There is a new era of Greene County football underway.
Chris MacFarland takes over the Tigers with high expectations and a clear vision for what he wants the program to look like moving forward.
For MacFarland, that starts with something simple: consistency.
“We want to make sure each day that we’re improving,” MacFarland said. “The work we put in during the week will pay off on a Friday night.”
The first-year Greene County head coach isn’t shy about the goals he has set for his team. The Tigers want to win the region, win a state championship, and, ultimately, go undefeated.
Those goals may sound lofty for a first-year coach, but MacFarland believes anything less would be selling his players short.
“If you’re not striving for those things, and you’re looking at just a certain record or just wanting to get in the playoffs, then you kind of have setbacks when you make it there,” he said. “So we’re always going to be working to strive to win the region, win the state, go undefeated.”
One of MacFarland’s biggest priorities since arriving at Greene County has been restoring the program's culture.
He has emphasized discipline, consistency, and clearly defined expectations while surrounding himself with a coaching staff that shares that vision.
“We’re going to set established rules and establish expectations and live by those every day,” MacFarland said. “And I think kids like that. And I think people like that in general. They know what they can expect.”
MacFarland said his players have embraced the changes and shown a willingness to work.
That commitment will be important as the Tigers navigate a season in which many players will be asked to contribute on both sides of the football.
Greene County must replace two-year starting quarterback Landon Garretson, but MacFarland believes the Tigers have a capable replacement in junior Brody Moreno.
Moreno, a transfer, is penciled in as the team’s starting quarterback and has impressed the coaching staff with his work ethic, athleticism and willingness to learn.
“He works very hard. He’s willing to be coached,” MacFarland said of Moreno. “He’s picking up the offense, and that’s what we’re asking him to do.”
MacFarland isn’t asking Moreno to carry the offense by himself, though. Instead, the Tigers want their young quarterback to manage the offense, handle the huddle, and make the right decisions while leaning on a talented group around him.
JaQuez Hall and Johnathan Lawrence give Greene County options in the backfield, while Jordan Walton and Logan Frederick are expected to contribute at fullback.
At receiver, the Tigers will look to Q.J. Robbins, Braylen Hurt, Darius Cummings, and Kalil Dorsey to provide some explosiveness.
Up front, Greene County returns some size and experience, including center Javen Bennett.
MacFarland believes the offensive line could ultimately determine how successfully the Tigers control games.
“We have some good size,” he said. “We’re leaning on them to make sure that we can move the ball.”
Defense is another area where MacFarland wants to see significant improvement.
His son, Garret, serves as the Tigers’ defensive coordinator, and the message on that side of the football is straightforward: play fast, play physical, and get to the ball.
Greene County will rely on returning defensive linemen Roman Brown and Kayden Monford, while Walton, Frederick, and Hull are among those expected to contribute at linebacker.
The Tigers won’t try to overwhelm opponents with complicated schemes.
Instead, MacFarland wants his players to master the basics and play with relentless effort.
“We work on pursuit and tackling every day,” he said. “We’re going to be a real base defense and let our kids fly to the football.”
Depth will be particularly important. A number of Greene County players are expected to play both ways, making it essential for the Tigers to develop enough depth to give those starters opportunities to catch their breath during games.
While MacFarland has made it clear the Tigers have championship aspirations, he knows reaching those goals requires focusing on the work immediately in front of them.
That means stacking good days together, handling adversity, and continuing to develop throughout the season.
“It’s going to happen in the game. It’s going to happen in the season,” MacFarland said. “We’re just trying to stack each day and really work towards what happens at the end.”
So far, MacFarland said the response from the Greene County community has been everything he could have hoped for.
Administrators, teachers, parents, and students have embraced the new coach and his program, while parents have helped with fundraisers, donations, and efforts to improve the players' nutrition.
Even students who don’t play football have welcomed MacFarland into the school.
Now, the Tigers are ready to see what that renewed energy looks like under the Friday night lights.
“We’re excited to be here,” MacFarland said. “And we can’t wait to get this season going.”