Talkin’ Pleasant Valley

’26 Pleasant Valley football schedule

CLASS 2A, REGION 6
Aug. 21: WHITE PLAINS
Aug. 28: at Ragland
Sept. 4: at Vincent *
Sept. 11: GASTON *
Sept. 18: WELLBORN *
Sept. 25: SPRING GARDEN *
Oct. 2: PIEDMONT *
Oct. 9: OHATCHEE *
Oct. 16: at Saks *
Oct. 23: at West End-Walnut Grove *
Oct. 30: Open

Pleasant Valley facts

Things to know about Pleasant Valley football heading into the 2026 season:

— Jonathan Nix enters his 12th season as Pleasant Valley’s head football coach and 18th season as a head coach, including stints at Ragland and Ashville. He’s 47-67 at Pleasant Valley but 18-5 the past two seasons, with the Raiders tying then breaking the school record for wins and scoring their first-ever playoff victory. Nix is 84-95 overall as a head coach..

— AHSAA realignment separated public and private schools for championship play and eliminated Class 7A, causing several schools to move down in classification. Pleasant Valley stayed put in 2A and aligns with movedowns Ohatchee, Piedmont, Saks, Vincent and Wellborn as well as Gaston and West End-Walnut Grove.

— Key graduation losses from 2025 include the following All-Calhoun County players: OL Wesley Wheeler, OL Josh Buse, DL Jaden Sparks, LB Izayah Nevens, LB Brayden Pappa, WR Brody Barnwell, LB Luke Gunning, LB Bryant McSheridan.

— Key returnees include the following All-Calhoun County players: senior RB Kayden Vick, senior DL Walker Roper, senior DB Nic Acker, Pleasant Valley, senior DB Jackson Acker, senior QB/LB Braxton Salster, senior K Jake Barnwell, senior FB/TE Hudson Sparks, senior OL Jeffery Hughes, senior OL Aiden Jones, junior DL Hayden Hardy, junior DB Jameson Humphrey, junior DL Ayden Pate, senior DL J.D. Denham..

— Other players to watch as they grow into bigger roles this season include sophomore Dallas Roper OL/DL, junior LB Dixon Duncan, sophomore LB Zeb Curvin, junior OL Deacon Patterson, junior OL Levi Wallace, senior WR Logan Williams.

—Joe Medley

A video interview with Pleasant Valley coach Jonathan Nix and Editor Joe Medley’s take on the Raiders’ 2026 season await EA+ subscribers.