Say this much for Tyson Greenwade: He knows how to keep a promise.
Prior to the start of the 2022 season, the Dalton High School senior running back stood up in front of his teammates and made a simple pledge, probably one heard in locker rooms all across the country when the optimism of a new season is fresh.
Greenwade's vow, however, was as much about trust as it was about hope. It wasn't long before he faced his teammates that he had considered leaving the program. He had been told by some of those teammates that they felt he wasn't all in all the time and it hurt.
Instead of leaving, though, Greenwade took the talk to heart and recommitted himself to the Catamounts, leading to his brief but powerful speech.
"One of my promises to my teammates was to take them as far as they want to go," Greenwade said. "After you get up in front of a group of people that mean so much to you and say something, it's kind of hard to take it back.
"The team has held me accountable for my own words and just being able to let me come back and join them so that I could have the great time I'm having this season with them."
What came out of that moment was the beginning of one of the most surprising turnarounds in the area, both personally for Greenwade and for a once-dominant program that had gone 5-14 the previous two seasons.
In seven games (he did not play against Cedartown), Greenwade has rushed for 1,587 yards and 20 touchdowns for the Catamounts (5-3), who are in first place in Region 7-AAAAA with a 3-0 mark. The 6-foot, 195-pounder has eclipsed 100 yards in every game, including 376 yards and six touchdowns in the opener and 375 yards and four scores in a 52-45 win over Hiram on Sept. 29.
"He said he wanted to reach a certain level and, well, he's made a believer out of me and his teammates," Dalton coach Kit Carpenter said. "It doesn't matter what it says on the scoreboard, he's always running to reach that level. I'm really ecstatic for him because it shows what hard work can do.
"It's kind of funny now. He had 125 yards against Woodland (on Oct. 7), and everybody thinks he had an off night. He's just spoiled us. He didn't run like this a year ago, but what he's put into it in the offseason and the goals he set ... that tells you a lot about how much it means to him."
Carpenter, a second-year head coach who has played and assisted on some of Dalton's most successful teams, said Greenwade's impact has been much more than what's seen on the stat sheet. His mere presence on the field, Carpenter said, breeds confidence even in situations where the team might have crumpled in recent times.
One such moment came in the shootout win at Hiram, which toppled perennial state power Calhoun the next week. Dalton trailed by 17 early in the second quarter when it turned to Greenwade, who led a drive that culminated in his 22-yard touchdown run.
He scored twice more in what turned out to be a 31-point quarter as the Cats took control.
"When we got down 24-7, it could have been curtains for us," Carpenter said. "But that game shows the importance of what Tyson does. The kids sometimes need a spark, and that's what he brings by just pounding and pounding. He's able to excite the team, and they respond by playing with emotion."
After the game, just as he has all season, the star tailback first praised his teammates. It may seem like a small thing, but the gesture isn't taken lightly by those who pave the way for Greenwade's success.
"Oh, they love it and they deserve every bit of it," Greenwade said, referring to a group of linemen that includes Michael Nguyen, John Ridley, Riley Souther, Peyton Starling and Stryker Woods. "The offensive line is my favorite group on the field. They know they are not the biggest, fastest or maybe not the strongest, but they definitely make sure they work as hard as they possibly can every day to get where they need to be.
"I definitely could not do the things I've done this year without them."
With a playoff berth already secured but games coming up against region kingpins Calhoun on Friday and Cartersville next week to finish the regular season, there's more to accomplish. The thought of having so much on the line late in his senior season brings a quick smile to Greenwade -- and not just for himself.
"Knowing what we've been through the last couple of years, it's easy to keep motivated," he said. "The other thing is the community. It's one of the most exciting things about Dalton because they always have our backs.
"No matter how we've been the last couple of years, we still have fans coming up to us and thanking us for letting them watch the games. That means a lot to have the group of fans we have here. This season has been unforgettable, but it's not finished."
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.