#HSFT17: Stop No. 27 — Gordo Green Wave

GORDO, Ala. (WCBI) — The Gordo Green Wave are looking to make an incredible 19th consecutive playoff appearance.

Last season, the Green Wave finished 13-1 and fell one game short of a state title appearance.

Fourteen starters return for the Green Wave, and the team says they’re ready to get the season started.

“Football is a great sport. Around here football is kings. Everybody around here is talking about it coming up. We are just down here working hard trying to give us the best opportunity to win when the season gets here,” senior running back Collin Herring said.

“We fell a little short of what we wanted to do last year. It’s just another chance to get back and give it another go,” senior defensive end Hayden Kimbrell said.

“When I took the head job, our senior class, they were 8th graders, and started getting in the weight room back in the 8th grade seems like yesterday,” head coach Ryan Lolley said, “and to see them where they’re at now is a pretty neat feeling, because they’ve had a great career.”

Gordo is a mainstay in the Alabama playoffs, reaching the postseason for the 18th straight season in 2016, but after missing out on a state title game for a third straight year, the Green Wave continue to keep their eyes on the prize.

“Our focus and mindset has not changed. It’s what it always is, and that’s go work hard as we can. Be the very best we can be. We know that if we work hard and do the little things the right way, we are going to be able to do a lot of great things,” Lolley said.

“It’s just come ready to work everyday. It’s not a revenge. It’s not nothing. It’s see how good we can be. We are going to play ourselves pretty much the whole season,” adds senior teammate Ridge Wood.

It’s been sixteen years since the Green Wave were named state champions.

This year’s squad is looking to put an end to the drought, and bring home a title for the Gordo community in 2017.

“Anytime you get that opportunity, I think it’s special. We’ve won three region championships in a row, three county championships in a row and three West Alabama conference championships in a row. These guys know what that’s about,” Lolley said.

“This community needs it more than anything. We recently got one in baseball, but I think football…would be really big for us,” Kimbrell adds.

The Green Wavel open their season on the road at Fayette County August 25th.