Despite a 1-10 campaign a year ago there is a buzz in the air around Mosheim as the West Greene football team prepares the to kickoff the 2026 campaign under the leadership of new head coach Caleb Slover.
Slover is an Anderson County High School grad and played is college football at Tusculum. After his playing days Slover has moved up the coaching ranks and was the head coach at nearby Cocke County and Morristown East, but he says, “It feels great to be back in Greene County again.”
By the time Slover was hired the up coming season schedule was set and the young Buffaloes only participated in one 7-on-7 contest over the summer.
Slover said, “We learned a lot in the 7-on-7 game, we were just learning each other and we kind of just turned them loose and we had a lot of guys that played hard and we got better as the game went on. I really was not disappointed, in fact it was good for us.”
With a new coach comes a new offense, and West Greene has spent the bulk of the last three months drilling Slover’s spread system. The Buffaloes will look to get the ball to perimeter and let their handful of talented receivers make plays.
“We’re going run a different offense, you know so much has changed from last year, now we’re trying to breathe life into a new culture and get kids to believe in themselves. We have some good football players,” Slover said. “We’re going to be spread team, four wide and five wide at times. We also have the ability to jump into two backs and three backs, but for the most part, we’re gonna be spread it out and try to get the ball out to some guys in space to make things happen. We’re young so we’re going to grow and throw. We would like to be 50-50 pass- run. But if we have to go 60-40…we can adjust and do that.”
Sophomore Aiden Thompson is slated to lead the offensive attack at quarterback. Hunter Franklin could see action at quarterback as well, but Franklins biggest contribution will most likely come as a wide receiver and the junior will be a leader as a defensive back on the opposite side of the ball.
Joining Franklin as wide receivers is Tristian Banks, one of only three seniors on the Buffs squad. Juniors AJ McMurray and Kyler Patterson will also line up out wide.
Slover says, “They’re all about even, I think they can all make plays out in space.”
Shawn Bailey is back for his senior season at running back with sophomores Ryan Miller and Caden Archer looking to get carries out of the backfield.
On the defensive side of the ball Solver says, “Pretty much the same guys to open, but we only have 36 players and we’re young so guys will have to play a lot of reps. I don’t think there is a lineman on our team that won’t play every game, just to give us a break.”
Slover also had high praise for sophomore defensive backs Lucas Winstead and freshman Jagger Dearinger
Solver says, “The goal is to get better and better and if our kids keep going in the right direction and believing in what we’re doing and seeing how much better we’re getting. The score may not always reflect a win but if we’re getting better and learning how to win, that’s steps in the right direction. But our number one goal is to host and win a playoff game, and we’ve got a chance at that, it’s doable.”
In the four-team Region 1-2A West Greene is guaranteed a playoff spot, but will compete South Greene, Happy Valley and Cumberland Gap for seeding.
Coaches Mark Greenlee, Jay Early and Clinton Haun will still be on the sideline instructing the Buffaloes and Noah Woodard joined the staff. Woodard actually played for Slover at Morristown East and will help coach running backs and linebackers.
The Buffaloes begin the Slover era under the lights on Friday, August 21 out on the Range as they host Cosby.
