Countdown to Kickoff: Young West Greene roster looking to turn the page in 2026 season

MOSHEIM, Tenn. (WJHL) — In our high school countdown to kickoff, we turn the spotlight on the West Greene Buffaloes as the team's young roster looks to change the pace of the program heading into the new season. West Greene finished 1-10 last year but picked up its lone victory over Cumberland Gap in the regular-season finale to earn a spot in the playoffs. The Buffaloes' season ended with a first-round loss to Oneida. Sophomore quarterback Aiden Thompson will start under center this season as West Greene looks to grow on offense. Tristen Banks and Shawn Bailey are also expected to play key roles for the Buffaloes. Thompson said changing the team's mentality after last season has been a focus heading into fall. "Wasn't a very good season. But this season, we're trying to change that mindset," Thompson said. The same sentiment is shared on the defensive side of the ball, where junior defensive tackle Kenneth Debord said last year's struggles have motivated the Buffaloes throughout the offseason. "It was a rough season last year, rough on the guys." Debord said. "We got to bounce back this year and work ten times harder." Head coach Caleb Slover will be looking for his linebackers to step up defensively, with Hunter Franklin expected to help lead the secondary. But with only three seniors and eight juniors on the roster, Slover said the team's development will largely depend on a sizable group of freshmen and sophomores. "We got some guys coming back that can make a bunch of plays. We just got to gel and put it all together, and we got to keep growing. We are a young football team," Slover said. "We've got a big freshman and sophomore class that we're going to rely on a whole bunch. We just got to get those older guys to bring the younger guys with us and keep growing." West Greene opens the 2026 season Aug. 21 at home against Cosby. Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.