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By TRACY WATSON
COLUMBIANA -- As one of the newest members of the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference, Crestview brings a huge football tradition to the conference, however, veteran coach Paul Cusick's Rebels are also coming off a rare down season.
Cusick enters his 19th season at the school with a 144-60 record. Crestview's 3-7 record kept them out of the playoffs last season, breaking a string of eight consecutive postseason appearances. The Rebels, who are in Division 5, Region 17, have made the playoffs 11 of the previous 12 seasons before 2016 and 13 times overall during the 2000s.
Crestview's 2016 campaign started well with a pair of victories, including one over rival Columbiana, but the Rebels lost seven of their final eight and their final four.
In looking to get back into the postseason, Cusick welcomes back 21 returning letterwinners, including eight starters on offense and six on the defensive side of the football.
The Rebels look to be set with playmakers on offense as senior Caleb Hill (6-foot-1, 178 pounds) returns to the team's spread zone read offense under center. Junior running Andrew Yanssens (5-10, 192) is also back along with junior halfback Devin Turvey (5-9, 184).
Junior Dylan Huff (6-3, 180) returns at split end with senior Dakota Stratton (5-11, 199) back at tight end. Three offensive linemen are also back in juniors Dominic Perry (6-2, 285), Wyatt Woodring (6-1, 221) and Josh Simmons (6-0, 245). Perry will be at guard, Woodring at tackle and Simmons is the center.
Juniors James Fitzgerald (5-10, 138) and Stephen Barr (5-10, 176) are the back-up signal callers. Other returning backs include seniors Andrew Hardenbrook (HB) (6-0, 150), Danny Moore (RB) (5-8, 158), the team's only three-year letterman, and Jacob Ricketts (HB) (5-7, 157). Others available at running back are sophomore Tanner Davis and freshmen Ethan Powell and Kyle Saunders and freshmen halfbacks Tyler Harrison and Kain McIntosh.
Back at receiver are senior Jeff Feo (FL/SE) (5-8, 158), juniors Stephen Barr (FL) (5-10, 176), Austin Brodigan (5-8, 154), Gabe Cusick (FL) (5-9, 153) and James Fitzgerald (SE) (5-10, 138) along with sophomore Hunter Woodring (FL) (6-0, 180). Others are juniors Caleb Dew (SE), Jude Riffle (SE), Nick Sherrill (TE), sophomore Cameron Wolfe (SE) and freshmen William Hardenbrook (FL), Joey Hawkins (SE), Jamie Hoffer (TE), Kaden Paskevitch (SE), Tony Perorazio (TE) and Brandon Yanssens (SE).
The remainder of the line will come from a group that includes senior Dylan Baker (G) (5-10, 255), juniors Chucky Lindsay (C) (5-9, 180), Daniel Morgan (G) (5-10, 200) and Dante Pelino (G) (6-1, 213).
Incoming line include juniors Brandon Adams, Justin Collins, Jason Hill and Alex Pecor as well as freshmen Wyatt Babik, Nathan Heck, Connor Hughes, Cole Kerchofer, Colton Murray and Eli Riffle.
"Offensively, we will continue to run the spread, but our tempo will depend on how quickly we mature," Cusick said. "We should have great competition in camp for starting positions, but we definitely have a lack of experience on the offensive side of the ball and need to learn the system to be competitive."
The six returning starters on defense are Hardenbrook at weak safety, Moore at strong safety, Barr at free safety, junior Dylan Huff (6-3, 180) at corner and Stratton and Morgan at linebacker.
Returning defensive linemen include Baker, Ricketts, Pelino, Perry, Simmons and Woodring with newcomers in Adams, Collins, Hill and Pecor. Freshmen are Babik, Heck, Jamie Hoffer, Hughes, Cole Kerchofer, Murray, Tony Perorazio and Riffle.
Cusick and Lindsay are both back at linebacker with Sherrill , Davis, Harrison and Kain also ready. Defensive backs who saw playing time a season ago include Feo, Hill, Brodigan, Fitzgerald, Turvey, Yanssens and Hunter Woodring.
"Most or our experience is returning on the defensive side of the ball," Cusick said. "Our defense must lead the way until we grow up offensively. The defense looks to be more aggressive and must make plays for us.
"We will have a great balance of experience throughout the defensive unit, but we must be able to create turnovers and get the offense good field position."
Crestview will open the season at home against West Branch and have added OVAC foes Magnolia, on the road, and Indian Creek, at home, to the slate.
Cusick has some veterans on his coaching staff as well with defensive coordinator Lowell Bacon also in his 19th season, Dom Perry is in his 22nd year with special teams and both sides of the line; Eric Potts in his 21st with the linebackers and running backs and Dan Hill in his 13th with defensive ends and tight ends.
Other assistants include Jed Campbell (8th year), Keith Drewnoski (3rd), Mike Bettura (2nd) and newcomer Seth Antram.