Gaither High School Reveals 2026 Football Schedule

Tampa-area powerhouse Gaither Cowboys look to build on last season's playoff run.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 1:35pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the abstracted forms of football players and a field, rendered in a vibrant palette of navy, green, and red, capturing the raw energy and competition of high school football.Gaither High School's 2026 football schedule promises an intense season of regional rivalries and high-stakes matchups.Riverview Today

Gaither High School, a top football program in the Tampa Bay area, has announced its 2026 schedule. The Cowboys, led by returning starting quarterback Ryan Browning, will face a mix of local rivals and regional opponents as they aim to build on last season's 10-2 record and playoff appearance.

Why it matters

High school football schedules are closely watched in Florida, as the state is known for producing top college and professional talent. Gaither's schedule features matchups against several other highly ranked programs, making it an important early-season gauge of the team's potential for the 2026 season.

The details

Gaither's 2026 schedule includes games against fellow Hillsborough County schools like Plant and Tampa Bay Tech, as well as regional opponents from Pasco and Pinellas counties. The Cowboys will look to their junior quarterback Ryan Browning, who threw for nearly 1,900 yards and 21 touchdowns last season, to lead an offense that averaged over 41 points per game.

  • Gaither High School released its 2026 football schedule on April 13, 2026.
  • The 2026 Florida high school football season is set to kick off in August 2026.

The players

Ryan Browning

A junior quarterback at Gaither High School who threw for 1,883 yards and 21 touchdowns last season.

Kirk Karsen

The head coach of the Gaither High School football team.

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What they’re saying

“We're excited to get the 2026 season underway and build on the success we had last year. Our schedule will challenge us, but we have a talented group returning that is hungry to make another deep playoff run.”

— Kirk Karsen, Head Coach, Gaither High School

What’s next

Gaither will open its 2026 season on August 21 against Blake High School, with all official game times to be announced at a later date.

The takeaway

Gaither High School's 2026 football schedule features a mix of local and regional opponents, setting the stage for the Cowboys to potentially make another deep playoff run behind their talented junior quarterback Ryan Browning.