GROVE CITY — The chill of winter was still a fresh memory in Jared Graham’s mind as he met with Sam Mowrey.

The new Grove City High football coach had a radical new offense to throw at Graham, the two-year starter at quarterback for the Eagles.

Graham could barely contain his enthusiasm.

“It’s definitely exciting,” Graham said, a smile on his face. “It’s a better way to utilize our athletes, get them out in space in one-on-one match-ups.”

And it’s nothing like the attack former coach Jeff Bell ran at Grove City for the better part of 17 years.

That wing-T, misdirection attack that was predicated on ball-control and running the ball is gone.

Mowrey has completely overhauled the offense, even though he was hesitant to share the details.

“There are no secrets,” Mowrey said with a coy smile. “People will see it in the first scrimmage.”

Grove City will push the foot down on the gas pedal this season — hard.

The field will be spread. There will be no huddles. The Eagles will try to run as many plays as they can during the course of the game.

It’s fast-break football at its best, Mowrey and Graham hope.

And it’s shiny, spiffy and brand new.

“There isn’t a word that’s the same as last year,” Mowrey said. “The kids are excited about it. We’ll see how it pans out.”

Graham is the linchpin in the offense.

A third-year starter under center, Graham has thrown just 141 passes in two seasons.

He may put the ball up that many times this season alone.

“The ball will probably be in the air a few more times,” Mowrey said. “(Graham) is doing a really good job. He already knows what everyone is doing on the field.”

Graham has worked extensively long before camp started to get the basics of the attack down. He said he and the rest of the offense have worked on it long before August.

“We’ve been working on it all summer,” said Graham, who is noticeably bigger and stronger as a senior. “It’s a little challenging, but most of the guys have been here working on it since May, early June. So, we’re not throwing it at everyone all at once.”

There’s a much bigger of an onus on Graham in the offense.

Graham had a stellar sophomore season in which he completed 44-of-72 passes for 880 yards and 10 touchdowns to just two interceptions.

Last year he regressed a bit, completing just 31-of-69 attempts for 593 yards and seven TDs. He also had five interceptions.

Graham will have to diagnose a defense for the first time in his career.

“My whole high school career I really haven’t had to read a defense,” Graham said. “It’s just been throwing it to who’s open. Now I’m reading linebackers and safeties and corners. There’s a lot to read.”

But Graham is ready for the challenge, especially heading into the two all-important scrimmages to iron out the kinks in this new offense.

“It’s going to be the first time we go live with this offense, so there’s definitely going to be some growing pains,” Graham said. “Some things are definitely going to go wrong, but we just have to get past that and improve.”