BY NOAH GRIFFITH
FOR THE OBSERVER
SMITHS STATION—
No one beat Lee-Scott last season, but no one came closer to doing it than the Glenwood Gators.
The Warriors beat everyone on their schedule by 30 points or more, but Glenwood was the exception which posed a threat to its rivals. Coming into Auburn in week four under first-year head coach Ryan Nelson, Glenwood put up a season-high 16 points on the Warriors in a 35-16 loss. The Gators improved on that in their second matchup with Lee-Scott, falling 35-21 in the AISA 3A State Championship in November.
Glenwood finished 8-4 in 2022, and the Gators encountered many setbacks along the way. Under Nelson, the team battled injuries and sickness while playing one of the toughest schedules in recent history, but instead of letting those be excuses, the Gators are using that for fuel in the chase to return to the Crampton Bowl for the title game this year.
“Last year, we went to the state championship, and it was a great experience for us, but it didn’t come out how we wanted,” said senior quarterback Dallas Crow at High School Media Day on Wednesday, July 26. “I think it gives us a chip on our shoulder to go back and work even harder … I believe in our coaches and I believe in our players, and I think we’re going to get it done.”
Crow is entering his third season as starting QB, and as Nelson pointed out, he can enter this one a little more comfortably.
Crow’s first two seasons at starter were spent adjusting, as he was operating under different head coaches with different offenses each year — Jason Gibson in Crow’s sophomore year and then last season under Nelson. While the offense dealt with injuries early last season, Crow didn’t hit his stride until the back end of the year. Glenwood started 0-2, and then 2-3, before winning six in a row leading up to the state championship.
This time around, the dual-threat QB with dynamic running ability can play more to his strengths with a system he understands and a coach who knows his skillset better.
“He went through some pains last season,” Nelson said of Crow. “I’m not going to say that he struggled early but it’s just, without experience [in a new offense], it’s hard to get in ballgames and play at a high level. After the third or fourth game, Dallas played extremely well for us last year.”
The Gators started out last season with two close losses to St. Anne-Pacelli and Brookestone — two talented teams out of Columbus, Georgia. Pacelli won the GIAA 4A State Championship, and it knocked Brookestone out in the semi-finals. Glenwood will have another tough start to this season with those same teams scheduled early, but it will be more prepared this time around.
The Gators have an experienced quarterback, but he also has plenty of skill around him. Despite losing its top running back duo of JT Banks and Aaron Burton, the Gators have sophomore running back Carter Judah, receivers Brandon and Mason McCraine and athlete Camden White, who plays all around on offense. Nelson said he expects all of those guys to contributed greatly over the course of the 2023 season.
Nelson compared White to Traveon Samuel, who he coached at Central before Samuel went on to play at Louisville, in that he can line up at running back, inside or outside receiver.
“You’re gonna see number three (White) all over the field this year,” Nelson raved. “Just a guy, when he’s got the ball in his hands, he’s dynamic.”
Nelson also said the Gators have placed an emphasis on physicality up front on both sides of the ball after he feels they got dominated in the run game by Lee-Scott, and they have the tools for it.
Returning on defense to bolster Glewnwood’s defense is R.J. Williams at defensive end, Marquel Robinson on the defensive line, Lamont Burton II at linebacker, Jaxson Griggs at corner and Thet Morris, who moved from receiver to safety.
Offensively, the Gators have three returning offensive lineman: Will Johnson at center, Wyatt Taylor at guard and senior Wesley Graham rotating between guard and tackle. Graham is the latest of his family to have big expectations at Glenwood, following his brothers Ben and Will who formerly started on the Gators’ o-line.
“As I like to say, it’s time for him to dominate football games up front,” Nelson said of Graham.
In year two under Nelson, the Gators are confident in their leadership and look like a threat to make another run to the state championship. This time, it’s about finding out how to win it.
“We’re not changing a whole lot,” Nelson said. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. So, you know, we’re just going to work and try to make this 2023 team the best team that we can possibly make. The goal hasn’t changed. We’re trying to win it all.”
GLENWOOD FOOTBALL SCHEDULE:
– Aug. 18: vs. St. Anne-Pacelli
– Aug. 25: @ Brookstone
– Sept. 1: @ Fort Dale
– Sept. 8: @ Bessemer
– Sept. 15: vs. Lee-Scott
– Sept. 22: OPEN
– Sept. 29: vs. Valiant Cross
– Oct. 6: @ Monroe
– Oct. 13: vs. Autauga
– Oct. 20: vs. Morgan
– Oct. 27: @ Chambers