OLIVESBURG — Welcome to Richland Source’s 2026 high school football preview. Each preview features this season’s schedule, last season’s performance, statistics, a player to watch and what fans can expect under the Friday night lights.
Today, we preview the Crestview Cougars. You can find all of our high school football previews here.
Graham Auto Mall is proud to back our area’s local athletes and help Ashland Source provide fans in-depth coverage of the upcoming high school football season.
Crestview Cougars 2026 Preview
Division: VI
Region: 22
Conference: Firelands Conference
Coach: Steve Haverdill
Last year: 6-4
Playoff Appearances: 12 (2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2011, 2009, 2008, 2004, 2001, 2000)
Playoff Record: 6-12
PLAYER TO WATCH 👀
Wyatt Barber: A junior running back and linebacker, Barber rushed for 210 yards and three touchdowns on 26 carries and made 77 tackles last season. He was an All-Northwest District second-team pick in Division VI and an All-Firelands Conference honorable-mention selection.
BY THE NUMBERS 📊
.778
Firelands Conference winning percentage for coach Steve Haverdill. The Cougars are 35-10 in the FC in seven seasons under Haverdill with three championships (2020, 2021, 2022).
20.3
Yards per catch for senior receiver Carson Keener a year ago. Keener caught 22 passes for 447 yards and four touchdowns. He was an All-Northwest District second-team selection.
21
Turnovers forced by Crestview last year. The Cougars picked off 11 passes and recovered 10 fumbles. Crestview had a plus-11 turnover margin.
4
All-Ohioans lost to graduation. Senior two-way lineman Montgomery Cline is Crestview’s lone returning All-Ohioan. He was a second-team pick in Division VI last year.
2025 RESULTS
Seneca East 2, Crestview 0
Kirtland 42, Crestview 7
Crestview 28, Keystone 14
Crestview 42, New London 0
Crestview 44, South Central 7
Crestview 42, Plymouth 0
Crestview 30, St. Paul 21
Western Reserve 34, Crestview 0
Monroeville 28, Crestview 26
Crestview 50, Mapleton 8
2026 SCHEDULE 📅
Aug. 21 — NORTHWESTERN
Aug. 28 — CRESTLINE
Sept. 4 — at Independence
Sept. 11 — at New London
Sept. 18 — SOUTH CENTRAL
Sept. 25 — at Plymouth
Oct. 2 — at St. Paul
Oct. 9 — WESTERN RESERVE
Oct. 16 — at Monroeville
Oct. 23 — MAPLETON
TWO MINUTE DRILL ⏱️
For the first time in coach Steve Haverdill’s tenure, a quarterback not named Kuhn will be under center. Career passing leader Liam Kuhn was a three-year starter before graduating last spring. He followed older brothers Ross and Hayden. Look for junior running back Wyatt Barber’s offensive workload to increase after the graduation of Ayden Reymer and Bransen Hider, who combined for 1,008 yards and 12 TDs last year. Replacing All-Ohio first-team tight end Karter Goon won’t be easy. Goon caught 32 passes for 610 yards and four TDs. With Haverdill at the helm, Crestview is always in contention for a Firelands Conference championship and a playoff berth. Crestview had its string of six straight postseason appearances snapped last year.
