A Season to Remember: Lions Finish 10–1 After Unbeaten Regular Season and Playoff Run

The ending hurt. The season deserves to be celebrated.

The Carterville Lions closed their 2026 football season Saturday with a second-round Class 4A playoff loss to Highland, finishing with a 10–1 record. For a team that had answered every challenge through its first 10 games, the final afternoon was a difficult finish. But one loss cannot erase an undefeated regular season, a Southern Illinois River-to-River Ohio Division championship and a fall filled with memorable performances.

Under head coach Brett Diel, the Lions built an offense that could attack through the air or on the ground. They paired it with a defense that held opponents to fewer than 218 yards per game over the full season. Along the way, Carterville gave its fans plenty of reasons to stand up, get loud and look forward to the next Friday night.

Setting the Tone

The season began with an immediate test at Marion. Carterville came away with a 28–24 victory, opening the year by finding a way to win a close game on the road. A week later, the Lions delivered a 45–14 win at Nashville.

Those two road victories provided an early glimpse of what this team could do. Carterville could handle a tight finish, and it could also create separation with an offense capable of producing yards in a hurry.

The Lions kept rolling with wins over Charleston and Herrin, including a 58–20 victory over the Tigers. Then came a 45–0 shutout of Salem in the teams’ first meeting as Ohio Division opponents.

By the middle of the season, Carterville had established itself as a team with several ways to win. Defenses had to account for Johnny Miller in the running game, Jack Dodson’s ability to throw and run, and a receiving group led by Gavin Johnson. Taking away one option still left the Lions with another.

Finishing the Regular Season Perfect

Carterville continued its run with a 41–20 victory at Harrisburg, a game that also saw Miller move past 1,000 rushing yards for the season.

The Lions followed with a 36–3 road win at Massac County, then returned home and beat Murphysboro 56–14. A Senior Night victory over Anna-Jonesboro completed the regular season at 9–0 and secured the Ohio Division championship.

An unbeaten regular season requires more than a handful of big nights. It takes preparation, consistency and contributions throughout the roster. Carterville delivered those things across nine games, handling road trips, conference opponents and the growing expectations that come with keeping a perfect record intact.

That 9–0 finish will remain one of the defining accomplishments of the 2026 Lions.

A Playoff Win and One Final Battle

The postseason opened with a familiar opponent as Salem returned to Carterville for the first round of the Class 4A playoffs. The Lions won again, extending their record to 10–0 and earning another home playoff game against Highland.

The second-round matchup became a scoring battle. Carterville produced 554 yards of offense and scored 50 points, but Highland finished with 626 yards and advanced.

The Lions briefly moved ahead 22–21 during the second quarter. Highland answered before halftime, then scored 21 points in the third quarter to build its lead. Carterville kept responding and put up 21 points of its own in the fourth quarter, but could not complete the comeback.

Dodson finished with 278 passing yards and two touchdown throws, along with 94 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. Johnson caught seven passes for 206 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown. Reggie Wilson carried 23 times for 123 yards, while Timothy Cupp caught three passes for 61 yards and a touchdown. Carter Jones added two rushing touchdowns and a two-point conversion.

Highland’s ability to extend drives proved costly. The Bulldogs converted nine of 14 third downs and three of four fourth downs, repeatedly keeping possessions alive.

For Carterville, it was a tough final result after a remarkable run. Even in defeat, the Lions delivered some of their biggest individual offensive performances of the season.

Miller Powers the Ground Game

Johnny Miller finished the year with 1,596 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns on 151 carries.

His average of 10.57 yards per carry tells the story of how dangerous he was. Miller averaged more than a first down every time he carried the football and finished at 145.1 rushing yards per game. His longest run covered 74 yards.

Those numbers reflect Miller’s production and the work of the offensive line and blockers around him. Carterville consistently created opportunities in the running game, and Miller turned them into an outstanding season.

He also had help. Wilson finished with 557 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, averaging 9.13 yards per carry. His 123-yard performance against Highland provided one more example of the Lions’ depth in the backfield.

Dodson added 395 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns, giving Carterville another threat whenever he kept the ball. Jones scored four rushing touchdowns during the season, including two in the playoff finale.

Together, the Lions rushed for 2,833 yards and 44 touchdowns, averaging 257.5 yards per game and 8.8 yards per carry.

Dodson Delivers an Efficient Season

Jack Dodson’s final passing numbers show both production and efficiency.

He completed 91 of 127 passes for 1,565 yards and 18 touchdowns, with just two interceptions. His completion percentage finished at 71.7 percent, and he averaged 12.3 yards per attempt.

Combined with his rushing totals, Dodson accounted for 1,960 yards of total offense and 28 touchdowns passing and rushing.

His ability to contribute in both phases made Carterville difficult to defend. Opponents had to respect the running backs while also accounting for a quarterback who could make plays with his arm and his legs.

The full team finished with 1,715 passing yards and 20 touchdown passes. K. Gibbs contributed 145 yards and two touchdowns through the air.

Johnson Reaches 1,100 Receiving Yards

Gavin Johnson finished with one of the season’s most impressive stat lines: 53 catches for 1,100 yards and 12 touchdowns.

He averaged exactly 100 receiving yards per game and 20.75 yards per catch. His ability to turn a completion into a big gain gave Carterville a threat that opponents had to consider on every passing down.

Johnson saved his biggest receiving performance for the final game, collecting 206 yards against Highland. His 80-yard touchdown reception was one of the highlights of the Lions’ afternoon.

Z. Carter added 24 catches for 298 yards and four touchdowns, giving Dodson another productive target. Cupp finished with nine receptions for 180 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 20 yards per catch.

The Lions’ passing game made the most of its opportunities. Carterville averaged 16.49 yards per completion as a team, complementing a ground attack that already demanded plenty of defensive attention.

A Defense That Helped Build a Championship

The offensive numbers were impressive, but Carterville’s defense played a major role in the 10-win season.

The Lions allowed 2,396 total yards in 11 games, an average of 217.8 per game. Opponents averaged 139.5 rushing yards and 78.4 passing yards.

Carter Jones led the team with 97 tackles. B. Brown followed with 95 tackles, including a team-leading 12 tackles for loss and five sacks. Brown also recorded five fumble recoveries.

K. Basolo’s primary defensive listing showed 80 tackles, while J. Bouchard and C. Dunning each finished with 61. Dodson added 42 tackles, and Z. Carter recorded 40.

Johnson led the Lions with three interceptions. B. Harris and Z. Snow each added two. The defensive totals also credited Carterville with nine sacks, 34 tackles for loss and five defensive touchdowns.

Those contributions came from across the roster. The Lions had players making stops up front, finishing tackles and turning defensive opportunities into points.

The Numbers Behind a 10-Win Season

Carterville finished with 4,548 yards of total offense, averaging 413.5 yards per game. The Lions scored 64 offensive touchdowns—44 rushing and 20 passing.

They gained 190 first downs and converted 52.1 percent of their third-down opportunities.

Their team completion percentage reached 70.7 percent, with only two interceptions thrown all season.

The balance stands out. Carterville had a 1,500-yard passer, a 1,500-yard rusher and a 1,100-yard receiver. The Lions could lean on the running game, strike for a long touchdown through the air or get an important play from their quarterback on the ground.

That combination helped carry Carterville through an unbeaten regular season and into the second round of the playoffs.

Thank You, Lions

For the seniors, Saturday marked the end of their Carterville football careers. They leave as part of a team that won its first 10 games, captured a conference championship and gave the community a season worth remembering.

For the returning players, this fall provides experience to build on. They have seen the preparation it takes to put together an unbeaten regular season and the challenge of advancing in November.

To Coach Diel, his staff, the players, cheerleaders, band, families and everyone who supported the Lions: thank you for everything you brought to this season.

And to everyone who listened on NewsRadio WJPF or watched our livestream coverage, thank you for spending your game days with Keenan Clark and me. Calling these games and sharing the moments with Lions fans has been a privilege.

Ten wins. An undefeated regular season. An Ohio Division championship. A playoff victory.

The final afternoon was difficult. The 2026 Carterville Lions gave their fans a whole season to be proud of.