Hillbillies Look To Return To Winning Ways: Ozark 2025 Season Preview

by Janice Penix

Winning just four games in a season isn’t a statistic the Ozark Hillbillies are accustomed to, and one they hope not to repeat in 2025.

This season, Ozark has a new head coach who knows what it takes to win it all and who hopes to lead the team back to its winning tradition.

The Hillbillies finished 4-7 in 2024, but advanced to the 4A state playoffs after a win over Lamar in their last home game. Ozark fell to top-seeded and future state champion Arkadelphia in the first round of the playoffs, ending what many described as a difficult and disappointing season.

In March, the district hired Josh Watson as head coach. Watson comes to Ozark after 12 years at Salem High School in north Arkansas. He was head coach of the Greyhounds for five seasons and led them to the 3A state championship in 2024.

Watson said Ozark is hungry to taste success again.

“Last year, they battled a lot of injuries throughout the season that they couldn’t overcome,” Watson said. “It was a tough season for them, but the kids have responded well this offseason. We are looking to rebound from last year.”

Players

The Hillbillies had a large senior class in 2024, leaving this year’s squad with some important shoes to fill. Those include quarterback Koby Wilbanks, an all-state player who played both sides of the ball, and the leading tackler, Eli Gilstrap.

“We lost a few kids,” Watson said. “We lost some pieces, but we do return some kids and are moving up a sophomore group that is very talented.”

Ozark has 13 seniors on the roster, as well as 14 juniors and 18 sophomores.

“There is a good balance,” Watson said. “The juniors and sophomores were super successful in junior high, and that’s something we have to figure out, how to translate that success to senior high.”

The full story and additional photos appear in the Aug. 6 edition of The Graphic, found online and in businesses throughout Johnson and Franklin counties.

PHOTO: SENIORS on the Ozark Hillbillies football team in 2025 include (front row, from left) Spencer Gresham, Chris Huffstetler, Braydon Sampley, Hunter Aday, Eli Sampley, Bo Norris; (back row) Caedon Rosson, Rhett Skaggs, Evan Estep, Landon Cooper, Blaine Childers, Colten Rosson and Casey Moreland.

–Graphic photo by Janice Penix