The North Greene football team is trying to take things one day at a time this offseason as they work to improve on one of the best seasons in program history a year ago.
On Thursday that meant a 7-on-7 scrimmage with Tri-Cities Christian Academy on the Tundra where coach Eric Tilson feels like his squad put in the right kind of work to get better.
“This has been one of our best off seasons, and it’s because we are very senior laden team. We’re working on being consistent week in and week out,” Tilson said. “One thing I have really tried to do this offseason is not look ahead and try to just focus on the day at hand. I told the guys that we are good enough to win every game on our schedule, but the other teams are good enough to beat us too. That means every day we have to focus on execution to get where we want to be. I don’t want them looking forward to week one, or some game down the road. I want them focused on getting better today and what we need to accomplish today. For these seniors this season will be over fast, and I want them to make the most of every day.”
North Greene is coming off a 6-4 season and a second-place finish in District 1-1A, and with many key pieces from that squad returning the Huskies are looking to do even bigger things this fall. As they prepare for the 2025 campaign Tilson was looking to see how his team competed on Thursday with a new opponent lining up across from them.
“In 7-on-7 we want to see who is going to compete, who is going to go make a play,” Tilson said. “It’s not like practice where you are going against the second team and we can just restart. You have to go win the play here. Developing timing right now is very important for us, because we do throw a lot for a small school. This is a good way for us to work on that in a competitive environment.”
The Huskies return some of the most important pieces from last year’s passing game, and they were on full display on Thursday against the Eagles. That starts with quarterback Thomas Darnell, who is now a senior and in his third season behind center for the Huskies.
Over the offseason Tilson has seen Darnell grow in the mental side of the game and become a coach on the field, and that has the Huskies’ head man excited for what the senior can do this year.
“Thomas has been leading everywhere he goes this offseason. He steps in the room and commands it, and that’s what you want out of your quarterback.” Tilson said. “Now we are working on the specifics with him. He can correct things on the field and has really become another coach out there. He has become an extension of me in the huddle and as a coach that is what you want out there. He’s become fantastic at that field-general role.”
On the receiving end of Darnell’s tosses on Thursday were several familiar faces including juniors Matt Boyd and Kelson Eastep, and seniors Brandon Weems and Brayden Weems. On new face was senior Damien Phillips who Tilson applauded for the strides he has made over the offseason.
“I’ve got everything on my call sheet installed already and that has not been the situation this time of the year in the past. Now I’m looking for things that maybe we haven’t worked on today to make sure we touch on it,” Tilson said.
For the first time under Tilson the Huskies have double digit seniors returning and that has made things feel different this summer on the Tundra. The group has had to spend less time on getting the scheme installed which has allowed them to work more on perfecting the little things. The group has come in focused and Tilson feels like they are poised to do big things in 2025.
“Those guys have really taken charge and that is kind what happens when you have that many seniors,” Tilson said. “Now we are at the point where we are focusing on very specific things, and hopefully that allows us to peak at the right time. If these guys keep doing the right things I think this can be a very successful year, and a senior year they really enjoy.”
