Greenwood’s football team took a big step forward last season, going 9-3 and advancing to the second round of the Class 5A playoffs. The losses came to 5A state champion Bowling Green, 4A runner-up Franklin-Simpson and Owensboro – which lost in the region finals to Bowling Green

Now the Gators hope to build on that, learning from past mistakes that prevented them from perhaps doing better in 2016. Greenwood lost by four points to Franklin-Simpson and was plagued by turnovers in a 28-17 season-ending loss to Owensboro.

It’s something senior quarterback Jackson Adams said has provided plenty of motivation throughout the offseason.

“There are a lot of things that caused us to lose that game,” Adams said. “We are definitely reminded of that every day, and that has been on the board all year long about how we can’t do that to ourselves (again).”

The Gators are motivated with an experienced group returning, but face a new challenge with the addition of South Warren in Class 5A, District 2.

“They are coming off a state title, just two years removed, and coach (Brandon) Smith does a great job with those guys,” Greenwood coach Chris Seabolt said. “They definitely have some talent. It just makes our already hard district that much tougher. You’ve got Bowling Green, who is the cream of the crop in 5A right now until somebody else can do something about that, and then you add South in, who is arguably one of the best 4A teams coming to us. So obviously it’s a tough district.”

Greenwood has plenty of battle-tested experience returning, with Adams leading the way.

Adams ran for 1,329 yards and 24 scores but also threw for 271 yards and four scores.

Senior Xezayier Snorton is also back after running for 540 yards and eight scores last season.

There are plenty of other possibilities for the Greenwood backfield. Senior Blake Barker is a three-year starter, while junior Triston Wilson started some as a sophomore last season.

Senior Jaron Burr, a transfer from Texas, figures to be in the mix. Defensive stalwarts Dakota Ford and Jackson Otto could see more time on offense as well as Alex Rhodes.

Senior Jake Sanson is the most experienced returning receiver. Riley Sadler gives the offense experience at tight end, while Bryce Johnson, back after a knee injury, will add depth.

Lawson Fletcher is the only returning lineman, while Mason Kreilein comes off from defensive end to be part of the O-line as well.

Jacob Ellis moves from tight end to lineman, with Ben Scott and Abraham Sosa also expected to see time.

Defensively, the Gators lose Malcolm Johnson, but the front seven returns.

Kreilein, Michael Hathaway and Brad Herman will see significant time on the D-line, with Andy Peters also in the mix.

Rhodes, Burr, Zach Langevin and Clyde Clements will see plenty of minutes in the linebacking corps.

The secondary will feature two-year starter Sanson, Ford, Clements and Triston Wilson.

Seabolt said if Greenwood can contain self-inflicted wounds everything is in place to take another step this season.

“We have great senior leadership,” Seabolt said. “That is always an intangible you have to have. We have great team chemistry. We’ve got to jell on the offensive line and that is going to take us a couple of games. We’ve got to find some guys in our secondary.

“If we can do that, I like our chances because – no disrespect to Franklin – we should of beat those guys and we talked all offseason about the fact that we should have beat Owensboro.

“The truth is we fumbled the football twice where we didn’t necessarily get hit, we just laid the ball on the ground. Had we not done that I feel like we would have been right there at the end of the ballgame. Instead of going 9-3, you are 11-1 going to the regional championship. Our guys know that and see how close we were.”

2017 Greenwood schedule

8/18 – at Warren Central

8/26 – vs. Warren East (at WKU)

9/1 – Allen County-Scottsville

9/8 – at Franklin-Simpson

9/15 – at Barren County

9/22 – Bowling Green

9/29 – at South Warren

10/13 – Grayson County

10/20 – Highlands

10/27 – at Hopkinsville{&end}