Salisbury Football will begin the 2026 season ranked No. 17 nationally after posting a 10-2 record and reaching the NCAA Division III playoffs’ Third Round last season.
Salisbury earned a First Round bye for the second consecutive season and hosted an NCAA Second Round game. The Sea Gulls defeated No. 15 Endicott College 35-28 in that contest.
Salisbury Football Opens 2026 at Home
Salisbury Football will open the 2026 season at home for the first time since 2024. The Sea Gulls will host McDaniel College at Sea Gull Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 12, for the annual Gold Rush game.
Salisbury will host Washington and Lee on Sept. 19 before taking on Catholic University on Sept. 26. The Washington and Lee weekend will include The Joe Rotellini Era Reunion, while the Catholic University weekend will include Youth Day and mark the 40th Anniversary of the 1986 Football Team.
Four Captains Headline Salisbury Football Returners
Patrick Sheil, Ben Pearch, SyRus McGowan and Dylan Lyerly are identified as Salisbury Football’s 2026 captains. Sheil is listed as a defensive back from Fairfax Station, Va., while Lyerly is listed as a defensive back from Fairfax, Va.
McGowan is listed as a quarterback from Chestertown, Md. Dario Belizaire, a senior listed as SL from Cambridge, Md., is also identified as a key returner for the 2026 season.
Salisbury also had two players earn All-American honors, two earn All-Region honors and 17 earn All-NJAC honors.
Sherman Wood Enters 28th Season
Head coach Sherman Wood is entering his 28th season with Salisbury Football. The program’s stated motto emphasizes daily preparation, film study and limiting mistakes and penalties.
“The motto is WIN the day. We want to win each day, be discipline, watch film, as well as minimize mistakes and penalties. If we do that while putting in the effort, we will win some ball games.”
MSB Analysis
Salisbury Football enters 2026 ranked No. 17 after a 10-2 season that included an NCAA Division III Third Round appearance. Its opening three games are at home, with McDaniel College at Sea Gull Stadium on Sept. 12 followed by Washington and Lee on Sept. 19 and Catholic University on Sept. 26.
The program will enter the season with four identified captains and Sherman Wood beginning his 28th season as head coach.
Source: Original report
