GREENVILLE – The Greenville High School football team took another step forward in its preparation for the upcoming 2016 season by hosting Brookville and St. Henry in a seven-on-seven scrimmage Thursday morning.
This format allows the teams to work on their passing games offensively while learning how to defend the different formations that the defenses are confronted with.
“Seven-on-seven is kind of a necessary evil,” Green Wave coach Aaron Shaffer said. “It’s something you have to work on the first couple of weeks of real football. Teach the linebackers to go forward and the receivers and quarterbacks have to understand most plays aren’t pass plays. We are more 60-40 run to pass, but in the summer we throw 100 percent.”
One of the big questions Greenville has to answer this year is who will be the starting quarterback? The Green Wave are looking to replace four-year starter and all-time passing leader Clay Guillozet.
“Obviously, quarterback is a pretty important position,” Coach Shaffer said. “Having a QB play for us for four years and just graduate, we’ve got some answers that we’ve got to get there.”
The cupboard is well-stocked with a quarterback from each grade. With senior Kyle Phillips, junior Owen Paulus, sophomore Colton Zumbrun and freshman Tyler Beyke the coaching staff has a good mixture to choose from.
“Kyle, Owen, Colton and even Tyler, we have a quarterback in every grade,” Shaffer said. ”Kyle is not inexperienced. He played in five games as a sophomore due to injury and played a little last year, so he is not inexperienced. He’s been on a varsity field. He was an all-league (defensive back) last year, so Friday night lights aren’t going to be nerving for him.”
All the players are working hard as they compete for spots in the starting lineup.
“We’re evaluating everyone including QB,” Coach Shaffer said. “So when comes the first Friday night the best eleven will be out there, whoever it is, whoever it is.”
