Summit football has a target on its back heading into the 2026 season, and Edison is the latest program to say so publicly.
According to cjsportsradio.com, Edison is treating a late-September matchup against the Hilltoppers as the defining test of its rebound year. The Patch AM newsletter flagged the story for Summit fans on Aug. 11, noting the program "is being viewed as a serious test within the Big Central Conference this fall."
The attention is earned.
For head coach Kevin Kostibos, now entering his 14th season at the helm according to Union News Daily, the outside buzz tracks with what his team accomplished in 2025. Summit went 9-2, won the Big Central Conference United Gold Division title with a perfect 4-0 division record and reached the North 2, Group 3 sectional final before falling to unbeaten West Morris in Long Valley.
The Hilltoppers rallied from a 14-0 deficit to beat Warren Hills 24-21 in the first round, then edged West Essex 31-28 in the semifinals. Ahead of that championship game in November 2025, Kostibos told Union News Daily: "No matter what, these kids continue to believe in themselves."
Two of those believers are back as captains. Senior Matt McKeever, who recorded 80 tackles and 705 passing yards last fall, and senior linebacker Gavin Schnall, who posted 70 tackles and three interceptions, were named 2026 captains alongside fellow senior Kubeck at Big Central Conference Media Day on Wednesday, Aug. 5, at Kean University in Union, as we reported Aug. 9.
Edison, placed in the BCC's National Silver Division, sits in a different bracket than Summit's United Gold group. That makes the late-September crossover game a non-division contest with pure measuring-stick value for both sides. Edison senior tight end/defensive end Shaun Garland represented the Eagles at Media Day.
Summit's 2026 season opens with Week Zero on Thursday, Aug. 27. The Hilltoppers will defend their division crown against Carteret, Cranford and Scotch Plains-Fanwood before the Edison date arrives in late September.
