(This is the fifth in in a series previewing the 2026 high school football season. Richmond County coaches and players met with media during a county-wide sports press conference on Aug. 3 at Westside High School)
Learn from your mistakes.
That was one of Hephzibah’s missions during the off-season as the Rebels have several players returning for the upcoming 2026-27 football season.
“We have a lot of experience coming back, many of the starters are multi-year starters,” said Hephzibah Head Coach Daniel Dorsey. “I have two seniors up here with me. They have experienced the highs and the lows of the program. The most exciting part is seeing the hard work and dedication they have put in.”
The Rebels have approximately 15 returning starters to the roster according to Dorsey.
After a successful 7-4 record in 2023, Hephzibah has struggled the last two seasons, finishing 2-8 in 2024 and 3-7 last year.
“We really have been one or two plays away from changing the script and our season going from a losing to winning season,” Dorsey said. “I think those experiences have helped build what we have done this offseason.”
Along with many returning seniors, quarterback Trust Mack will lead the offense for his junior year. Mack says he feels he has improved as one of the leaders for the Rebels and says the team is prepared for the upcoming season.
“I have gotten stronger, faster and have developed more by communicating with my coaches and being coachable,” Mack said. “As a team, we are more disciplined than last year.”
Despite not having much recent success, the Rebels have a few of the top recruits in the CSRA.
Senior wide receiver/defensive back Dextavion Reese is beginning his fourth season at Hephzibah. He saw several Division I college offers before committing to Rutgers this offseason.
Senior Keith Dunn is also beginning his fourth season at Hephzibah. He committed to Division I Georgia Southern back in June after he improved in the classroom last year.
READ MORE: Chris’s picks for the games to watch.
“My grades were not good as a freshman and college coaches were looking me off,” Dunn said. “It definitely made me focus more.”
With many players going into the final years at Hephzibah, the team is excited to begin the year with a full season in their new stadium. The new stadium was unveiled last year on homecoming in the middle of the season.
“We spent half the season playing on the road for our home games last year,” said Coach Dorsey. “Now being back home and practicing on it every day, I think the sense of home and pride they are taking with the stadium is really important. The players know now it is their home. There is no trash on the ground or in field house. It is little things taking pride and taking care of your home that goes the long way.”
Expectations are high for the Rebels as they kick off the season against Oglethorpe County at home on Friday, Aug. 21.
“The expectation is to win,” Dorsey said. “ I think we are in a really competitive region, but I think we have all the tools necessary to be successful, win a region championship and make a run to the state playoffs.”
Sportswriter Christopher Rickerson is an Augusta University graduate who has covered area sports for publications including Augusta University‘s Bell Ringer, The Augusta Press and Augusta Good News. He won three Georgia Press Association sports awards in 2026. Subscribe to the Augusta Good News’ free weekly newsletter here.
