WINDER -- Before he ever set foot in Winder, Heath Webb had an idea that Cece Green could be a big-time player.<br />
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Once Webb saw Green in person, the football coach knew he had found at least one keystone around which he could rebuild Bulldoggs football.<br />
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"I had done some research on the players they had before I even accepted the position, and I saw a lot of potential in (Green)," said Webb, who took over Winder football this offseason after a handful of years with North Paulding. "And once we spent a spring watching him, we knew that -- if the offensive line would come together -- Cece would be in for a big season."<br />
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No part of that equation has disappointed in 2014. In fact, Green and his linemen have outstripped expectations, as the junior has rushed for 1,181 yards (amongst the top marks in the state against all classifications) and 11 touchdowns, anchoring a rushing attack that has already helped Winder to its highest win total in seven years and has the Bulldoggs in the postseason hunt.<br />
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"I said back in the spring that Cece would run for 1,500 yards this season, and he's past that average right now," Webb said of a back currently averaging 7.3 yards per carry. "He can do it all -- run for power, break big runs with his speed, catch the ball coming out of the backfield... And even when he's not involved in touching the ball he can pass protect well. He brings so much to our team."<br />
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Yet as staggering as his physical contributions have been, his less tangible qualities have been just as important.<br />
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"He's a leader for us, and he leads by example and vocally," Webb said. "Just by his numbers you know he's a guy we can hang our hat on, but it's his work as a teammate that has been just as big. He's always quick to pay his teammates compliments and, to him, his success is our success."
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While juking out opposing linebackers and out-running defensive backs has always come naturally, Green says had to focus on cultivating the more psychological side of his game.<br />
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"It's something I've had to work on; I had never been given a chance to be a leader before," Green said. "But it's been a lot of fun; I feel like people trust me -- and I love making everyone happy."<br />
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Green added that trust has been the biggest component in the entire re-birth of Winder-Barrow football. Passed on from the new staff, Bulldoggs players say they needed little prompting to commit and focus on rebuilding a team that has not visited the playoffs since 2003 -- which was also the last time Winder posted a winning record in a season.<br />
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"We knew we were capable of doing things like this, but we needed a coaching staff like we have now to bring it out of us," Green said. "When the new coaches came in people didn't believe in us; we really didn't believe in ourselves. But it didn't take long for us to start believing. They showed us they believed in us and trusted us, and we bought in right off the bat."<br />
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Opponents throughout Region 8-AAAAA are starting to become believers as well -- in both Winder and Green.<br />
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Take last week for example. Green did what is becoming his usual damage, rushing for 269 yards and three scores against a Cedar Shoals defense stacking the line of scrimmage to try and slow the junior's progress.<br />
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"I just told Cece to keep plugging away, keep taking the two-three-yard gains and that eventually one would break for him," Webb said.<br />
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Meanwhile, the Bulldoggs defense did not break in the 37-35 victory, denying a last-ditch 2-point conversion attempt that would have tied the game after the Jaguars connected on a 60-yard hail Mary on their last play of the contest.<br />
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"From people I've talked to around here that game may have gone differently in recent seasons," Webb said after the contest.<br />
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Things are very much different in the current 8-AAAAA standings as well, as the Bulldoggs have played themselves into position to clinch a postseason berth -- though they know that scenario is far from a certainty, especially with key games on the horizon against Clarke Central (also in contention), Lanier (currently leading 8-AAAAA), and Heritage (Conyers). Yet Green says he and his teammates are up for the challenge, and the strides made so far have only bolstered the self-belief fostered by Webb's staff.<br />
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"It's already been a great year, but we won't be satisfied with what we've accomplished," Green said. "We also won't be satisfied with just reaching the playoffs. We want to win championships in this program."<br />
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With players the caliber of Green making those types of commitments, that's no longer a far-fetched thought for the Bulldoggs.
