Breakdown: Bolingbrook Raiders

School: Bolingbrook

Nickname: Raiders

Colors: Red/Black/White

Head coach: Titcus Pettigrew

Bolingbrook is currently the #15 ranked team in the 2026 EDGYTIM.com Week 5 Chicagoland Top 30 poll

The Bolingbrook Raiders

The Bolingbrook offense is in many ways the same or at least the same formation and sets as several tramd across the state. The Raiders offense operates out of a pistol/shotgun spread look. Bolingbrook will also show various additional looks for formations depending upon down and distance. Bolingbrook is another pistol teams that will run various RPO and has a very good group of offensive skills that the offense looks to get the ball in open space.

The Raiders offense will by led again this season by senior QB Tyson Ward (5-foot-10, 180 pounds). Ward I felt had a very good junior seson inn 2025 and his game improved each week in leading the Raiders into the 8A state playoff field. Ward has pretty good overall speed and quickness in the RPO and is a weapon running with the football. Ward also looks to have improved his overall overall arm strength and touch. Ward was able to throw a consistently good football and is much more capable of being more of a threat throwing the football on the run in 2026. Ward is one of a handful of real options to watch in this offense, and his running ability and passing ability is sneaky good.

Offensive Skills

The remaining backs and receivers for Bolingbrook is always a plus. Bolingbrook senior RB TJ Lewis (5-foot-11, 220 pounds) is already committed to Oklahoma State. Lewis runs with an impressive mix of speed, quick feet and balance. His ability to start and stop on a dime is evident here as well. He can run over or run past oncoming defenders and once he gets through the initial contact, look out. Lewis is simply one of the better running backs in this state in 2026. . Also keep an eye on senior WR Curtis Stubbs II (6-foot-4, 215 pounds) along with junior RB Jordan Donald (5-foot-11, 205 pounds), senior WR Stephan Paunesky (5-foot-9, 170 pounds) plus senior WR Keilan S Winfield (5-foot-10, 190 pounds) and junior WR/DB Gabriel Jenkins (5-foot-10, 170 pounds).

The Raiders offensive line was a bit of an unknown this season after graduating several starters from a season ago. The Bolingbrook offensive line held up pretty well against a very good Oswego defense in this 21-7 win. . The Raiders line play features junior Brody Kelliher (6-foot-4, 285 pounds) along with senior Nosa Omorogbe (6-foot-0, 270 pounds), junior OL/DL Jamar Bonner (6-foot-4, 275 pounds) senior Caleb Crosby (6-foot-1, 312 pounds) and sophomore Melvin Lockett (6-foot-2, 270 pounds).

The Raiders Defense

The Bolingbrook defense is an impressive collection of fast and very physical front seven and a secondary capable of covering all comers this season. The Raiders defense was able to take away the outside running lanes and limited the big play ability of Oswrgo RB Ammar Banire in this 21-7 win.

The Raiders defensive line features junior Notre Dame commit Darieon Prescott (6-foot-5, 260 pounds), senior Peyton Williams (5-foot-11, 275 pounds), senior Raymond George (6-foot-0, 260 pounds) and senior two way starter Nosa Omorogbe (6-foot-=0, 270 pounds) . The linebackers feature senior Zyaire Burkley (5-foot-10, 173 pounds) and senior Kaiyel Davis ((5-foot-10, 207 pounds).. The Bolingbrook secondary features junior Antoine NorFleet (6-foot-3, 200 pounds), junior two way starter Gabriel Jenkins (5-foot-10, 170 pounds) plus senior Rylan Dehr (5-foot-10, 180 pounds) senior Kenyon Rodgers (5-foot-9, 160 pounds) plus senior Matthew Roman (5-foot-10, 185 pounds).

The Good: Talent level. Physicality. Defense. Team Speed

The Not So Good: Kicking Game. Depth.

The Future? Make sure to check the soon to be released Underclassmen Report feature from which will include all of the top Bolingbrook underclassmen names to watch.

EDGY’s Overall Take on Bolingbrook?

It had been a few years since was able to get back to see the Bolingbrook Raiders to be honest. I have beern able to build up a great relationship over the years going back to Phil Acton then John Ivlow. Once the Ivlow era ended I really had very little ties to the new staff. Yet over the last few years it’s been great to get to know Coach Pettigrew and the new administration. It became pretty obvious last season that the Raiders were back after a few down seasons.

The Bolingbrook offense is also a run based first attack and they found a way to move the football against a very good Oswego defense. Most impressive was the final drive of the game for the Raiders. as Bolingbrook drove the length of the field behind the offensive line and RB TJ Lewis. The offense was able to gain some big yards and convert on a handful of third downs to keep the drive alive. The passing game is solid and in my mind QB Tyson Ward is a name to watch again this fall. Ward isn’t the biggest kid going, but he can do enough to keep the chains moving and is also a weapon running wiuth the football. TJ Lewis no question is the real deal and another headliner.

The Bolingbrook defense again is a strength thia fall. This is a good sized defensive line that plays fast and physical and they also fly to the football. The Raiders combination on defense of star Power (Darieon Prescott) along with speed and power across the starting 11 is top level.

The Future?

Over the years it always seemed that you could see the good Bolingbrook and the not so good Bolingbrook from game to game. I’ve seen the Raiders have nights where they just not execute well, load up on penalties and in general play sloppy football. Some night you can hope to see the good Bolingbrook, which I saw in this impressive 21-7 win over Oswego. The Raiders have the tools and the pieces in place to make some noise this fall. The defense is impressive and can play and match up against some of the top 8A teams I’ve seen this season. The offense isn’t fancy and wide open, but it’s an effective offense that seems to be able to move the chains on a consistent basis.

The Raiders in my opinion have a chance to draw a high seed/playoff bye and can hang with pretty much everyone in 8A.