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The Zion Chapel Rebels’ 2024 football season came to an end last week in the first round of the Class 2A Playoffs and the young football team will now look to the future.

This season, Zion Chapel made the playoffs for the first time since 2019 and also had its first winning record since 2019, as well.

“Overall, the season went well,” ZCHS Coach Cody Keene said. “It basically went like we wanted it to. There were some things that were improved upon year over year and we were probably younger, at least in experience, this year than we have been the previous two seasons.”

Zion Chapel wen 1-9 in back-to-back seasons in 2020 and 2021 and went 3-7 in Keene’s first season at the helm in 2022, followed by a 5-5 record last season and 7-4 this season. That improvement is what Keene said his team and staff would look to continue.

“We were productive as far as improving goes,” Keene said. “We took another step towards getting better. Every year has been a step in that direction and next year I expect us to get even better. That starts with the work, the work in the weight room.”

Getting stronger is what Keene is focusing on heading into the offseason.

“At the end of the year, we were starting three eighth graders offensively and defensively,” he continued. “So, I think the future is bright. There is some size in those younger grades and we just have to get stronger and build our mentality in the weight room. That’s where the effort, toughness and aggressiveness all comes from.”

Junior John Foster Hamm led the Rebels on offense this season with 719 yards and eight touchdowns with just three interceptions passing, along with 386 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground. Junior Brayden Benbow led the ground game with 600 yards and nine touchdowns rushing, while senior Joseph LeGear caught 20 passes for 392 yards and six touchdowns receiving.

Benbow also led the ZCHS defense with 123 tackles, eight tackles-for-loss, three sacks, one interception and a fumble recovery. Senior Jackson Dowdy added 109 tackles, 15.5 tackles-for-loss, 9.5 sacks, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. Junior Jeremiah Stinson tallied 59 tackles, four tackles-for-loss, one interception, three fumble recoveries and a forced fumble. LeGear also intercepted two passes on defense.

The majority of those leaders, along with a slew of starters, will be back next season.

“I think offensively and defensively you always try to evolve a little bit every year,” Keene said. “There are certain things we want to study (in the offseason) as a coaching staff and get better at and make advantageous for us that fits our personnel here at Zion Chapel. We try to take things in the offseason and mold them around the personnel we have. That’s one of our biggest goals in the offseason.”