GREEN BULLDOGS
- HEAD COACH: Mark Geis, sixth year, 31-27
- LAST YEAR: 10-4, 3-3
- POSTSEASON: Division II, Region 5
Green football’s returning lettermen (21)
- Zain Alqadhi, OL-DL, 6-0, 254, Jr.
- Rhon Bruce, WR-DB, 6-2, 170, Sr.
- AJ Fortunato, RB-LB, 6-2, 220, Sr.
- Anthony Fortunato, WR-DB, 6-2, 185, Sr.
- Evan Georgiou, WR-DB, 5-10, 170, Jr.
- Kaden Gregory, WR-DB, 5-11, 170, Sr.
- Sal Habash, WR-DB, 5-9, 175, Sr.
- Tyson Hunka, QB-DB, 5-10, 170, Jr.
- Wyatt Knowlton, OL-LB, 6-0, 190, Sr.
- Brock Kuznik, RB-DB, 5-7, 165, Sr.
- Jack Logsdon, QB-DB, 5-11, 165, Sr.
- Dario Lombardi, OL-DL, 6-1, 225, Jr.
- Cohen Lynch, OL-DL, 6-0, 265, Sr.
- Antonio Martin, WR-DB, 6-0, 180, Sr.
- Nolan McKendry, OL-LB, 6-0, 230, Sr.
- Anthony McMichael, WR-DB, 5-7, 170, Jr.
- Evan Reed, RB-LB, 6-1, 215, Jr.
- Mike Schaal, OL-DL, 6-2, 250, Sr.
- Josh Taylor, RB-LB, 6-1, 220, So.
- Rowan Uhl, WR-LB, 5-10, 185, Sr.
- Kaden Worner, RB-LB, 5-9, 185, Jr.
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Green football’s impact players
Green was supposed to have two four-year varsity football players this season. One (OL-DL Michael Schaal) won't be available due to a knee injury. The other (WR-DB Antonio Martin) is working back from his own knee injury and hopefully will be available by Week 1. The Bulldogs lost the dominating two-way lineman Schaal, an All-Ohio first teamer on defense, for the season when he tore his ACL during lacrosse. Martin, who has injured the same knee twice, was All-Ohio second team on defense after intercepting six passes and totaling 977 yards and 12 touchdowns combined rushing and receiving. The versatile Martin can play anywhere on offense and is a major weapon in the return game. ... AJ Fortunato (6-1, 220) led Green in tackles with 117 (85 solo) to go with six sacks and 12 TFLs, and head coach Mark Geis expects the senior inside linebacker to go to another level this year. "I think AJ is one of the best defenders in the area," Geis said. "I can't wait to watch him play." Fortunato also will play fullback on offense. His twin brother, Anthony, is a returning starter at cornerback and will be in the mix at wide receiver. ... QB Tyson Hunka was thrown into the fire as a sophomore when Samino Manson was injured. He proved himself more than ready. Hunka completed 62.6% of his passes for 571 yards, 11 TDs and three interceptions in basically six games. He rushed for another 257 yards and two TDs. ... Evan Reed (outside linebacker) and Anthony McMichael (safety) both started on Green's defense as sophomores, and now they both could play significant roles at running back as well. ... Dario Lombardi, who missed last season after tearing his ACL in Week 1, could prove to be a force on both lines.
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What's new with Green football in 2024
Kaden Gregory played a lot last year as a junior but operated in the shadows of a deep receiving corps, led by second team All-Ohioan Zach Baglia (73 receptions, 1,021 yards, 14 TDs). The spotlight now is squarely on Gregory, for whom Geis has high expectations. "It's cool to see how kids improve year to year," Geis said, "and Kaden is one of those kids." ... Junior Evan Georgiou is another skill player who could make a big impact at wide receiver and in the secondary. ... Junior Zain Alqadhi brings versatility to a Green offensive line anchored by returning starter Nolan McKendry. ... Former Copley head coach Jake Parsons has joined Geis' staff and will coach Green's inside linebackers.
Green football’s outlook
A big part of Green's rise in recent years has been its five-wide offense. But the Bulldogs found some real running success last year in more traditional sets, highlighted by rushing for 184 yards in a 28-0 Week 10 win against Lake . Look for Green to continue that ground push. "We really believe offensively we're at our best when we are multiple," Geis said. "As much as we loved our empty stuff and had fun with it, we really started to see some things last year where it was making teams prepare for a lot. And it wasn't any more work on us. Our kids know our offense. So we've prepared ourselves to be pretty multiple." It also helps that Geis believes his team has three or four capable options at running back after being thin at the position in past years. ... Green has close to 70 players on its varsity roster, and that includes a 22-man senior class. It's an experienced group, and it's a group that doesn't stay quiet for long. "We have a lot of personality," Geis said with a chuckle. "It's a fun group to be around. Sometimes you have a group that are really hard workers but they don't say a lot. This group says a ton." ... Three years ago, Green went 11-4 and advanced to a state semifinal. Last year, it went 10-4 and advanced to a regional final. (Both times it lost to the eventual state champion: Winton Woods in 2021 and Massillon last year.) These are quite the feats for a program that hadn't registered a winning record since 2012 before that 2021 season. "It's been crazy to see the amount of progress in five years, and I'm not talking wins and losses," Geis said. "I'm talking the amount of commitment we get out of these kids. I'm just real proud of where we're at."
Green's football schedule for 2024
- Aug. 23 at Dover
- Aug. 30 PAINESVILLE RIVERSIDE
- Sept. 6 TALLMADGE
- Sept. 13 at Hoover
- Sept. 20 JACKSON
- Sept. 27 MCKINLEY
- Oct. 4 at GlenOak
- Oct. 11 at Louisville
- Oct. 18 PERRY
- Oct. 25 at Lake
Home games in all CAPS. All games at 7 p.m., unless noted.
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This article originally appeared on The Repository: Green Bulldogs 2024 high school football schedule, preview
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