PREVIEW – Can Rebels Take the Next Step in 2022

2022-todd-county-central-football-graphic-2

Last season, the Todd County Central Rebels managed to take the second seed in the district and host a home playoff game for the first time this century. With some experienced leadership returning and some beef on the line on both sides of the ball, the Rebels hope to at least repeat that feat in 2022.

Coach Josh Robins returns for his third season at the helm of the Rebel football program. His first team went 3-5 in the COVID-impacted season of 2020. Last year, the Rebels went 4-7 and finished second in the district before losing a heartbreaker to Hancock County in the opening round of the playoffs. Four of the seven losses were games in which the Rebels were in up til the very end, including a 10-0 loss at Russellville, who went on to finish as the runner-up in Class A.

The Rebels do have a few holes to replace on both sides of the ball as the new season gets underway.

Omarion Redick rushed for 843 yards and seven scores last season. The Rebels will need to find someone who can be the consistent producer on the ground to take pressure off Gavyn Nolan at the quarterback slot. The Rebels are hoping that consistent producer will be Jamarion Smith. Smith had 148 yards and two scores on the ground last season and those numbers will certainly rise as he becomes a featured back.

Quarterback is not a question heading into the season for the Rebels. Senior Gavyn Nolan is entrenched at QB 1 for Todd County Central. Nolan threw for 968 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. If he can improve on his completion rate just a bit those numbers will climb.

Gavyn Nolan

Nolan’s backup, and his favorite target through the air, Nate Reding is back for his senior season. Reding caught 36 passes for 526 yards and six touchdowns. Reding is also a threat on the defensive side of the ball. He returned a pick for a touchdown in the scrimmage against Russellville earlier this summer. Reding was third on the team in tackles last season and had two interceptions.

Nate Reding

Last year, Preston Moore and Omarion Riddick were the Rebels’ “big play” threats. Does someone step up and fill that role this season?

A name to watch for on that front is B.J. Farlow. Farlow has blazing speed and could be a very pleasant surprise for the Rebels this season.

B.J. Farlow

Defensively, the Rebels lost the “heart” of last year’s crew with the graduation of Chase Wells, Xavion West, and Omarion Riddick, who led the team in tackles. The good news is there is some young and big talent coming up. The Rebels will just need them to grow up quickly as the season gets underway.

However, it is worth noting that in two scrimmages the first-team defense has given up only one score, and that came on a 10-and-out situation in the red zone. The same defense scored twice against Russellville in the Rebels’ scrimmage win.

The key dates on the schedule for the Rebels look to be September 16 and October 21. The September date is a road trip to Calhoun to take on McLean County. The Rebels let one get away at home last season against the Cougars. The October date is a home battle against Hancock County, and could very well be for a home game in the playoffs.

And then there is that little matter of the September 30th trip to Owensboro Catholic to take on the Aces.

The Rebels will kick off the season Friday night as they go on the road to take on Trigg County.

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