Coach: Lee Larkan, 15th season at Greenland
2015 Record: 10-2
Returning Offensive Starters: 3
Returning Defensive Starters: 7
Offense: Spread
Defense: 50 Front
Key Players: JR Austin Anderson QB, SR Michael McAdoo RB/S
GREENLAND (KFSM)--In 2015 Lee Larkan guided Greenland to a 10-2 record which included a playoff win over Osceola. The Pirates were led by two All-state players, quarterback Cole Self and running back Alex Sizemore. Together the pair combined for over 3400 yards from scrimmage.
"Alex ran very hard and Cole was a very athletic quarterback with a good arm. That's probably about 80% of our offense that we lost," Larkan said.
The Pirates do return some skill players. Either junior Austin Anderson or sophomore Levi Vaughn will play quarterback. Michael McAdoo joins the backfield after averaging over ten yards per carry last year. Other experienced play makers on offense include Paycen Dennis and Tyler Tolbert.
Where Greenland excels is on the defensive side of the ball. Depending on how practices play out, Larkan returns either six or seven starters from a defense that posted four shutouts.
Dennis contributed 62 tackles at outside linebacker last season, while McAdoo assumes the strong safety role. Junior tackle Zeke Wilson said Greenland has plenty of potential.
"If we go out there and play hard I think we can win every game. I looked at our schedule and I don't see any team that I think is actually better than us. I think we can win every game."
Larkan's defensive strategy is simple. "We just want to play hard. First thing is prepare, we want to be prepared for everything that the other team can put at you. So they spend a lot of time, the kids do as much as we do, watching film. And then if you play hard you always have a shot so we want to play hard."
Greenland opens the season on September 2nd at West Fork, looking to avenge a 5 point loss in last year's regular season finale.
