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FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Tiger Cubs look to take one more step in tourney competition
For Greencastle’s senior football players, the last three years have been a steady progression in the post-season.
The Tiger Cubs lost their tourney opener three years ago, won a first-round game before losing to eventual champion Danville two years ago and reached the title game against Danville last year, only to fall short of a sectional title.
This year, the Tiger Cubs are looking to keep that progression going.
“I feel very, very good about the direction of the team,” Tiger Cub head coach Mike Meyer said. “You always hope you have senior leadership, and I feel very good about that this year. We have some young guys who are inexperienced and have been working hard all summer.”
The Tiger Cubs lost several key players from last year’s 7-5 team, three of which are playing collegiately — defensive linemen Cade Winslow (Franklin) and Jacob Meyer (Millikin) and defensive back Abe Wade (Wabash).
The Cubs do return several standouts, however, paced by senior defensive ace Gavin Bollman and senior running back Damon Moody.
Bollman ranked third in the state last year with 16 sacks, and received several all-state honors. Moody did not start the season as the team’s main ballcarrier, but still recorded 1,235 yards and 12 touchdowns in about two-thirds of the season.
“A big change in last season came after three games when Moody took over,” Meyer said. “He was a backup who wasn’t getting any carries, and he helped turn things around.”
Junior quarterback Brayden Baxter also took over the spot early in the season, but missed several games due to injury.
“You’ve got Damon Moody, you’ve got Gavin Bollman, you’ve got Alex Costin and you’ve got a healthy Brayden Baxter,” Meyer noted. “All those guys have been major contributors and we’re feeling pretty good about things.”
Winslow and Meyer teamed with Bollman to compile the state’s best pass rush defense. Meyer is eager to see how some of their backups from last season fare in the spotlight.
“Damon Moody will get some work on the defensive line, and Dalton Matthews has developed well over the summer,” Meyer said.
Moody will obviously carry the ball quite a bit, but Meyer notes that Andrew Fajt and Grant Pettit will also share some of the load.
Costin leads a veteran receiving corps that also includes Tanner Sanders and Dakota Campbell.
The versatile Bollman will also have an impact on offense, having rushed for 292 yards and six touchdowns last year while also catching 15 passes for 221 yards and one touchdown.
“You’ll see him all over the field,” Meyer said. “He will play some at tight end, sometimes split out as a receiver and maybe some out of the backfield. He’s a very talented guy and we want to take advantage of that.”
Baxter completed 33 of 67 passes last year for 331 yards and two touchdowns, although the Cubs had just four total TD passes for the season.
Meyer was unable to attend Friday’s scrimmage at Southmont due to a death in the family, but has watched the film and likes what he has seen out of Baxter.
“He looked good on Friday night, and we’re very happy with the strides he has made,” Meyer said. “He did some nice things, and we are going to expect him to get better and better as the year progresses.”
On the line, two familiar seniors lead the charge with 6-8 Trey Wood — likely the tallest center in the state — and brother Trever plowing the road for Moody and protecting Baxter.
“The Wood brothers are the returners in that area and they are the anchors,” Meyer said. “Nick Sabin and Matthews will be filling some spots up there and had good off-seasons. Mickey Cooper and Joey Herrera are some other guys who have been working hard and getting a lot of time.”
On the defensive line, Bollman will be a target of numerous opposing blockers this year and will need some teammates to step up to take off some of the pressure.
Besides Moody, Brandon West and Trey Wood will also see time on the defensive line.
Linebackers shape up to be Trever Wood, at the strong side linebacker position, with Jordan Meyer on the weak side.
Others who will provide depth are Pettit, Landon Beck, Logan Carrington and Caleb Jones.
Costin and Sanders return to lead the secondary at cornerback, while Fajt and Campbell will be the safeties.
“As always, we will see how things work out and have to move people around if we need to,” Meyer said. “We have some versatile kids who can play in more than one spot.”
Meyer admits being blessed the past three years to have a “consistent” group he knew he could count on.
“Now we have to fill some holes,” he said. “Some of those holes are big, but we have guys who have worked hard in the off-season and they are ready for their opportunity. Maybe we can get over the hump in the sectional this year — it’s not where we start, but where we finish.”
2017 results (7-5)
at Crawfordsville, W 10-0
at Cloverdale, W 21-13
West Vigo, L 14-0
at South Putnam, 49-7
Cascade, W 37-0
Sullivan, L 41-10
at Northview, L 22-20
North Putnam, L 10-0
at Edgewood (WIC), W 42-0
Brown County (sect.), W 34-7
Sullivan (sect.), W 14-0
at Danville (sectional), L 44-0
2018 schedule
Aug. 17 — Crawfordsville
Aug. 24 — Cloverdale
Aug. 31 — at West Vigo
Sept. 7 — South Putnam
Sept. 14 — at Cascade
Sept. 21 — at Sullivan
Sept. 28 — Northview
Oct. 6 — at North Putnam
Oct. 12 — host WIC crossover
Oct. 19 — Sectional (TBA)