As the Carroll Academy Rebels finished out their spring football drills last week, they can now look forward to summer weight lifting and a new football schedule for the upcoming year.
The Rebels will be a Class AAA school this upcoming season with Classes A and AA being 8-man football. The Rebels will be in District 2-AAA with Benton, Central Holmes, Indianola and Winona Christian.
“It’s going to be a challenge,” Milton said. “Indianola dropping down is a big deal. They dominated AAA the last several years so I don’t expect that to change the next two years. Winona has been really good and Central Holmes had a really good year last year, so it will be a tough district.”
The Rebels will open the season at home on Aug. 23 against rival Kirk Academy, a team they beat 33-7 last year before a packed house and will then travel to Hillcrest Christian on Aug. 30.
The Rebels will open district play on Sept. 6 as they host Benton, a team they beat 38-0 to open the regular season last year.
Carroll will get its biggest test of the early season as they host Tri-County Academy on Sept. 13. Tri-County has been one on top teams in its class the last five years but will have a new coach for the upcoming season.
After the Tri-County game, the Rebels will begin a three-game road swing where they play at Newton County Academy on Sept. 20. Last year, the Rebels beat the Generals 25-6.
The Rebels will then get their biggest test of the season as they travel to Indianola on Sept. 27. IA is just two years removed from winning back to back Class AAA state championships.
The Rebels will finish off the road trip as they travel to rival Winona on Oct. 4. The Stars handed the Rebels a 34-21 loss last year en route to winning the district championship and being the No. 2 seed in the Class AA playoffs.
The Rebels will then host small-school power Tunica, who finished 12-0 last year and won the Class A state championship. They handed the Rebels their first loss of the season with a 38-16 defeat last year.
The Rebels will then travel to Oak Hill, whom they beat 28-0 last year and finish the regular season by hosting Central Holmes on Oct. 25. The Rebels beat the Trojans 28-27 in the regular-season finale last year to finish second in district play.
