COAL HILL – With Johnson County Westside winning the most games since 2017 and having a ton of experience, the excitement for the team is probably at an all-time high.

“This is the year everyone was hoping for,” Rebels coach Jeff Stewart said. “I don’t want it to go to our heads. With nine seniors, we’ve probably never had that many. If we stay healthy in all areas, we’ll be competitive.”

Johnson County Westside returns in 2024 with nine starters on offense and defense after a 3-7 year. Highlights included a 22-20 win over Magazine and a 46-43 win over Mountainburg.

Cooper Hilton, Kyle Waln, Hayden Edwards and Peyton Williamson lead the backfield. Nathan Powell, who transferred from Clarksville, looks to play a key role in the offense. Levi Gregory (6-7, 300 pounds) and Dontay Parker (6-3, 315 pounds) lead the way with their size.

“Offensively, I’m excited,” Stewart said. “We’ll have Cooper back at quarterback. But I expect Kyle to come in and give us something, too. He’s been great in our games. Speed-wise, it’s a pretty good race between the two. Powell hasn’t been here long, but he’s a player. The backfield should be pretty tough. We’ve got a couple of guys up front that can win their assignments. Gregory played basketball last year and his foot game has really improved. Division II schools should keep an eye on him.”

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