West Greene coach Evan Monroe feels like his team has been on the cusp of breaking through the last couple of years, but the Buffaloes could not find the right breaks and turned in back to back 3-7 seasons. Since November the focus has been on getting a little bit better every day and now they are just a few days away from seeing if that work has paid off.
“I feel we were so close so many times over the past two seasons. It felt like we were just missing something, weather it was luck, play selection, execution it was just like we were there and just couldn’t make it over the hump,” Monroe said. “I started working this season at the end of last season, I mean the minute it was over the new season began. I went with the philosophy of just get a little better every day, from me to the other coaches to conditioning to every thing we do related to football. We have to get a little better everyday and that’s me included. It’s one game at a time, one day at a time and focus on us. I’ve preached all off season, you only get so many days to get better, lets not waste any of them. Right now our main focus is Cosby (August 22nd).”
The graduation of All-State quarterback/wide receiver Austin Franklin leaves the question, who is QB1? The answer is, sophomore Austin Brown. Brown spent time at quarterback during Franklin’s record setting season when he would line up at the wide out position.
A couple of late season injuries hampered Brown and his freshman season was cut short. Monroe spoke of Brown saying, “He makes the right reads and decisions. He made some freshman mistakes but he learned from them and he is still working on that and we’re coaching that out of him. But, he’s our guy and he’s settling into the role a little better than he did last year. But it’s going to take a team effort. He (Brown) has grown probably two inches and put on about 30 pounds and hasn’t lost a step, in fact he may be a step or two quicker.”
Monroe also noted, “For Brown and we as Buffaloes, to be successful it’s going to come from the play of the O-line.”
West Greene’s offensive line feature’s four returning starters in Damion Sentelle, Isaiah Roberts, Jonathan Tucker and Leland Payne. Monroe also mentioned that “Most of these guys will play on both sides of the ball, we only dress about 40 players, we’re a small school in a small conference and that’s just the way we have to do it. We need to have each others backs.”
When Brown is in the pocket he will most likely be looking for his big tight end, senior Peyton Hilton. Monroe says of Hilton “He’s a big ole tight end that can get open and has elusive speed when he get out in space”.
Ethan White is another tight end that will be in the mix and could draw so attention.
Junior Matthew Harrell is slated to start at wide receiver and will be the Buffs main deep threat. Hunter Franklin and Shane Wilhoit will also line up wide.
The Buffaloes also have a few returning running backs from a season ago, junior Trystan Banks will most likely be the featured back. Banks played a lot last season in the backfield as a sophomore and is the most experienced back for the Buffs.
Junior Shawn Bailey will see carries in the backfield as well. Another back that could get carries is Kyle Patterson, just a sophomore but Monroe says “ These guys carrying the ball, we’re gonna have to lean on them and Brown will have to tuck it and run on occasion.”
On the defensive side of the ball most of the offensive line will have to turn around and turn into D-linemen. Monroe says “This is where the off season conditioning comes into play, these guys have worked hard all year long in the weight room to get better.”
If the Buffs are going to have a successful season most players will have to play on both sides of the ball as well as on special teams.
Monroe spoke of the playoffs saying “With the realignment we’re a four team conference, so all four teams will be in the playoffs. That’s good, but the bad thing is Region 2 is also a four team conference so all of them will make the playoffs and that’s a tough division over there, so we really need to be at our best week in and week out and work to finish strong to get a higher seed. You know it’s a long season so let’s line up, do our best to be at our best and see what happens.”
West Greene will open the season on August 22 at Cosby. The Buffaloes will not meet a Region 1-2A opponent until September 26 when they take on South Greene. The other members of Region 1-2A are Happy Valley and Cumberland Gap.
West Greene last made the playoffs in 2022, but it is guaranteed a postseason spot this year. The Buffs last won a playoff game in 2012.
