GREENFIELD — Following a 2-8 campaign in 2023, the Greenfield football team is hoping it can turn a corner this fall. 

Despite boasting a small roster, the Green Wave possess the skill talent to compete in the Intercounty League North. Greenfield last made the MIAA postseason in 2021. 

Longtime coach Mike Kuchieski — entering his 20th season coaching at Greenfield and 35th season overall coaching high school football — said he has seen his team improve. Kuchieski said the team’s new players who will be thrown into action on Friday in the opener against Chicopee (6 p.m., Szot Park) have been getting up to speed in practice and scrimmages.

“I’m excited to get year 20 [at Greenfield] going,” Kuchieski said. “Our offense is a work in progress. We have some athletes. There’s a learning curve and they’re learning how to play. We have kids who are playing for the first time and we have kids who haven’t played in three years. If it clicks, we could be OK.”

The Green Wave team feels more connected than it was a year ago. That goes back to the summer, where players tried to get together to develop chemistry that they hope will show on the field come Friday nights. 

“The team is closer,” senior Caleb Murray said. “Our team last year wasn’t that close. We’ve been working on that and focusing on what we need to do as a team and as individuals.” 

Murray split time at quarterback last year and will be under center this season for the Wave. Watch out for Mason Cummings, a Pioneer student, who’s coming out for football for the first time as a senior but has made an impression on the coaching staff. He’ll see time at quarterback as well. 

“Wish we had [Cummings] for three years but it is what it is,” Kuchieski said. “We’ll make the best of it. Hopefully he enjoys it.” 

Those quarterbacks can lean on the run game, as junior Angel Politis looks to build off a big sophomore year in the backfield. 

On the outside, Krish Patel and Erik Martineau should be go-to targets for both Murray and Cummings, as the pair are in line for strong senior seasons both at receiver and in the defensive backfield. Senior Jon Breor is a big weapon at tight end who also excels on the edge of the Wave defense. 

Greenfield has had to move a pair of skill position players to the offensive line after a mass departure of key players from that unit from a season ago. 

“We have a couple kids who can make some plays,” Kuchieski said. “Krish Patel and Erik Martineau, Jon Breor and Angel. We had to move some players around for offensive line purposes. Jerad Goulston, who played fullback, is playing tackle now. Elliot Holcomb was a fullback last year and is playing guard now. Bryce Hamon is back on the left side while Timmy Derivolkov and Jackson Killeen will be playing on the line. All those guys are together and getting better. It’s baby steps.”

Like many football teams, the Green Wave will be reliant on that line play this year. How much that offensive line develops will be key to whether the Wave can improve on the 11.8 points per game they scored a season ago. 

If Greenfield can get solid play out of its line, the offense has the potential to do some damage. 

“We go as our offensive line goes,” Kuchieski said. “That’s just like any year. If the offensive line does its job, we could be successful. It’s going to need to be a real team game. We can’t be relying on one person to do everything. It needs to be all 11 guys doing their job. I know that's cliche but in the Intercounty League, we won the league in Athol one time with a decent fullback, a receiver and a good line. Sometimes that works. Look at Ware. They had a good tailback — and some good players on defense — and won the league.” 

Goulston, who’s making that move from the backfield to the line, said he’s seen a different level of effort from his team this offseason which he hopes will show on the field. 

“We feel better than last year,” Goulston said. “Our focus and effort are better. Our mindset is much better this year.”

Longtime defensive coordinator Al Dean has a defense that returns athletic playmakers. Kuchieski said he needs the players to stick to their assignment and not try to do too much. 

“Defensively, if we do our job and not play stupid, and they play their position and not try to help everyone, we could be OK there too,” Kuchieski said. “But, it’s about aggressiveness, tackling and being more aggressive than the other team.” 

Breor, another senior, said he’s not focused on the wins and losses, but rather making sure Greenfield improves each time it takes the field. So far, so good. 

“From our best player to our worst player, you see everyone improving each day,” Breor said. “This time last year we weren’t seeing that this much. Last year, by the end of the season, we still didn’t have everyone able to do tire [drills]. This year, everybody can do it. It’s a big step. We want to improve our effort. Not necessarily wins and losses, but we need to go out and give 100 percent and play football the right way.”