SiloamSprings04

10-29-04 By: Brian Vaughn
   Greenwood- People had been talking about it for weeks...the week 10 showdown between Greenwood and Alma for the outright AAAA-West Conference Championship.
   Both teams would be pushed into the final seconds of their games Friday night, but both found away to remain undefeated as Greenwood hung on to beat Siloam Springs 14-13 and Alma outlasted Vilonia 14-8.
   Siloam Springs got in field goal range for their kicker Park Dinger for the game winning 40-yard field goal with just 20 seconds left.
   Dinger had hit field goals of 39 and 42-yards earlier in the game, but this one sailed just wide left to give Greenwood the win and remain undefeated at home and in conference play this year.
   Greenwood improved to 8-1 overall and 6-0 in conference play as Siloam Springs fell to 7-2 overall and 4-2 in conference play.
   Siloam Springs was by far the toughest contest the Bulldogs had faced all season and the stats show that with the Bulldogs only winning the only stat that really matters the final score.
   Greenwood only had 7 first downs to Siloam Springs 19. Greenwood rushed for 72-yards to Siloam Springs 189. Greenwood only completed 7 of 18 passes for 35-yards a season low, while Siloam Springs completed 18-35 for 160-yards.
   Greenwood finished the night with 107 total yards to Siloam Springs 349.
   "I give Siloam Springs coaching staff and kids a lot of credit," said Greenwood head coach Rick Jones. "They really had a great game plan; they really did a great job. Those guys were well prepared and well coached, their a good football team. Were very very blessed right now."
   Both teams battled back and forth like the two heavy weights in the AAAA they are this season until Daniel Stegall went in from 2-yards out to put the Bulldogs on the board first with 1:54 to go in the first quarter after Mason Knox's PAT was good.
   The Panthers would own the next two quarters scoring two field goals and a touchdown to give them a 13-7 lead.
   With Siloam Springs defense smothering the Bulldog offensive unit all night, it was the Bulldog defense that stepped up and for third straight week put points on the board.
   Justin Fuchs stepped in the lane of the pitch from Panther quarterback Chase Pittman and returned it 76-yards to put the Bulldogs up 14-13 after the extra point by Knox was good.
   "Justin made a huge play," said Jones. "I'm really proud of him."
   Greenwood will travel to Alma on Friday for the AAAA-West conference championship, a game that is being played up from both sides as the biggest Greenwood/Alma game since the 1996 game that Greenwood came from behind to win in overtime 24-21.
   "We'll have a good time over there next week," said Jones. "Coach Vines is a legend, I have great respect for him and I know they're a really good football team."
   The winner will get the #1 seed out of the west and outright AAAA-West Championship and loser will have the #2 seed in the playoffs. Both will have their first playoff game at home against the East #3 or #4 seeds.
   The rest of the AAAA-West playoff seeding was done this week with the losses for Vilonia and Siloam Springs.
   Siloam Springs is the #3 seed out of the West and will travel to #2 Batesville in the first round.
   Vilonia is the #4 seed out of the West and will travel to #1 Wynne out of the East for a first round match up.