EIGHTH SEASON AS THE GATORS’ HEAD COACH.
GATORS WILL PLAY THREE OF THEIR FIRST FOUR GAMES AT HOME; COLEMAN MOVES INTO NEW ROLE IN BACKFIELD
Greenwood High School’s football team has retooled its offense for the 2025 campaign, and eighth-year Gators head coach William Howard is encouraged by the early returns.
“I think our starting corps is going to be pretty good,” Howard said. “We have some young guys to work into key roles, and we need to establish some depth.
“Mainly at the skill positions and the secondary.”
The Gators will be looking for more offensive production after an uneven 2024 season when they struggled with the passing game, but senior quarterback Levi Wyatt brings a year’s experience to the Greenwood attack and fellow senior Keniryn Coleman will move into a new role at running back.
Coleman was the Gators’ leading defender in 2024, finishing the season with 66 tackles, including eight for losses. Greenwood’s defense only produced four turnovers last season, however, so the Gators will be aiming for a more disruptive defense. Howard would embrace a platoon approach, “in a perfect world,” but Greenwood has several players who will contribute on both offense and defense.
“(Coleman is) a big, physical kid,” Howard said. “I think he’s ready to have a big year for us.”
JASON JAGGERS MAKES A POINT IN PRACTICE.
AND A TEAMMATE MOVE IN TO MAKE A PLAY.
DROPS BACK IN THE POCKET.
Besides Coleman, who will play on the edge defensively, senior Griffin Howard will move to tight end on offense, while also shifting from defensive tackle to defensive end on the other side of the ball. Howard, the younger son of the Gators’ head coach, is embracing his new role.
“I’ll do whatever it takes to help the team,’ he said.
Wyatt, meanwhile, is hoping to throw the ball more in his final season with the Gators. The 5-foot-8 senior quarterback completed 65 of 140 passes for 708 yards and seven touchdowns last season, while throwing 11 interceptions. He’ll be working behind a big offensive line, including 6-foot-5, 260-pound senior Blaine Haynes, who also is encouraged by the Gators’ approach to summertime drills.
“I think we believe in ourselves a lot more,” Haynes said. “We definitely our setting our goals high.”
Wyatt is quick to agree.
“I think we’re more focused, and accountable for each other,” he said.
FOR A RECEIVER IN THE FLAT.
SENIOR LEADERS SUCH AS (FROM LEFT)
LEVI WYATT, BLAINE HAYNES AND GRIFFIN HOWARD.
TO SHINE IN FULL-CONTACT DRILLS.
Greenwood finished 5-6 last season, giving Graves County all it could handle in a first-round playoff exit, a 21-9 defeat in Mayfield. The Gators went 9-3 in 2022, defeating longtime rival South Warren in the process, before finishing 7-4 in 2023.
“I think a big thing for us is we have to stay healthy,” William Howard said. “We’ve got to be in good physical condition. We’ve got a team that cares about each other and being successful.
“We had such a young crew last year. I think we started four or five freshmen in the Graves County game, but we were ahead at halftime. Hopefully, we can spread the ball around the field a little more (in the passing game).”
Greenwood will play three of its first four games at home, including the August 22 opener against Westmoreland (Tennessee) at The Swamp. The Gators added another Tennessee opponent, East Robertson High School, late in the season after Ohio County chose to play an independent schedule, rather than its assigned KHSAA Class 5A, 2nd District.
The Gators will play their four district games in succession, starting with newcomer Grayson County (September 23), followed by Warren Central, Barren County — coming off a 10-3 season last year, in Class 6A — and defending KHSAA Class 5A champion Bowling Green. By then, they could have a more balanced approach on offense. The since departed Cayden Schwarzkopf (1,081 yards rushing, five touchdowns) and Jackson Freeland (a team-high 14 touchdowns) were the key cogs in the offense, but senior quarterback Levi Wyatt has a critical year of experience under his belt.
“I think Levi has a better grasp of what we’re doing on offense right now,” Howard said.
Senior Davis Chaney is likely to get more offensive snaps this season, too, after starting at linebacker last season. Senior running back Nate Self is also in the mix, and Howard plans to use him in single-back formations behind Wyatt.
“The kids have worked hard throughout the offseason,” Howard said. “We’ve got Caldwell County coming to our place for a scrimmage on Friday, and we’ll try to take it from there.”
Coming next: Warren East.
AND HIS TEAMMATES TAKE A QUICK WATER BREAK.
AUGUST 22 AGAINST WESTMORELAND (TENNESSEE).