Football season kicks off on Friday with a cross-county rivalry on the Tundra as West Greene travels to North Greene to start the 2024 season.
Both coaches expect a packed house, and North Greene coach Eric Tilson thinks his team has a chance to come out on top in this matchup for the first time since 2006.
“It’s always an important game to the communities. Its two schools that are close to each other. I expect a great environment with a packed house,” Tilson said. “I expect the visitors’ stands to be packed. When both teams are competitive it is a really fun environment. I’m really excited about this game and think we finally have a chance to make it competitive.”
The last time North Greene beat West Greene was an 18-14 victory in 2006. Since then it has been all West Greene with only one of the last 17 contests being played with two scores. In the all-time series West Greene Leads 36-9 dating back to 1975. Last year West Greene claimed a 26-0 win on The Range.
North Greene has seen some success over the offseason in 7-on-7 and in its scrimmages, and now they are coming into this season with new confidence and high expectations.
On offense the Huskies will be led by star running back Yeshua Vaught who entering his senior year as the program’s all-time leading rusher. North Greene also returns Thomas Darnell at quarterback, a role he took over midway through last season. The Huskies have worked on developing their pass game over the offseason and will look to throw the ball more this season. The leader of the Huskies’ pass catchers will be senior Jake Duffy.
“I expect to see a heavy dose of the Vaught kid,” West Greene coach Evan Monroe said. “He’s a stud, but its not just him. They have some good skill kids. Their quarterback has improved a lot. I expect a good football game. I expect to see a lot of buck sweep with Vaught. We have to be ready for Darnell to pull the ball and run. But they may pull out all the stops to get a win. So we have to be ready for trick plays, for special teams plays, its week one you have to be ready for anything.”
West Greene fans will get their first chance to see quarterback Austin Franklin and the Buffaloes’ new-look offense in live game action. Last week in the jamboree Franklin wowed the crowd with a 90-yard touchdown run against Unaka, and on Friday Tilson knows his Huskies will have to be prepared for the quarterback’s running ability on every snap. In addition to Franklin’s dual threat ability West Greene also likes the mix of power and speed Skylar Shelton brings to the running back position.
“I feel like they will still try to establish the run game, because that is who they are,” Tilson said. “I expect everything to run through their quarterback, and most fields he steps on he will be best player on the field. He makes you as a defense pick your poison. Are you going to sell out to step the quarterback and make someone else beat you, or do you play base defense. That type of athlete at quarterback causes some problems.”
While there are plenty of skill kids on both sides of the ball that can make a difference on Friday, Monroe expects that Friday’s game will be decided in the trenches. Both team have some important pieces back on the line of scrimmage, but Friday will be the first fans get to see how the new units work together.
“I think the battle will be won in the trenches. Whoever can gain the advantage at the line of scrimmage will have the best chance to win the ball game,” Monroe said.
North Greene finished last year with a 4-7 record before being eliminated in the first round of the Class 1A playoffs. West Greene went 3-7 and missed out on the Class 2A playoffs.
Friday’s game will mark the start of the 50th year of football at North Greene High School.
