HIGHLAND, Ill. — It was a little bittersweet as Ethan Greenwald hung up his helmet last year at Providence Catholic.
A linebacker for Highland's football team, Greenwald smashed and bullied his way all over the field in the Class 5A quarterfinal round as a junior and left a lasting impact on the Celtics coaching staff.
"I got a personal compliment from the other team's head coach after the game," said Greenwald, now a senior. "One of the best feelings you can get is when the other team respects you. It felt pretty good. I mean, obviously, losing didn't feel good, though."
Greenwald's defensive wizardry returns for one more season and his teammates do not envy opposing offensive players who have to face him.
Even Highland's quarterback breathes a sigh of relief knowing he doesn't have to try to play against Greenwald on a Friday night.
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"He definitely throws the wrench in the mix, for sure," Highland junior quarterback Blake Gelly said. "I mean, he's an excellent player, and the hardest play is when I have to read him and see what he does on the play to make my decision, because he always makes it tough."
Greenwald returns to lead a defensive unit that helped Highland post a 10-2 season, a quarterfinal appearance and second successive undefeated Mississippi Valley Conference title.
He racked up a team-high 106 tackles for the Bulldogs, who are the No. 4 small school in the preseason rankings, and is ready for more.
"Every year, the goal is always to make it to state," Greenwald said. "We just do the best we can, week in and week out, and just play the cards we're dealt."
After giving up an average of 21.3 points in their first three games last season, the Bulldogs stiffened up and didn't give up double-digit points to an opponent for five consecutive weeks while rolling through the MVC schedule.
"It was just because of some mental errors," Greenwald said. "We sharpened up as we got throughout the season. We just played really physical."
Greenwald and most of the linebacking corps return, as does most of the defensive backfield.
"I'm an offensive guy, but I'm really excited for our defense," Highland coach Jim Warnecke said. "We're thin up front. A lot of our big guys in the (offensive line) are also going to be the (defensive line). So it will be up to us to have a rotation as a coaching staff and be effective with that. We're hoping that as the season goes on and the daily grind and practice, some kid will make something of himself."
Gelly is returning for his second season under center for the Bulldogs.
Last season he completed 115 of 174 passes for 1,861 yards and 23 touchdowns with only five interceptions. He also rushed for 643 yards and six TDs.
"It's all high-speed chess match, what I've been told," Gelly said. "Losing a lot of seniors made some holes in the offense. But I feel like, with a year of experience in my belt, I don't have to go through it all by myself."
The Bulldogs will be replacing Hunter Fry, a 1,000-yard rusher and do-all athlete Dylan Beadle, but Warnecke is confident in what he has returning.
That includes Wyatt Rinderer, a receiver who saw his sophomore season cut short by an early-season injury.
"He's going to be a big-time player for us," Warnecke said. " A great combination of awareness, strength and intelligence."
Couple that with Gavin Frey switching to offense, and the Bulldogs look to continue posting video-game-like numbers.
"We got two split receivers that can go up and get the ball, and they're excited to be a part of the offense," Warnecke said. "It's going to be a fun year trying to put it all together."
Heading into his 14th season at the helm of Highland, Warnecke and his coaching staff have only one losing season and have qualified for the playoffs 11 times with four double-digit win seasons.
As a coach, he's second to only Mike Hooker (109) on the school's all-time win total with 99 victories.
But the win total is the furthest thing from Warnecke's mind.
"I put the focus on the kids and the program and just trying to keep that culture going," Warnecke said. "I'm so proud of everyone that's been involved, players and coaches in this program over the last 14 years, and how we've stacked conference championships, and you know, we're a threat in the postseason."