Greene County will play a preseason scrimmage against Northeast (Macon) on Friday night before its season opener next week.
The Tigers will face a talented Raiders squad that went 8-3 overall last year in Class A Division I.
Greene County head coach Terrance Banks said the scrimmage will allow his young team to get invaluable reps.
“We lost 17 seniors in the offseason, so we will be playing a lot of guys on Friday who haven’t played much or any varsity games,” Banks explained. “This will be a good opportunity to see where we are as a team.”
After losing that many seniors, Greene County will be forced to rely on several sophomores and juniors with little varsity experience. However, Banks believes the scrimmage will better prepare them.
The third-year coach expects veterans such as Steve Miller, Kevin Wynn, and RJ Monford to step up and lead by example. Banks knows Friday’s scrimmage will also help the team mesh together and grow as a unit.
“I know we have potential, but I won’t see the product until we’re on the field. Friday will help me form an idea,” Banks said. “But it will also show what we excel in and what we need to work on before the season starts.”
Northeast will provide a formidable test for Greene County. Offensively, the Raiders return quarterback Reginald Glover, who threw for over 1,000 yards and rushed for 675 yards last season. They also have running back Nick Woodford, who rushed for 951 yards and 11 scores.
Banks believes his defensive line is the strongest unit on that side of the ball, spearheaded by Wynn, a Florida State commit. He expects the Raiders to double-team Wynn, freeing up other defenders to make plays.
“[Northeast] is extremely athletic and fast, especially on offense,” Banks said. “They will challenge us up front.”
Defensively, Northeast was one of the better units in all of Class 2A last year, too. The Raiders gave up an average of just 12 points per game, with a couple of shutouts. They return five of their six top tacklers from last year.
Meanwhile, Greene County will be breaking in transfer quarterback Landon Garretson, who has not yet started a varsity game and came from Class 4A’s Kell High School. But the Tigers will have playmakers at Garretson’s disposal.
Banks anticipates the scrimmage will give Garretson a chance to grow as a player and with the team.
“I think this will be a good opportunity for him. I expect him to not be the same quarterback in week four as he was in the scrimmage,” Banks said. “He’ll grow week by week.”
Greene County will begin its 2024 season the following week, on Aug. 16, at home against rival Putnam County. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.