2024 Preview: Greenwood Eagles

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Greenwood enters the 2024 football season coming off the epitome of an up-and-down 2023. Last season, the Eagles never had a winning streak or a losing streak longer than two games on their way to a 6-6 season. It was the second consecutive non-winning season for Greenwood, which is historically unheard of. From 1998 to 2021, the Eagles had only one year without more wins than losses.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coach Chris Liner believes the pieces are there for Greenwood to regain its traditional state power status this fall. The 2023 squad was a young team and one that was still in an offensive transition from the flexbone to more a spread offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"We started nine 10th-graders last year, which I've never done before," said Liner, who's entering his 17th season as a head coach and fifth at his alma mater. "I think the inconsistency was just from a lack of playing experience, but the good thing this season is we now have eight starters back on both sides of the ball. ... We've got a lot of guys who's played a lot of football back this year, so we're super excited about that.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"My grandad played at Greenwood. My dad played at Greenwood. I played at Greenwood and my son played at Greenwood. Four generations have worn that 'G,' so you know very well what the expectations are and we embrace that."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of those sophomore starters from a year ago that Liner is excited to have back is quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1639712' first='Triston' last='Lewis']</strong> (6-foot-4, 200 pounds). In last season's opener, Lewis was unfazed by his first varsity start. The three-sport athlete looked like a seasoned quarterback from the get-go as he fired a 50-yard bomb to <strong>Jayden Adams</strong> - another returning starter this year - for a first quarter touchdown that helped Greenwood defeat AC Flora.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Adams should get a lot of protection this year with an offensive line led by seniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360096' first='Robert' last='Stevens']</strong> (6-foot, 305 pounds) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1734538' first='Isaiah' last='Smith']</strong> (5-foot-8, 240 pounds). After missing all of last season due to an injury, Stevens is fired up to return to his spot at starting center. Smith will line up alongside Stevens at one of the guard spots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"I'm ready to have a great senior year and I've got some great guys beside me that are going to lean into the fight with me," Stevens said. "Not being able to help my guys last year gives me a lot of motivation this year."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensively, Greenwood looks to be led by juniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1247862' first='Khamari' last='Griffin']</strong> (pictured) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1743674' first='Bryce' last='Seaborn']</strong> (5-foot-10, 185 pounds). Griffin, a strong safety, and Seaborn, a linebacker, were All-Region I-4A performers last year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Griffin said facing a spread offense in practice has helped the defense prepare for offenses that they're more accustomed to facing each week. The work they put in at 7-on-7s is different now as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"This summer has been real good and there's been a lot of competition to show us what we need to work on," Griffin said. "The biggest thing for our team is working together. ... When one person messes up, we've got to help them and not discourage them."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>STARS SET TO SHINE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1743674' first='Bryce' last='Seaborn']</strong> ATH, 2026 - Seaborn is one of those eight returning starters on both sides of the ball and he does a little bit of everything for Greenwood. A two-time Class 4A All-State wrestler, Seaborn has shown to be a clutch receiver after lining up in the slot and a good blocker after lining up like an H-back in the backfield. Defensively, he lines up in a lot of different ways at linebacker. Seaborn even converted a pair of fake punts for first downs, taking direct snaps as the upback last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360096' first='Robert' last='Stevens']</strong> OL, 2025 - While missing all of last season due to injury wasn't pleasant, Stevens was able to end his junior year on a high note. At the Carolina Coaches Combine in April, Stevens set a combine record with 41 reps at 185 on the bench.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360068' first='Shuvioues' last='Williams']</strong> DL, 2025 - Williams leads the Eagles' defensive front at noseguard. At 6-foot-1 and 312 pounds, Williams makes for a big obstacle for opposing running backs trying to find yards up the middle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FILM REVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1639712' first='Triston' last='Lewis']</strong> QB, 2026 - With Lewis' tall frame, it's no surprise that he can throw a pretty deep ball. He's also shown a soft touch on those throws, helping make for an easier catch for his receivers. Lewis was a starter on the basketball team and also played baseball last year, so obviously he can hurt defenses with his running ability as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17925742/655196d0da50b80a305b8fd3' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66a9b3e0695a1"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Desiray Christian</strong> WR, 2028 - Talk about potential. Despite not playing a down of varsity yet - and not setting foot inside a Greenwood High classroom yet, Christian has already received an offer from Gardner-Webb. At 5-foot-11, 170 pounds, Christian already has good size for a freshman.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1247862"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66a9b3e06b376"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Griffin was one of the leading tacklers for the Eagles in 2023 with 80 total stops and was a big hitter at linebacker. Griffin, who's moving to strong safety this season, also had 10 tackles-for-loss, an interception and two forced fumbles. He contributed at running back and receiver and also had a kick return for a touchdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17925719/6553f002f56a2a0378f57372' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66a9b3e06b3cc"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->