Culture continues to change for Greenfield-Central

Sometimes, the numbers do not always tell the story. Such was the case for the 2019 installment of the Greenfield-Central High School football team. Travis Nolting wasted little time exciting players and a fan base when he arrived and installed the Wishbone offense and brought life to a program that had fallen on hard times in recent years. The record may have shown the Cougars picked up only two wins against nine losses, but a 67-0 win over Shelbyville snapped a 13-game losing streak and a 40-39 win over Muncie Central in the sectional opener was Greenfield-Central’s first playoff win since 2016. With eight starters back on the offensive side and eight back on the defensive side, Nolting is ready to see his Cougars make a significant jump in year two. “The Greenfield-Central football team continues to grow and develop. We were very young last year, and will still be young in some key spots. We have made great strides during off season lifting, but we still have much room for improvement. Our focus has been and always will be to strive to get better day by day,” Nolting told Sideline Prep Sports Report. When it comes to the offense, Nolting brings back two quarterbacks – senior Lance McKee and sophomore Brodie Mayberry, both of whom showed signs of being able to guide the Cougars last year. McKee opened the season as the starter before suffering an injury, allowing Mayberry to start the second half of the season. McKee rushed for 447 yards and was 4-of-9 for another 146 through the air last fall. Mayberry, on the other hand, was responsible for 313 yards on the ground and was 5-of-14 for 100 yards through the air. The two combined for six trips to the end zone. In addition, running back Brayden Herrell is back, as is fellow running back Joey Roland, and linemen Kyle Proper, Jordan Zike, Scott Stanley and Anthony Wallace. Herrell led the team with six touchdowns and picked up 619 yards, while Roland amassed 160 yards and a score. On the defensive side of the ball, Greenfield-Central brings back Sam Hall, Jacob Skinner, Logan Evans and Roland up front. Linebackers Chris O’Connor and Spencer Johnson are back, as are Preston Taylor and Brady Durnell in the secondary. Johnson notched 62 total tackles and one sack last season, while O’Connor had 58. One player that Nolting is expecting big things out of RaShawn Street. “Our players are now in year two of our offensive and defensive systems. Many of our young guys gained a lot of experience last year, and we return a good portion of starters on both sides of the ball,” Nolting said. One major difference this season compared to last is the weight room, according to Nolting. “We have made tremendous progress in the weight room,” Nolting told Sideline Prep Sports Report. A season ago, he only had 16 players who could squat 300 pounds or more, 11 kids who could bench 200 or more, 2 kids who could deadlift 400 pounds or more and 11 kids who could clean 200 pounds or more. Fast forward to this offseason, and Nolting has 96 kids who squat 300 or more, 32 kids who bench 200 or more, 14 kids who deadlift 400 or more and 25 kids who clean 200 or more. “I believe establishing a direction and then committing to that direction is the key. We always ask our guys to trust the process. They are, and they are improving because of it. The culture here has already begun to change. The kids are chomping at the bit to get back into it. While we still have miles to go, I am proud of how far we have come in a year’s time and excited about how far we will continue to climb,” Nolting said.