<p>Greenwood has played 33 football games since offensive lineman Noah Dixon made his first start.</p>
<p>Now a senior, Dixon, the team’s 6-foot-1, 250-pound left guard remembers the uncertainty as if it happened earlier this week.</p>
<p>“It was Homecoming my freshman year. I was told that Wednesday that I was going to start that game,” said Dixon, referring to what was a 28-0 loss to Plainfield. “I was so nervous. When Friday came I got text messages from all of my family telling me to go out there and be my best.”</p>
<p>Dixon took the advice to heart and hasn’t let up. He was Greenwood’s starting left tackle the past two seasons, but he is being moved inside to guard to make room for Daylon Bene, a 6-4, 270-pound junior who transferred to the school late last football season.</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]Click here to purchase photos from this gallery
<p>Bene is the left tackle and junior Collin Campbell the center, with sophomores Brayden Gardner and Cameron Ford manning the right side at guard and tackle, respectively.</p>
<p>Dixon’s actions and voice go a long way leading a young Woodmen line that’s trying to improve the 277.5 yards of total offense per game last season. Greenwood scored 15 or fewer points on six occasions.</p>
<p>As a sophomore, Dixon was surrounded by seniors for a team that marched all the way to the Class 4A semistate.</p>
<p>“I like it being the left guard. I’m enjoying the position. Anything I can do to help is what I tell coach (Mike Campbell), and I think it’s a better fit for me,” Dixon said. “Being the only senior lineman is a lot of responsibility, but then it’s not.</p>
<p>“The guys I’m with on the line are cool dudes and are really smart. In practice, we focus, talk things out and see different situations every day. It really works as a unit.”</p>
<p>Mike Campbell enters his 14th season with the team’s first three games taking place on the road at Bloomington North, Indian Creek and Martinsville. He’s glad to have a senior anchoring the offensive line.</p>
<p>"Noah is a fun guy to be around. The kind of guy you need when things get intense," Campbell said. "He’s a positive kid who takes coaching real well, and the younger guys love him.”</p>[sc:pullout-title pullout-title="Four downs with senior LB Joe Bassler" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]<p><strong>1. What’s the most important song on your pregame playlist?</strong></p>
<p>I honestly don’t really listen to music. Sometimes I watch college football highlights. They play good music and I love watching the highlights, so it gets me ready for a game.</p>
<p><strong>2. "One week at a time" clichés aside, which game on your schedule are you most looking forward to?</strong></p>
<p>I’m looking forward to Greenwood vs. Perry Meridian. Last year we didn’t really finish that game (a 36-28 loss) as we should have. I would like to finish some things with that game.</p>
<p><strong>3. Which relatively unknown player is bound for stardom this season?</strong></p>
<p>I think it will be one of our middle linebackers, Gavin Ruppert; he will be really good this year. He’s a sophomore and this will be his first season starting. He started two games last year and did really well. I’m sure he’ll have a great season this year, too.</p>
<p><strong>4. What word best describes the 2019 Woodmen, and why?</strong></p>
<p>I would have to go with the phrase hard-working because all of us worked so hard in the offseason. In the past we’ve had teams where we have a lot of seniors, and they’re all playing. But this season is different. We have seniors, but we have a lot of underclassmen who are playing, so I think our bond is going to be really good.</p>[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title="Scouting the Woodmen" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]<p>Coach: Mike Campbell (14th year)</p>
<p>Last season: 4-8; lost to Mooresville, 49-14, in Class 4A sectional final</p>
<p>Key returnees: LB Joe Bassler, OL Noah Dixon, WR/DB Bryce Hoffman, WR/DB Luke Raker, QB Oliver Rau and TE Kaylor Smith, seniors; WR/DB Tanner Allen, C Collin Campbell, OL Cameron Ford and WR Isaac Turley, juniors</p>
<p>Newcomers to watch: K Luke Roscoe and DL Scott Sledge, seniors; OL Daylon Bene, RB Ethan Haessig, LB Gabe Long and WR Jayden Shepard, juniors; OL Buddy Gardener and LB Gavin Ruppert, sophomores</p>
<p>Outlook: The Woodmen graduated fullback Nick Willham, whose 1,566 yards rushing were 47 percent of the team’s offensive productivity last season. Stepping into the limelight is Haessig, a junior who combines power and speed, and a receiving unit that might be the team’s deepest position despite Greenwood being a run-first team. Raker is back after catching 24 passes last season, while Turley had 10 receptions. Those players and Rau, the starting quarterback for a second consecutive season, give the coaching staff various options when trying to advance the football.</p>
<p>The defense is keyed by Bassler, who was credited with 83 tackles last season. Wood and Hoffman chipped in 45 and 43, respectively, while Allen tied for the team lead in fumble recoveries with two.</p>
<p>“On offense, I think we’re going to be a lot more versatile than in the past,” Campbell said. “Defensively, we’re not going to be very big, but we’ll be quick and athletic. We have a lot of guys who can run and tackle. We’re excited to see how we stack up against the teams in our conference.”</p>
<p>Notable: Since 2013, the Woodmen have opened with three consecutive road games during odd-numbered years. They are 6-3 overall in those contests after winning all three in 2017.</p>[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title="2019 schedule" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]<p><strong>Date;Opponent</strong></p>
<p>Aug. 23;at Bloomington North</p>
<p>Aug. 30;at Indian Creek</p>
<p>Sept. 6;at Martinsville</p>
<p>Sept. 13;Mooresville</p>
<p>Sept. 20;at Plainfield</p>
<p>Sept. 27;Perry Meridian</p>
<p>Oct. 4;Decatur Central</p>
<p>Oct. 11;at Franklin</p>
<p>Oct. 18;Whiteland</p>[sc:pullout-text-end]
