football , they didn ’ t start playing until the eighth or ninth grade , some of them didn ’ t start until they were seniors . So even though we graduated five good players , all of them can be replaced by more experienced players who have been in our program since the seventh grade .”
The increase in senior quarterback Gunner McElroy ’ s ’ confidence combined with the experience around him could make for a deep run for the Peaster Greyhounds .
“ Gunner gets more and more confident each and every year , this will be his third year as the starter ,” McElroy said . “ It is the same offense . He played a lot of 7-on-7 this spring and summer and when we play 7-on-7 we just run our stuff … it is just our offense to get better . His confidence has grown from his first year as a sophomore starter into his junior year and even into this year , I think his confidence will grow even more since the guys around him have more experience as well .”
Despite losing five starters , Peaster retains many more from last ’ s year squad , meaning expectations to at least duplicate — if not exceed — last year ’ s goals .
“ Our first year here we went 3-7 ,” McElroy said . “ We won our first three games and proceeded to loss all of our district games . Last year our goal was win one district game and then try to make the playoffs and we accomplished that .
“ Now our goal is to do the same , to get back to playoffs , our goal is to finish higher than fourth place in our district .” But that postseason goal doesn ’ t just end after making the playoffs .
“ My personal opinion as a coach is that a bi-district championship is a lot more important compared to a district championship ,” McElroy said . “ You can win district , then lose in the first round of the playoffs . If you win a bi-district championship , you are guaranteed the second round of the playoffs . We always want to qualify for the playoffs , and we want to win the bi-district championship .”
Despite a tough loss to end their season , the Greyhounds choose to look at the positives instead of the negatives , noting that making the playoffs was a huge accomplishment in itself .
“
Now our goal is to do the same , to get back to playoffs , our goal is to finish higher than fourth place in our district .
2022 FOOTBALL PREVIEW 37