The Wareham High School Vikings are gearing up for the 2026 football season with optimism after a solid 6‑4 finish in 2025. A core group of seniors, including Amare Rose and Ty‑Rell Pires, returns to lead the squad, giving the team continuity and experience.
A Schedule Packed with Familiar Foes and Fresh Tests
The Vikings will meet six of the nine teams they faced a year ago, including Carver, Sharon, Cape Cod Tech, Atlantis Charter, Upper Cape and Bourne, while also welcoming new opponents such as Randolph and Stoughton in non‑league play. This blend of continuity and novelty promises competitive matchups across the preseason.
Coach Cy Bariteau has voiced a strong desire to keep the rivalry with Carver alive, citing the program’s quality and proximity as factors that add excitement to the schedule. The game against Carver is slated for September 11, kicking off the season’s slate of contests.
The matchup with Sharon, overseen by coach Ben Shuffain, is viewed as a valuable addition that promises competitive games and opportunities for player development. Sharon will host the Vikings on September 18, continuing a promising early‑season rivalry.
In a strategic shift, the Vikings will face Randolph and Stoughton in non‑league action, replacing previous opponents Hull and Monomoy. These new challenges are intended to test the team’s depth and adaptability as the season progresses.
Within the Mayflower Athletic Conference, the Vikings will compete against South Shore Voc‑Tech instead of Holbrook, as South Shore Tech rejoins the Small Conference this season. The change adds another regional rivalry to the schedule.
The Thanksgiving tradition with Bourne remains a focal point despite the Vikings having lost six straight meetings, the most recent a 36‑26 defeat in 2023. The coaching staff is hopeful that the upcoming season will finally break that streak.
The preseason schedule includes games on September 11 (Carver), September 18 (Sharon), September 25 (Randolph), October 2 (Upper Cape), October 9 (Cape Cod Tech), October 16 (Atlantis Charter), October 22 (South Shore Tech) and October 30 (Stoughton). Playoff and non‑playoff dates have yet to be announced.