2026 AF1 Home Opener Sets the Stage for Rivalry Redemption Against the Oregon Lightning

The calendar finally flipped, the pads are cracking in practice, and that familiar electric buzz is back at Angel of the Winds Arena. On Sunday, April 12, the Washington Wolfpack open the 2026 Arena Football One season at home. They’ll face off against their Pacific Northwest rival, The Oregon Lightning. The Lightning roll into town, and if the echoes of last year’s heartbreak and hard-fought wins are any indication, this one is going to be loud, physical, and loaded with changes on both sides of the ball from the opening snap. 

Last Season’s Lessons

Let’s be honest, 2025 was a gut-check year for the Wolfpack. Finishing 2-10 in their first full AF1 campaign after the league transition. The numbers didn’t lie. 235 points scored, 701 allowed. It was a season of growing pains and late-game lessons. It was the kind of close-quarters warfare that arena ball demands. But buried inside those struggles were moments that screamed potential. None louder than the two wins against these very same Lightning. 

On March 23 in Everett, the Wolfpack erased a three-touchdown halftime deficit in a 35-28 thriller that had the Den shaking. A month later, on April 25 in Redmond, the Pack built a 19-0 lead and held on for a gritty 41-30 road victory. Those weren’t flukes. Those were statements in a Northwest rivalry.

Oregon, meanwhile, went 5-8. Respectable for an expansion outfit that rebranded from the old High Desert Storm days. They even hovered on the playoff bubble all spring before fading late. They put up 461 points and surrendered 502, showing they could hang with anyone when their offense clicked. The difference? Consistency. And that’s exactly what both sides are chasing now.

Wolfpack Offseason Reload: Defense Gets Disruptive, Offense Gets Physical

Fast-forward to this offseason, and the Wolfpack have been busy reloading with the kind of pieces that fit Head Coach J.R. Wells’ blueprint. That culture consists of tough, accountable, “we guys” who buy in. Wells has preached identity, discipline, and championship habits since Day 1 of camp. Make no mistake, the new blood on the roster backs it up. 

On the defensive side, the unit that absorbed the most punishment last year, the Wolfpack added legitimate disruptors. Javier Edwards, the 6-foot-3, 330-pound trench monster out of Blinn College and Colorado with pro stops in the Texans organization, XFL, and indoor leagues, is the kind of space-eater who collapses pockets and forces hurried throws. 

His addition is paired with bringing in ball-hawking defensive back arena veteran Byron Edwards. Byron is an arena veteran with rings from Frisco, Sioux Falls, Albany, and Nashville, plus a blocked-kick record that still stands at his high school. Suddenly, the secondary has length, instincts, and veteran savvy that can flip field position in a heartbeat.

Offensively, the Pack got tougher up the gut with the signing of veteran fullback Undra Hendrix. At 5-foot-11 and 280 pounds out of Hardin-Simmons, Hendrix brings that old-school, tenacious physicality that wears down defensive fronts over 60 minutes. He’s the kind of “we guy” who finishes runs, picks up blitzes, and sets the tone for an offense that needed more punch between the tackles. 

Training camp reports out of Everett have been glowing: new pieces meshing fast, veterans leading by example, and an unmistakable belief that Year 3 is when the roots Wells has been planting will break through the soil.

Lightning Return Main Pieces

Now flip the script to the visitors. The Lightning didn’t sit still either. Head Coach and GM Chuck Jones made sure to lock down the heart of last year’s attack. Quarterback Dalton Cole returns after a 2025 that saw him lead the entire AF1 in passing yards. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound gunslinger from North Carolina has arena experience and has had success against Washington. However, he did throw seven interceptions against them in four games last year. 

Oregon also brought back wide receiver Kris Lewis, who finished second in the league in touchdown receptions and remains one of the most explosive big-play threats on any field. And in the secondary, shutdown corner Nikolas “Snoop” Brassell is back. He led the league in passes defended last year.

Add in the recent hiring of longtime local legend and former Atlanta Falcon John Charles as quarterbacks coach. He’s a Portland State Hall of Famer and founder of the Air One Football Academy in Prineville. 

Bringing back their starting quarterback, Dalton Cole, and his favorite target, Kris Lewis, is a huge benefit to the team. That already puts them ahead of a lot of the AF1 teams in terms of consistency. On top of bringing back Cole’s top target, Lewis, they also brought back his second favorite target, Maurice Ashley. Ashley finished with 488 yards and six touchdowns last year. 

While they lost their top sack production from 2025, they did bring in a 6-5 monster in Rodney Grene, Jr., out of North Texas. It will be interesting to see how he and defensive lineman Isaiah Pedack line up against the Washington offensive line. The Lightning are definitely ready to compete. However, the Pack will stand in their way. 

Keys to Victory: Winning the Trenches and the Perimeter Battle

So what does all this mean for April 12?

It means the Wolfpack will need to win the trenches on both sides. Edwards and the new defensive front must disrupt Cole’s rhythm before he gets comfortable in the pocket—arena ball rewards the team that forces the quarterback off his spot.

Byron Edwards will be looked to match the speed of Lewis on the perimeter. Offensively, the Pack’s quarterback room will look to exploit mismatches created by Hendrix’s physical presence in the run game, opening lanes for the skill players who showed flashes last spring.

Home Field Advantage

The Lightning will come in swinging, trying to set an early tone on the road and prove their offseason hype is real. Washington? They’ll have the home crowd—the loud, loyal Den that turns Angel of the Winds into a pressure cooker. Gates open early. Nonprofit Night adds a community feel. And every fan in the building knows this is more than just Week 1. It’s the first chance to show the rest of the AF1 that the Pacific Northwest belongs to the Pack.

Wells has talked all camp about preparation meeting opportunity. The pieces are all here. A rebuilt defense hungry to prove itself under the coaching of Delvin Myles. An offense gaining toughness and explosiveness. A coaching staff locked in on the details, and a fan base that’s been waiting since the final whistle of 2025. The Lightning aren’t the only ones with star power and pedigree. Now they arrive in enemy territory against a team that’s tasted victory against them and is ready for more. 

When I spoke with Coach Wells earlier in the offseason, his number one goal was to win all the home games. That starts with the very first week of action.

Roster Breakdowns

We’ll see how these rosters shake up on the field. However, we have a first look at each team. The Lightning have three quarterbacks on their roster, including returning starter Dalton Cole. They also have Robert McCoy and Phil Cutler. At fullback, the Lightning have Maurice Wilmer. 

For receivers, the Lightning have Kris Lewis, Maurice Ashley, Terell Brown, Blake Davis, Donovan Ollie, and Tyler Stephens. Their offensive line consists of Julio Romo, Darius Tolbert, James Hines, Solomon Polk, and Fred Booth. 

On the defensive side, Rodney Green Jr. and Isaiah Pedack make up the defensive linemen. They also have Caden Campoileti and Jaylen Vaughn as defensive lineman and linebacker combos. The defensive backfield is made up of Nick Brassell, Andrew Volmar, and Angelo Grose. Ammon Lakip will handle kicking duties 

For our Wolfpack, the quarterback room is made up of newcomers Vincent Espinoza, Jaiave Magalei, and returning quarterback Adam Kruse. Their fullback is Undra Hendrix. 

The Wolfpack have plenty of receiving talent, with Aakiel Greer, Quintavius Workman, Justin “JoJo” Olibrice, Marcus “MJ” Manuel, and Brandon Lombana. This offense is ready to fly on the field. Along the offensive line, they have Jake Olphant, Travis Alvarez, Donovan Hardin, and Mohammed Elazazy. 

On defense, the defensive line is made up of Javier Edwards, Mike Badejo, Mike Fields, and Malik Allen. The Wolfpack have Donte Reed, Taiwan Buckley, and Jazz Rashid. Their defensive backfield will be made up of Byron Edwards, Machiah Lee, and Jadarius Byrd. Evan Byrd will handle kicking duties. 

Both of these rosters have some returning pieces, but a lot of new pieces. Coach JR Wells focused on finding guys who could both ball out as well as fit their culture. The talent is real, and the explosiveness should set off fireworks as soon as they hit the turf. 

Time to Pack the Den: This Is Wolfpack Territory

This is the game that sets the narrative for the entire 2026 season. A statement win in the opener doesn’t just improve the record. It sends a message that the Wolfpack are a different breed than last year. They’re no longer the young team finding its way. They’re the team that howls loudest when the lights are brightest.

Wolfpack Nation, clear your calendars. Dust off the jerseys. Pack the Den like never before. The rivalry rematch is here. The stakes are real. Lightning may strike fast, but the Pack runs deeper.

See you Sunday. Let’s start 2026 the right way.