“We’re constantly getting these kids to believe in themselves,” he said.
In Week 4, the word was ‘Leadership,’ Wooten said.
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“We talked about finding leaders in your position group, on your side of the ball and in the locker room,” Wooten said. “Any team that I’ve been a part of that’s been successful has been led by the kids on the team.”
Through four weeks, the Knights are learning what it means to be successful. After going 3-6 and snapping a 32-game losing streak last season, the Knights are already 2-2 this season.
“I’ve always said you can control two things, your attitude and your effort,” Wooten said. “They’ve bought into that. We’ve done some things that are different to build our team, our trust and help them with those two things — attitude and effort. We’re trying to get them to compete and believe that you can (win).”
Greenon hasn’t had a winning season since going 7-3 in back-to-back years in 2006 and 2007.
“Our kids have bought into what we’re doing,” Wooten said. “We’re in Year 2 with (our system). The kids are getting more comfortable and more confident in what we’re doing. Our staff does a great job of installing and implementing (the system).”
The Knights did something last week they hadn’t done in seven years — score 50 points in a game. Greenon handed Triad its first loss of the season, winning 51-44 in North Lewisburg.
The Knights last scored 50 in 2011 when they scored 56 against Ponitz and 58 against Northwestern.
Greenon is playing a majority of sophomores and freshmen, Wooten said, many who are seeing their first Friday night action.
“We’re really young across the board,” he said. “You only play 11 at a time, We’ll take the 30 we have and coach them up.”
Offensively, the Knights are among the leaders in every statistical category in the Ohio Heritage Conference under offensive coordinator Brian Blevins, who previously coached at Fairmont and Wayne. Sophomore quarterback Cade Rice leads the OHC with 818 passing yards and 7 TDs and is amongst the top-5 in rushing yards with 349 yards and five TDs.
“He’s one of the best athletes I’ve seen come through Greenon and I’ve been here 20-plus years,” Wooten said. “He’s young, but he’s making decisions. I think some of that is coaching and some of it is maturity. He’s got all the tools. He can make all the throws. The sky’s the limit for him.”
Wide receiver Nick Traylor, a senior who came out for the first time this season, has 18 catches for 252 yards and three scores for Greenon. Sophomore running back Kameron Cox has rushed for 282 yards and five TDs.
Defensively, Greenon senior linebacker Levi Morrison is leading the OHC with 45 tackles. Wooten called him “the quarterback of the defense.”
“He’s kind of the heart of our team and leads by example,” Wooten said. “He’s done a great job.”
Over the next two weeks, the Knights face two of the top teams in the OHC in West Liberty-Salem (3-1) and Greeneview (3-1).
“We got to play who they put in front of us,” Wooten said. “West Liberty has a great program and we respect what they do. Their kids play hard. … We’re going to control what we can control, play our game and hopefully put our best foot forward.”
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