"We Are The Champions"
A Bulldog Flashback To The Greenwood/Alma Match Up In 1996
By: Kris Weible

Greenwood had already beat Alma in a non-conference game in the fourth week of the season, 21-20, at Greenwood. But to folks around the state and in Alma, that game just didn’t count. As the season wound down, Greenwood did what nobody outside of Greenwood expected, we kept winning, chewing through the AAA West like an angry Band of Bulldogs. Showing the skeptical who picked us to finish close to last in the conference that hey, we are for real. Alma did the same. Six weeks led up to the second clash of these two schools, a second game, but not an ordinary non-conference game, this game was to decide the outcome of the AAA West, and also who would maintain the home field advantage rolling into the AAA State playoffs, and above all, this one counted. Greenwood, 5-0 in conference play, Alma, 5-0 in conference play, the stage was set for what would certainly go down as one of the greatest games and one of the greatest comeback wins in Greenwood Bulldog football history.

The bus trip to Alma that afternoon was solemn. No one spoke. Some listened to music, others closed their eyes, some looked straight ahead while others like myself, just stared out the windows in silence as we made the trip down I-540 towards Alma Airedale stadium. As we rolled by the stadium, there was a doll, life size, hanging from the gates with my number 25 on it. What a great thing to see right before the biggest game of the year against your hated rivals, it only turned the fire up even higher in my belly. We made our way to the visitors locker room, hearing the sounds of music from the stadium PA system. Songs ranging from "Another One Bites the Dust" to "We are the Champions". We suited up and took the field for pre-game warm-ups with the same music playing, only louder and accompanied by the sounds of booing from the Airedale side. Just like any other game, we did our warm-ups and split into our assigned groups. By this time, the Greenwood faithful began piling into the visitors stands, the Greenwood Band going through there warm ups and the cheerleaders and spirit squad getting the crowd ready for the battle ahead. It was cold that night, but as I said earlier, when you play in a game of this magnitude, you cant feel it, you can see it as the breath leaves your mouth, you can see it in the stands and on the sidelines as fans and spirit squads wrap themselves up to keep out the cold, but all you can feel is that fire, now blazing out of control as the minutes tick down to game time.

And then, it was time; the captains took the field while the rest of the team waited anxiously to rip through the banner in the end zone. My hearts was pounding with so much force, even now as I write this and recall those moments before the game, my heart reminds me of what it was like. And then, as if someone reached down and hit the calm switch, the anxiety was gone, as soon as the ball left the foot of the kicker and the game started, the butterflies were gone, it was time to do what we came here to do, go home as champions. We scored first on a great run to the right by Tatum Owenby. I remember racing behind him to fend off any tacklers, and then grabbing him in the end zone and hugging him with joy. Greenwood had the momentum, we scored first, this was going to be a cake walk, but I was wrong. Alma scored twice before the half and held our high powered passing offense at bay. We went into the half down by seven and with the momentum in favor of the home team. In the locker room at the half, everyone knew the drill. Offense with Coach Peacock and defense with Coach Weston. It was the same as any other week, what was working, what wasn’t, here’s what we are going to do in the second half, but the butterflies were back. Could we beat these guys?

The half was over and back to the sideline we went, and just as they had in the first half, the butterflies flew away as the game began. We made it to the three yard line but were stopped by Alma’s defense, with the aid of a roughing the punter penalty, Alma marched ninety seven yards and went up by 14. The score was now 21-7, with about 10 minutes left to play. Alma was throwing triple coverage my way all night and they were getting to Brooks in the backfield. Our defense was sturdy but Alma just kept running right through us. And then, in those last ten minutes, something happened. We started to find our rhythm. Brooks was finding our other receivers for some big gains. Terrell Meeker, Rusty Sartin, Mark Wagner, and Tatum out of the backfield. We were driving the ball and on a huge pass play from Brooks to Terrell, we were knocking on the doorsteps of Alma’s goal-line, and finally Brooks snuck in from a yard out to put us within 7 of tying the game. Now it was up to our defense to get us the ball back. Defense wins championships and here it was no different. Alma’s drive stalled and they punted us the ball with about 5 minutes left. We now had about 80 yards to go to tie the game and push it into overtime.

This drive will arguably be in my mind as one of the greatest drives we ever engineered. On the legs of Brooks Coatney, Trent McDaniel and Tatum Owenby, we moved the ball down the field with skill and precision. Brooks was making pinpoint throws. A big gain from a pass to Terrell Meeker put us near the 20 and then a 9 yard pick-up on a designed wall play to yours truly put us on the 7. Brooks handed off to Tatum but we went nowhere. It was now fourth and goal on the 7 with 1:07 left to play. We called a timeout and went to the sideline to talk with Coach Peacock. The tension was thick, this was it, this was our last chance to tie the game, to push it into overtime. We came to the line. Single set to my side, had I to make sure I gave myself enough room to the right, it was coming my way on a quick out in the end zone. The ball was snapped and I was off the line, digging my 10 yard route into the end zone, getting the cornerback to turn his hips, and then zip, I made my cut and looked back at Brooks, the ball already flying through the air for the front corner of the end zone. I laid out dragging my feet as I went. I could tell from the intensity of the crowd that it was 6. We had done it, we weren’t out of it, we had the momentum and nothing would stop us now. The fans were so loud, the band was perfect, no other time in my years playing for Greenwood was there a time like that first two minutes after we scored. I remember not wanting to let go of the ball and then looking up at my mom Bev in the stands, nothing could top this moment, but I was wrong. Something bigger was in store and it would take about 10 minutes to achieve it. James Grady came in to tie the game with the extra point, and with a bobbled snap that was quickly fixed by the holder Trent Mcdaniel, Grady sent the ball through the uprights. Our defense held Alma the last minute of the game and now it was time, time for every member on that team, time for every fan in those stands, time for every band member, cheerleader and spirit squad member to reach down deep and turn that fire up to full.

Alma took the ball first in overtime and our defense stood tall and strong, stopping them from making it into the end zone. Adam Dailey came in to kick an easy field goal. But our defense had other plans. On the snap of the ball, Brian Kilpatrick busted through the line and blocked Dailey’s kick. That is all we needed. We had them. Nothing could stop the Bulldogs now. As we took the ball over and failed to get into the end zone ourselves, James Grady was called upon on third down to come in and give Greenwood something we hadn’t had in years, that sweet taste of victory over the Alma Airedales for a conference championship. I don’t think I have to tell you, but Grady’s kick sailed straight and true through the uprights, the game was over. Alma’s reign over the AAA West was over. The scoreboard read Alma 21, Visitor 24 as players, coaches, fans and cheerleaders rushed onto the field. This same field where 15 minutes prior, the Bulldogs were down by 14 points. It took those seniors three years to accomplish a feat that nobody in the state expected. We were the AAA West Champions.

The mood in the visitors locker room was, well, you can imagine, unearthly. The same songs Alma played before the game were now blaring over a small radio as players and coaches hugged and wiped tears of happiness from their faces. I will never forget that night in Alma. I will never forget what it means to be a Bulldog, not only against those Airedales, but also against anyone. You don’t quit, never lie down, you always, as Coach Peacock emphasized, "Be the Best". Well, that night, we were The Best.