COLUMBIANA, Ohio (WKBN) – Crestview football was one of the Valley’s best programs in 2025 and is set for the same standard come 2026.

Watch above for an in-depth preview with the Crestview Rebels 2026 team!

“It’s just grit and be more powerful than the guy lined up against you,” said senior lineman Shane Bacon. “It’s just manpower, I don’t know, it just gets me going.”

Bacon will anchor the defense with 3 total lineman returning. Overall the Rebels bring back 10 seniors for this fall.

“That should help us out immensely this year, we’re going to lean on those guys on both sides of the ball and hopefully the younger guys that are stepping in get the chance to mature,” said head coach Dom Perry.

Coach Perry is in his fourth season as head coach and will have a new quarterback this season in junior Braydon Meier.

“They’re all ready to get out there and play on Friday nights,” said senior linebacker Josh Smith. “I think we have a really big D-line. Our D-ends are real nice, its going to be exciting to watch them all play.”

Crestview graduated duel-threat quarterback Jake Noling, who is a reigning Class of 2025 WKBN Big 22 Team Member.

Coach Perry said his players at skill positions are younger as 9 total kids graduated last school year.

Last season the Rebels had a unbeaten regular season with a double-digit win total. 2025 was the first time Crestview has double-digit wins in 10 years.

“Last year we won the league, but that was more of our senior class leading us, so I think this grade that we have now hasn’t really earned anything,” said Smith. “We want to go out and get something for ourselves.”

The Rebels have not won a playoff game since 2020 and are 0-3 in the postseason in Coach Perry’s tenure.

“That would mean everything, Coach Perry turned this program around, he’s just done everything in his power, brought in a great coaching staff,” said Bacon. “If we can get a win for him, that would mean the world.”

Rebels were 10-1 in 2025 and a perfect 7-0 in the MVAC Grey Tier.

Crestview starts 2026 against Beaver Local on Aug. 21.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.

Michigan guard LJ Cason plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal, he told On3.

The 6-foot-2 sophomore will now look for a new college home after Dusty May accepted the Dallas Mavericks job. Late last week, Michigan promoted Mike Boynton from interim to full-time head coach, agreeing to a two-year deal to become the next head coach of the Wolverines.

Cason averaged 8.4 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in 18.6 minutes per game this season while shooting 50.3% from the field and 40.2% from three-point range. Unfortunately, his season was cut short after he suffered a torn ACL in late February against Illinois.

Cason, a former three-star recruit, was initially committed to Florida Atlantic under May before following him to Ann Arbor.

Michigan went 37-3 this past season, winning its first national championship since 1989. The Wolverines also had three players selected in the NBA lottery, with Morez Johnson Jr. going ninth overall to the Dallas Mavericks, Yaxel Lendeborg being selected 11th overall by the Golden State Warriors, and Aday Mara going 12th overall to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Due to Michigan’s recent coaching change, the transfer portal will open for a 15-day window for all Wolverines basketball players beginning July 15, five days after Boynton was officially named head coach. However, every other Michigan player has already announced his intention to remain in Ann Arbor and play for Boynton, including key returners from the national championship team in Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKenney.