GREEN RIVER — The Green River Wolves got their first look at live competition Friday night, but there was no final score to report.
Instead, Green River and the Mountain View Buffalos used their scheduled Zero Week matchup as a controlled scrimmage at Green River High School, giving both teams an opportunity to evaluate players and systems before the regular season begins.
Each team received 36 offensive and 36 defensive reps during the scrimmage. The format began at the 25-yard line, giving each offense 75 yards to reach the end zone. Each team received 10 offensive plays before the ball moved to the 40-yard line, where the teams again received 10 plays with 60 yards to go.
The scrimmage then moved across midfield, with each offense getting eight plays from 40 yards out. The final segment began at the 25-yard line, with eight plays for each team.
Mountain View found the end zone twice during the session, although the Buffalos crossed the goal line four times before two touchdowns were called back.
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One of the biggest storylines for the Wolves was the rotation at quarterback.
Sophomore Garrett Greene received the first varsity snaps for Green River. After several turnovers, including the interception on the opening play, junior Oliver Wisniewski stepped in.
Wisniewski served as the Wolves’ backup quarterback last season and has been working his way back from an offseason injury. His return to live competition gives Green River another experienced option at a position that remains one of the team’s biggest questions heading into next week’s opener.
With both Greene and Wisniewski receiving varsity reps Friday, the question now becomes which quarterback, or quarterbacks, Green River will see when the Wolves host Rawlins next week.
There is also a third quarterback option in the program.
Sophomore Brylan Ginestar received some work during the scrimmage, but his role currently appears to be with the junior varsity. Ginestar was a starting pitcher for the Green River Knights baseball team and showed poise during his opportunities Friday. While he appears to be behind Greene and Wisniewski in the current varsity quarterback competition, his performance provides the Wolves with another young option to develop as the season progresses.
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Outside of the quarterback position, Green River saw encouraging performances from several players.
Senior Jake Stanton provided a strong presence along the front seven at defensive end, while seniors Irie Kuball and Noah Hemphill each came away with an interception on the perimeter.
Sophomore Izik Gardea also showed flashes at linebacker, providing Green River with another young player to watch as the Wolves continue developing their defense.
While the scrimmage did not produce a traditional winner or loser, it gave Green River an important first test under first-year head coach Brennan Walk.
Walk took over the Wolves program after spending the previous six seasons at Mountain View, including serving as the Buffalos’ offensive coordinator during their undefeated state championship season last year.
The Wolves will now turn their attention toward their first official game of the season.
Green River will host Rawlins next week, with kickoff scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m.
