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.

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