Photos by Steven Wright | Greene County News
Greeneview’s quarterback-running back duo of Alex Horney (right) and Chase Walker (left) headline what should be one of the best rushing offenses in the area.
JAMESTOWN — High levels of expectation continue being met at Greeneview.
Since the Ohio Heritage Conference split into two divisions in 2017, the Rams have been the kings of the South. Five of the seven division titles have been won by Greeneview, including each of the last three. The defense has allowed 97 total points during its 15-game division winning streak and South opponents average fewer than 10 points per game all-time.
But it isn’t because the coaches are the one telling the players what they expect out of them. According to head coach Ryan Haines, players have set their own goals and coaches help them achieve them.
“I have goal meetings with my players, right?” he said. “So as we talk about those goals when they set them, we get them on paper and put them in the drawer and work toward them every single day.”
The Rams have done a good job of meeting them over the years and this group has the potential to keep up the success.
In addition to returning almost everyone from last year’s group, Greeneview has six All-OHC performers back including South Division Player of the Year Alex Horney. Joining the quarterback in the backfield will be Cooper Payton and Chase Walker. Together the trio produced the leading rushing attack in the OHC during the 2023 season with everyone averaging at least six yards per carry. The Rams have no qualms about going over the top of defenses as well as Horney threw for 11 TDs as well.
The defense is led by two all-state players in Gavin Henry and Payton, both of whom ranked in the top-10 for sacks last season. Blake Midlam is another strong presence for opponents to account for up front, with Jamarious Vinson in the secondary coming back as a good corner.
While they try to win a fourth straight league title, the next group is getting a close look at the work being put in to reach those accomplishments and there are plenty of them. Greeneview has close to 60 players on its roster this year, allowing the chance for a freshman-only schedule to possibly be put together. Haines said he does not believe the school has ever had the numbers to do that before.
“We’ve been able to tier practices and I think it’s tough to do things like that when you don’t already have solid veteran leadership,” Haines said. “Speaking defensively, they know what to do and they know the expectations. Offensively, there’s always some change as we’re not a systemized offense. … When they have the base of what we do, these upperclassment are just able to excel with the wrinkles a lot faster.”
The early schedule for the Rams is more favorable than last year, but the difficulty still will be high. Two non-league home games open the year with Northridge and Waynesville visiting Jamestown. A trip to West Liberty-Salem in week three comes before a showdown at home against North Division favorite West Jefferson. The OHC South already has a tough time beating Greeneview and the Rams get three of its five division games at home.
It would be a surprise if Greenview does not qualify for the postseason, which would be the fifth straight year and 10th time in 11 seasons should they do so. Getting a playoff win has eluded the Rams in recent years, but they certainly have the roster to contend for one this year.
Haines said that it’s easy to get complacent the more teams become winners, but he believes his squad understands how to manage themselves because of the way he and his coaches feel they are never satisfied.
“I want our kids to think high,” he said. “I want our kids to set high expectations, and then I want that to translate to practices, right? We can’t talk about winning conference championships. We can’t talk about winning team games. We can’t talk about beating Team A, B or C. We can’t talk about all the playoff weeks if we don’t really mean it at practice.”
SEASON OUTLOOK
Greeneview Rams
Coach: Ryan Haines (8th year, 52-21)
2023 record: 7-4 (OHC South 1st, first round D-V playoffs); Points Per Game: 29.5 (Off.) 14.7 (Def.)
What to expect: “We maximize our potential. We’re going to get the most out of our kids because they expect the most out of each each other.” — Ryan Haines, head coach
Key Players: Joey Giannoble, Sr, WR (17 rec, 303 yds, 4 TD); Gavin Henry, Sr, DL (51 tkls, 24 solo, 5 sacks, 7 TFL, 1 FF, 1FR); Alex Horney, Sr, QB (73-141, 1043 yd, 11 TD, 8 INT, 135 att, 1276 yds, 15 TD); Blake Midlam, Sr, DL (42 tkls, 24 solo, 1 sack, 2 TFL, 1 FF); Cooper Payton, Sr, LB (73 tkls, 54 solo, 4 sacks, 7 TFL, 95 att, 717 yds, 10 TD); Chase Walker, Sr, LB (49 tkls, 29 solo, 4.5 TFL, 94 att, 620 yds, 7 TD)
Captains: Jacob Daugherty, Alex Horney, Blake Midlam, Cooper Payton, Chase Walker
Schedule (all games 7 p.m. unless noted)
(Home games in ALL CAPS)
Aug. 23 — NORTHRIDGE
Aug. 29 — WAYNESVILLE
Sept. 6 — at West Liberty Salem
Sept. 13 — WEST JEFFERSON
Sept. 20 — at Triad
Sept. 27 — GREENON
Oct. 4 — SOUTHEASTERN
Oct. 11 — at Madison Plains
Oct. 18 — CATHOLIC CENTRAL
Oct. 25 — at Cedarville
Contact Steven Wright at 937-502-4498 and follow on X (formerly Twitter) @Steven_Wright_.
