Ozark-
After taking a major step forward in his first season, Josh Watson and the Ozark Hillbillies enter 2026 with bigger expectations and their sites set on a conference championship and a deep run in the 4A State playoffs.
Coming off a 4 win season in 2024, the Hillbillies experienced plenty of peaks and valleys in the 2025 season that ended on the road in the first round of the playoffs to Bauxite. A game where they were driving down for the go ahead score, until a late fumble sealed the victory for the Miners. A 7-4 season, first win in 7 years against rival Booneville, and a playoff birth in Watson’s first season, the Hillbillies will be looking to raise the bar in 2026.
The 4-4A will have a familiar look as Booneville (3A) and Subiaco (8-man) come back into the fold joining Lamar, Waldron, Pottsville, Dover, and Mena. Clinton moved out of the conference and will be in the 4-2A, and Dardanelle moves up to 5A after being 4A State Runners-Up losing 31-14 to Elkins.
With the loss of Clinton and Dardanelle, Clarksville dropping the Hillbillies, and Booneville becoming a conference game, that left a challenging task for Watson to add some depth to their schedule and try and find some opponents that would give them a Warren or Nashville type look to prepare them for the playoffs. They will start off week 0 on the road against Maumelle and they are looking forward to seeing how they adapt to the Hornets speed and athleticism.
Ozark will enter 2026 returning key players on both sides of the ball especially at key positions including the whole backfield, TE and they have a great understanding of what was implemented last year and has given Watson the opportunity to implement even more this year. Defensively, they return all their linebackers and key guys upfront and the depth players last year have really stepped it up in the weight room and off season to fill the holes of players that graduated last year. Watson said he was really proud of those guys who stepped up. “As long as they are at their best, they will be in good shape”, Watson said.
The offense will be led by the three headed monster in the backfield in senior QB Cade Capp, senior Easton Fox, and junior John Skolarski, accounting for over 3,000 rushing yards and 42 rushing touchdowns in 2025. Capp is a true leader on and off the field and really got the team centered around him under a brand new head coach and new offense. Coach Watson brings in a multiple offense running majority of the time ground and pound under center but will also go out of the spread which Cade showed a lot of improvement in the spring. The all-conference quarterback had 11 total touchdowns last season and is poised to lead his team to a conference championship this season. Fox earned All-State honors last season eclipsing the 1,000 yard mark, underestimates opponents with his speed because of his size. With gained confidence in hitting the holes sooner, her could be a 1500+ yard back this season. Skolarski made an immediate impact for the Hillbillies as a sophomore accounting for over 2,000 total yards and 27 touchdowns. He will also spend time at quarterback. Up front, they lost four guys from last year but Watson said he is very confident in the four guys he has to fill those gaps, which will be led by junior JaKsen Ross. Coach Watson has high hopes for Ross and has the potential to become a college prospect. With the strength and size of Levi Hitcher, Trey Garner, and senior Keelan Dunn, the Hillbillies could open up some holes for the running game. Junior TE Cooper Perrin leads the recieving core and excellent blocker that Coach Watson raved about having a TE that you can run the ball behind then come to the backside and run behind JR. (Ross).
The defense will return six players from last year including senior Addien Richardson who had 64 tackles last fall. Kanyon Connelly was a big surprise last year as a sophomore turning into a ball hawk which led to 54 tackles last season. Capp will be back at outisde linebacker. Deacon Gage will move to safety this year and Watson raved about his physicality and the lack of fear to go out and lay a hit on someone. Skolarski will move to corner this year after playing safety last year. It is easy to be optimistic about this years team. Improving their win total by three games in year one, a favorable schedule as the front runner in the 4-4A, this year could be a breakout year for the Hillbillies and a playoff run that could extend past Thanksgiving.
Key away games will be August 28th at Maumelle, and September 11th for the Franklin County Feud trophy at Charleston and key home games October 9th against Pottsville and of course the matchup with rival Booneville October 23rd that could decide the conference champion. The season will kick off Tuesday will kick off on Tuesday as they welcome in the Gentry Pioneers for the AAA Benefit game.
