By Pete Mollica

The Rebels have a big test Saturday against Kirtland at Bo Rein Stadium in Niles.

COLUMBIANA — For most of the 2008 football season, Crestview’s Corey Hill and Carter Hill have been getting most of the headlines and most of the yards for the Rebels.

But the brothers will be the first ones to tell you that they owe all their success to the Rebels’ veteran offensive line, which has led Crestview to a 10-1 record and semifinal round of the Division V Region 17 football playoffs.

Saturday, the Rebels will meet Kirtland (10-1) in a 7 p.m. kickoff at Bo Rein Stadium in Niles.

“We really felt good about our offensive line coming into the season,” said Rebels head coach Paul Cusick, now in his 10th season at the school.

“We had three returning starters and we needed to find two more who would blend in with them and make for a solid front line,” Cusick said.

Seniors J.D. Harris (left guard), Ian Lanney (right guard) and Jacob Richards (right tackle) were the three veterans returning as starters.

Juniors Aaron Bussard (left tackle) and Logan Cope (center) rounded out the starting line.

“We’ve been able to use junior Payton Elwonger in a rotation at left guard, while sophomore Jeff Sickle has also been in the rotation at tackle,” Cusick said.

Harris, the 6-4, 238 pounder, is a two-way starter for the Rebels and while all of the offensive starters play some defense, most are used in the defensive rotations and don’t have to start on both sides of the football.

“Our rotations on both sides of the football have enabled us to be very consistent,” he added. “We have been fortunate that we can rotate players in and out and not lose any consistency.

Last week behind the offensive line, Corey Hill, the senior tailback, rushed for 227 yards and scored five touchdowns in the teams 41-12 win over Waynedale in the regional opener at home.

His brother Carter, the sophomore quarterback, added 164 yards, scored one touchdown and passed to his brother for another.

Cusick doesn’t expect the Rebels to have anywhere as easy a time this week against Kirtland.

“They are a very dynamic football team especially on offense,” he said. “They draw on the big play and they use a lot of trick plays which have turned into big plays for them. It’s going to be a great challenge for our defense this week.”

Cusick also said that he’s also familiar with the surroundings at Bo Rein Stadium.

“We played a playoff game there two years ago,” Cusick said.

The Rebels are a little nicked up going into the contest.

“It’s the 12th week of the season and we’re banged up just like everybody else,” he added. “Everybody who played last week will probably play this week.”

Senior end Nick Robinson suffered a sprained ankle against Waynedale, but is expected to be ready.

The Rebels have three starters out for the contest, but they’ve been out for several weeks.

Defensive back senior Cameron Reynolds, senior linebacker C.J. Oliver and defensive back Jacob Danks are all out.

“The team has been very consistent all season long,” Cusick said. “They enjoy the moment, like last week’s win, but they don’t dwell on it and then they come in on Monday and get ready for the next game.”

mollica@vindy.com