discipline, ensure players put everything on the field, and establish conditioning, regardless of the scoreboard."

So it was used a lot back in my years of playing...

If that happened my SR year, ya I'm not running.

 

[AlabamaTimberwolf]

If that happened my SR year, ya I'm not running.

I would've because the younger players need to see quality leadership!~

 

[Cross Bones]

What if they lost because the coaches didnt have them prepared or called the wrong plays

 

[AlabamaTimberwolf]

What if they lost because the coaches didnt have them prepared or called the wrong plays

First this is the 80s meaning you had to win your conference or go 8-1... Remember there were only 16 teams in each class.... SO... If your coach got y'all into the playoffs would you even attempt to throw your coach under the bus because he didn't "get you prepared" or ran the play you thought should've be called???

 

[AlabamaTimberwolf]

If that happened my SR year, ya I'm not running.

I fully expect that from the 40 and under age groups. You can stand on the sidelines while your fans, moms and dads of your teammates, watch their sons run the sprints and your lame *** is watching!~ The entitlement age groups are pretty pathetic to say the least. Not all but most are weak AF!!! With that being said... You were not a captain obviously and you were not a leader. Laughing only proves that.

 

[SiuCubFan8]

I fully expect that from the 40 and under age groups. You can stand on the sidelines while your fans, moms and dads of your teammates, watch their sons run the sprints and your lame *** is watching!~ The entitlement age groups are pretty pathetic to say the least. Not all but most are weak AF!!! With that being said... You were not a captain obviously and you were not a leader. Laughing only proves that.

 

[4Afan]

I fully expect that from the 40 and under age groups. You can stand on the sidelines while your fans, moms and dads of your teammates, watch their sons run the sprints and your lame *** is watching!~ The entitlement age groups are pretty pathetic to say the least. Not all but most are weak AF!!! With that being said... You were not a captain obviously and you were not a leader. Laughing only proves that.

Over 40 here and if you were a true leader you would have done it during the season and maybe not have lost the playoff game.

As an exiting senior what leadership example are you setting if you're not going to be there the following year to follow through? This would be nothing but an empty gesture on your part.

 

[Cross Bones]

First this is the 80s meaning you had to win your conference or go 8-1... Remember there were only 16 teams in each class.... SO... If your coach got y'all into the playoffs would you even attempt to throw your coach under the bus because he didn't "get you prepared" or ran the play you thought should've be called???

Not sure any of this matters. Sometimes coaches dont call the right plays or come up with a busted gameplan. It happens.

The whole situation just reminds me of people cheering Joe Pa on for making his players clean up the stadium after games. Smelled fishy to me. Sure enough I was vindicated.

When you lose, the season is over. No need for the sprints, take some time, days, week, whatever works for the incoming team. Then hit the weights.

 

[Doctor_D]

I fully expect that from the 40 and under age groups. You can stand on the sidelines while your fans, moms and dads of your teammates, watch their sons run the sprints and your lame *** is watching!~ The entitlement age groups are pretty pathetic to say the least. Not all but most are weak AF!!! With that being said... You were not a captain obviously and you were not a leader. Laughing only proves that.

Over 40 here and almost 50.
Most of these schools, seniors just played their last game - ever.
Running sprints after a playoff loss in general is just dumb. Shake the opponents hand. Put away the pads and get ready for the next challenge. Juniors and Sophs can embrace the bitter taste to drive the offseason workouts.