4 THE RIVER VALLEY REPORT FOOTBALL PREVIEW | 8.11.2024
Archer brothers a terror for opponents
Kane engineers Greenwood offense, while Cash a playmaker on defense
LELAND BARCLAY
SPECIAL TO RIVER VALLEY DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
GREENWOOD— Spearheaded by the competitive Archer brothers, Cash on defense and Kane on offense, the defending Class 6A champion Greenwood Bulldogs are going to have plenty of bite this season.
“ They’ re both really competitive, but they like to have fun,” Greenwood Coach Chris Young said.“ They’ re both fun to be around.”
Cash, a senior and older by 16 months, leads the defense and will make a position switch from defensive end to linebacker.
“ It’ s different, but it’ s going good,” Cash said.“ I’ m enjoying it, but it is a challenge. It is fun, though.”
Cash was a menace at defensive end the last two seasons, with 78 total tackles and 20 sacks, and now will enjoy even more freedom to make plays sideline to sideline.
“ He’ s still going to do his thing on the edge, but we’ re going to play him at the second level a little bit,” defensive coordinator Jason Gill said.“ Last year, offenses pretty much knew where he was at. Now, we’ re able to move him a little bit more. We can put him over guards. We can move him around. It’ s going to help our defense out because they won’ t know where he’ s coming from.”
The biggest adjustment has been pass coverage, which he will do at times.“ Playing coverage is absolutely the biggest
We’ re ready for some Friday night football! adjustment,” Cash said.“ I can play the run game, I think. I can make plays. I’ m smart. Playing coverages is very, very different for me.”
At 6-1, 218, he’ s displaying the perfect combination of speed and power for his senior season.
“ He’ s basically what we look for in that hybrid linebacker / defensive end,” Gill said.“ We had that guy last year, and he was better off the edge. He’ s still going to do a lot of the stuff he did for us last year. He’ s athletic. He’ s one of the fastest guys on the team. He can flip his hips and run. Really, the transition has been easy for him.”
Kane will guide a high-powered offense— possibly the likes of which have rarely been seen— with returning receivers Grant Karnes and Isaiah Arrington along with move-ins Khalil‘ Champ’ Davis from Omaha( Neb.) North and Aamonii‘ Money’ Wren of Newport.
“ It’ s definitely exciting,” offensive coordinator Stephen Hogan said.“ This summer in 7-on-7, the things we’ ve been able to do, we kind of get to feel out what it could look like this season. Kane obviously is able to get the ball around to those guys. We’ ve got a great group of guys that are coming. We’ re really excited for the season.” Karnes, Arrington, Davis and Wren are speedsters, all of which are headed to Division I status.
“ When you get four D-I receivers out there, one of them is going to be open on
Kane Archer( left) and Cash Archer of Greenwood hope tolead Greenwood to a second straight Class 6A state championship. Photo by Hank Layton.
HARPS
HOMETOWN FRESH