School is back in session at West Greene and that means that football season is just around the corner.
Starting this Friday in the Greene County/ Carter County Jamboree held on The Range the Buffaloes will spend the next three months worth of Friday nights on the gridiron.
Second year Head Coach Even Monroe says his team’s goal is to play under the lights on Friday night in week 12, the first week of the TSSAA state playoffs.
In Monroe’s inaugural season the Buffs finished with a 3-7 record, but Monroe says, “We were literally about 10 plays away from a winning season and the playoffs. Not only have these kids worked hard in the offseason to get better, I have too. I’ve studied, I’ve read, I’ve talked to other coaches…anything I can do to get an edge. Last season went so fast, it was a blur, but things have slowed down a bit and I’ve got my feet under me so to speak and I’m back down to earth and we’re ready to win some games.”
Monroe says when the offense the field that Austin Franklin will be QB1.
“Austin is a playmaker and knows if reads one and two aren’t available he can tuck it and run, pick up a few yards and second down and six or seven is better than third down and 15,” explained Monroe.
Monroe also has another option at quarterback in freshman Austin Brown.
He said, “Brown is a three year quarterback in middle school, he has decent size at 6’1” and around 185 pounds and rarely makes the same mistake twice and he’ll see some action”.
Regardless of who is in at quarterback Alex Johnson figures to be their number one target at receiver. Johnson is a returning starter from a year ago. Braden McCamey earned all-conference honors last season at linebacker and also expects to see the ball coming his way as a pass catcher.
Last year the Buffaloes relied on a stable of running backs, but this season there will be some new faces in the backfield. Skylar Shelton and Dillion Tester are seniors with limited experience at the running back position but they figure to carry the load. Monroe trusts both of them to block, and feels like they both have the ability to make defenders miss.
The Buffaloes do however have a luxury on the offensive and defensive line. In the past the Buffs were often smaller team along both lines when they lined up on Fridays.
Now he is much more confident in the units, saying, “We can run seven, eight and sometimes nine different linemen out there and that’s gonna be big late in games.”
The line play will be anchored by junior Damion Sentelle, Sentelle was an all-conference performer at offensive line last year and has improved over the off season.
“Sentelle joined the wrestling team”, Monroe said. “Coaches love linemen that wrestle, they learn how to push their weight around and control their body.”
Assistant Coach Clinton Haun, who is also the wrestling coach says “Wrestling definitely helps Damion become a better football player.”
If all the pieces fall together this season Coach Monroe and his squad think they can contend of a play-off spot this season and their quest begins at North Greene on Friday August 23.
Although the North Greene game is not a conference game and doesn’t have play-off implications, it is an in-county rivalry game and is for bragging rights for an entire year.
