Last season didn't end the way that head coach Stephen Kozuszek had envisioned.

The Nashville Hornets were sitting at 5-2 after a Week 7 win over Pinckneyville.

But the squad hit a bad stretch where they dropped their final two regular season contests and then lost a tough decision on the road in the 2A playoffs, 42-39, to Flora to close the campaign at 5-5.

The best news is that there is always an abundance of talented athletes roaming the hallways at NCHS and most play all of the sports.

The Hornets return a bunch of starters, including 6-4, 185 junior quarterback Cole Stiegman.

Also in the offensive scheme is running back/linebacker 5-10, 215 Carson Seaton.

Three wide receivers will be ready to catch Stiegman passes this fall.

Six-two, 205 sophomore Brantley Kozuszek, the coaches' son, is one of the returning starters at WR/LB.

Gannon Turner, a 5-10, 160 senior WR/DB should also be involved along with 6-4, 180 senior wide receiver/defensive back Palmer Renken.

The offensive and defensive lines will be a major key to the Hornets success against another tough SIRR Mississippi Division schedule.

Kamden Emrick, a 6-3, 300 senior lineman, 6-5, 285 senior lineman Sam Blumhorst, and Teddy Ferrell, a 6-foot, 230 senior lineman, gives Nashville experience and size along both sides of the ball.

Most of the above mentioned starters also play defense.

Others trying to shut down opponents will be defensive lineman, 5-8, 215 Jake Valdivia, Zearon Johnson, a 6-1, 200 linebacker/tight end, 5-10, 165 senior defensive back Owen Diedrich and 5-10, 170 senior defensive back Hayden Kirchner.

With another large roster turnout for this fall, Nashville will once again have some depth all over the field.

“We return a lot of experience from last year’s team, but we have to show that we can be more consistent on both sides of the ball. In all of our losses we had opportunities to put ourselves in a position to win the game, so if we are going to take the next step as a team we have to show we have matured to a point where we can find ways to put away games,” said Coach Kozuszek.

The Pinckneyville Panthers posted two victories last season; an opening week win over Red Bud and a late season win over win-less Anna-Jonesboro.

The other seven contests weren't pretty as they finished just 2-7, 1-4 in the Mississippi.

Coach Ryan Lott has had three-straight 2-7 seasons and he would like to see some additional wins in 2026.

The Panthers will have a new quarterback under center and some other kids with various levels of experience.

Jace Travelstead, a 6-1 sophomore, takes the quarterback duties for Pinckneyville as they play the annual opening game against the Musketeers, one of the teams they beat last fall.

Running back Zeke Stanton, a 5-10, 185 senior, returns as a starter.

The linemen that are back include 5-10, 200 senior Payton Fruits, 6-foot, 235 senior Ty Overturf and 6-4, 305 junior Hayden Piersol.

Some other players who helped out last season return.

Five-ten, 150 senior wide receiver/defensive back Gradie Wagner, and 6-1, 170 running back/defensive back Trey Hearty.

Coach Lott added Tristen Fruits, a 5-9, 150 sophomore running back/defensive back, and 6-2, 205 sophomore running back/linebacker Korbin Pike to the list of players who should be of help.

“We will have a youth movement as we had 15 Seniors last season. We replace our entire backfield on both sides of the ball with a talented group of backs with limited Friday night experience. Upfront we have 2 of our 5 Offensive Lineman returning with a group of Sophomores and Juniors that will contribute and gain experience.,” said Coach Lott.

It's a new day, a new month and new year for the Anna-Jonesboro football program.

New head coach Joel Dallas takes over a club that didn't post a win the past two seasons and, with a loss in the final game of 2023, the Wildcats' losing streak has reached 19-games.

Dallas was a 2004 graduate of AJCHS who played for Hall of Fame Coach Brett Detering.

“Returning to lead this program that helped shape me is an honor,” said Coach Dallas, who has been an assistant at A-J since 2010.

The new head coach will have some kids to work with this season, namely most of the skill position players, to try and improve.

Especially since they now have a new playing surface that they will debut against Harrisburg the first night of the schedule.

“I have 18 years of high school coaching experience, including serving on the AJCHS coaching staff since 2010. Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of working alongside and learning from many outstanding coaches who have helped shape my philosophy and approach to the game,” added Coach Dallas.

Junior quarterback, 6-1, 165 Jase Holshouser will run things on offense.

Three running backs, all seniors, also will be in the backfield.

Five-eleven, 175 Hunter Craft, who also plays defensive back, will be on hand along with 5-10, 175 senior halfback/linebacker Carson Smith and 5-7, 170 halfback/defensive back Leon Patterson.

Another senior running back/linebacker is 5-11, 225 Ben Flores.

Tight end Lucas Wright, a 6-1, 195 senior, is also a returning starter.

The offensive and defensive lines will feature returning starters 5-10, 240 Max Ruddick and 6-3, 275 junior Drake Johnson.

The Swiss army knife for Coach Dallas is kicker/wide receiver/defensive back Julian Brust, a 6-foot, 165 junior.

“Our program's motto is 'Brick by Brick'. We understand where our program has been, and we have a clear vision for where we want it to go. Building a successful program doesn't happen overnight. It requires commitment, consistency, and daily effort. Now is the time to lay a strong foundation, one brick at a time, and establish a culture that will lead to sustained success for years to come,” explained Coach Dallas. “I'm entering my first season as the head coach with a 0–0 record and excited for the opportunity to lead the program into a new era.”

As head coach Brian Beery pointed out in the preseason questionnaire, the West Frankfort Redbirds have a chance to make some program history this fall.

The chronicles of this school and football program show that they have never made three-straight playoff appearances.

Four different times the Redbirds produced back-to-back postseason berths but never three.

After qualifying the past two seasons, West Frankfort would like to make some history.

The Redbirds had a 4-0 beginning last season, dropped three-consecutive contests to playoff teams Nashville, DuQuoin and Benton, before closing the deal with a pair of victories to finish 6-3, which was good enough to host a first round 3A game.

Roxana rolled into Franklin County and left with a 55-26 win to stop the WF season at 6-4.

West Frankfort will have 17 returning players with just five seniors on last year's roster.

Coach Beery will have quarterback Lucas Parker, a 5-11, 195 senior again this season.

Payton Allen, a 5-11, 160 senior wide receiver is also back for WF as is Parker Allen, a 5-11, 175 running back/linebacker.

Taylor Fox, a 6-foot, 195 running back/linebacker, is on the returning starters' list.

Jaiden White, a 5-6, 165 junior running back, and 6-5, 220 senior tight end Nick Hefner is also a linebacker on defense.

Chris Samples, Jase Bennet and Julian Wyant are 5-10 senior running backs on the chart, so there is definitely depth in the backfield and on defense.

Domminick Coffin, a 5-10, 230 offensive lineman, 6-1, 240 senior offensive lineman Gabe Ashby, 5-10, 225 senior Remyngton Fuller offensive lineman, and Shane Smith, a 5-9, 275 offensive lineman give the Redbirds some size to match up against SIRR Mississippi teams.

Other linemen include 6-2, 275 senior Quentin Riley, 5-11, 275 Joseph Hanks and 6-1, 215 junior Eli Tripp rounds out the 17 returning Redbirds for 2026.

“We have never made the playoffs three years in a row,” said Coach Beery. “We’ve made the playoff the last two years, and are trying to make this one our third year in-a-row.”