9-24-04 By: Brian Vaughn
Vilonia- The game way hyped all week long as AAAA game of the week.
Greenwood (1-0, 3-1) and Vilonia (0-1, 3-1) would not disappoint in a wild and crazy start to the AAAA-West conference season as Greenwood knocked off top ranked Vilonia 57-42.
"Great win for the Greenwood Bulldogs on the road," said Bulldog head coach Rick Jones. "We had a long three hour trip over here, but it'll be a short three hour trip home."
The official welcome back to the AAAA-West for Vilonia came just 52 seconds into the first quarter and was hand delivered by junior quarterback Daniel Stegall on a 43-yard touchdown run to give the Bulldogs the lead 7-0 after Mason Knox's extra-point was good.
Vilonia would not be shaken though and on their first play of the game after the ensuing kickoff as Josh McEntire went around the outside for a 68-yard touchdown.
The shootout was on as Vilonia added another score in the first quarter as the Bulldogs add three more touchdowns for a 28-14 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Greenwood had just over 300-yards of offense just in the first quarter.
The second quarter was much of the same as Greenwood extended their lead to 44-14.
Vilonia who had not had a single turnover in the first three games of the season turned the ball over seven times, six fumbles and one interception by the Bulldog defense just in the first half.
The Bulldog offense capitalized on four of those forced turnovers.
Vilonia quarterback Nick Cowger would lead his Eagles back down the field at the end of the first half and would call his own number on the keeper from 1-yard out with 14 seconds left.
The Bulldog defense stood firm on the goal line and kept the division one prospect out of the end zone.
Out of time outs with the final second going off the clock to end the half Vilonia snapped the ball even before their offensive line was set and Cowger dove into the end zone and the officials signaled touchdown to the dismay of the Greenwood side of the field to make the score 44-20 at the half.
Despite several questionable calls from the officials during the game the biggest mishap of the night was the head referee's lack of control of the game clock.
There were numerous times during game that the clock did not start when it was suppose to, some entire plays were run with no time going off the clock.
Questioned by some on the Greenwood sideline about it, the head referee simply parted his hands wide and said, "What can I do?".
A pass in the third quarter from Daniel Stegall to Jacob Mills hits Mills in the chest and falls to the ground while Mills is hit, the ball is covered by a Vilonia player and the officials call it a fumble and give Vilonia the ball.
Nick Cowger on the next play darted to the outside and goes 51-yards for a Vilonia touchdown to cut the Bulldog lead to just 10 at 44-34.
Stegall would add two more touchdowns for Greenwood in the third and fourth quarters, while Vilonia's Cowger added another one for Eagles.
"I couldn't ask for a better ending, we had more points than they did," said Jones. "I'm glad you don't play five quarters cause they were tough and just kept coming."
Greenwood finished the night with 524-yards of offense to Vilonia's 500-yards.
Greenwood rushed for 236-yards to Vilonia's 373-yards.
Greenwood completed 14 of 21 passes for 288-yards in the air to Vilonia's 127-yards.
Daniel Stegall led the rushing stats with 21 carries for 164-yards that included six touchdowns, followed by Eric Melton with 10 carries and 58-yards.
Stegall completed 13 of 18 passes for 191-yards, which Micah Fritsche completed 2 of 3 for 97-yards-which included a strike to Austin Efurd with 3:44 to go in the first that Efurd took 85-yards for a touchdown.
Lucas Miller had 6 catches for 114 yards and a touchdown and Austin Efurd had 2 catches for 108-yards and a touchdown.
Greenwood returns home this Friday for Homecoming against Greenbrier.
Greenbrier fell to Alma in their conference opener 49-7.
