Choctawhatchee optimistic in Year 2 of Greg Thomas era (with VIDEO, PHOTOS)

FORT WALTON BEACH — Last year at this time, the Choctawhatchee football program was still in a state of rapid change.

Along with new head coach Greg Thomas came new plays, new practice habits and a fresh approach to the impending season. Expectations were understandably up in the air.

Click here to view a Photo Gallery of Choctaw practicing.

As the Indians enter Year 2 of the Thomas era, things are humming along at a much swifter pace.

“I think the big thing is our kids are stronger than we were last year as a team,” Thomas said. “They’re not very big but the kids have stuck with it and are out there. They’re kids dedicated to the program. We might be down on numbers but the numbers we have, we have hard-working kids.”

Thomas led the Indians to a 5-4 finish last year and to the doorstep of the state playoffs for the first time since 2004 before being knocked out in a shootout.

With just seven total returning starters, expectations are reasonably tempered, but the Indians still expect to be better this season after dropping down to 3A. Thomas’ radical culture change is a big reason why.

“It’s a new attitude this year,” offensive lineman Paul Spikes said. “Coach Thomas has us stepping up now that he knows what to expect.”

When it comes to necessary areas for improvement, Thomas’ concerns first jump to defense. It was a hard-bitten crew last year that struggled at times to keep opposing scores down and returns just three starters from that group in linebacker Alec Schubele and defensive backs Branden Williams and Zane Mills. It’s also a chance for a fresh start for a group that gave up 99 combined points in two consecutive losses against Niceville and Milton at midseason last year.

The dynamic Schubele and Williams will headline a defense that starts eight new starters this season and has a new defensive coordinator in Jim Green, who coached the secondary last year. Thomas is especially excited about the growth of defensive tackle James Broaddus and thinks the secondary will be a point of strength with two returning starters.

Thomas is optimistic that an improvement defensively will lead directly to more wins. After all, Choctaw put up 40 and 48 points respectively in those two losses, typically enough for a win.

“I know we have to get better defensively if we’re going to ever take this to another level, and I think our kids are working hard to do that,” Thomas said. “Depth is a big issue. Our enrollment at the school is dropping and our enrollment on the football team is dropping, so as long as we can stay healthy I think we can be very competitive.”

Jesse Adams will take over at quarterback and will have plenty of threats to look to. Running backs Charlie Lott, Freddie Gray and Stephen Heidelberg will all get plenty of touches and 6-foot-4 wide receiver Justin Savage will lead the receiving corps. Center Donald Henderson is the lone starting holdover from the Indians’ line from last year as Cody Jay, Jesse Bates, Jonathan Gras and Paul Spikes will likely get chances to start.

As far as team objectives this season, Thomas isn’t exactly aiming low.

“Our goals this year are to win a district championship and to do that we’re going to have to play well every week,” Thomas said. “We don’t have the type of team where we can overlook anybody. We’re going to have to be ready to go every Friday and go with the kids we have and we feel pretty good about things.”