State Champs

12-3-05 By: Brian Vaughn
   One of the toughest things to do is play 14 games in a season, its even harder to go 14 games the very next season, but that's what the Greenwood Bulldogs did in 2005 to Return to the Rock. This time however, they left with the Gold of the State Championship trophy.
   The 28 games in the past two seasons is a feat in its self. As with 28 games in two seasons, the Bulldogs have played almost a full season more than half the teams in the AAAA classification. Something that will pay dividends in the seasons to come.
   The week leading up to the State Championship game was as normal as head coach Rick Jones could make it for the Bulldogs. Business as usual was the tone. The Bulldogs had already faced Morrilton once this year and beat them 50-13, but everyone knew it wouldn't be as easy the second time around.
   On Thursday, the Bulldogs had their walk through at War Memorial Stadium. Jones put the Bulldogs through their regular Wednesday practice on the turf at War Memorial since everything was running a day behind due to the game being played on Saturday instead of Friday.
   Thursday night, the Bulldogs returned to Greenwood for the big community pep rally on the square. The theme, we've been there before, but this time we win at the Rock.
   Friday was like a regular Thursday for the Bulldogs. They had a regular Thursday type practice on Friday afternoon. Then later had a team meal, the traditional spaghetti and later watched a movie and had theme.
   Early Saturday morning, the Bulldogs, coaches and fans gathered at the GMAC as the Bulldogs loaded the buses at 6:00 AM. The team and long caravan of fans left at 6:30 AM escorted by two Greenwood police and a Sebastian County Sheriff out of town.
  It would be a fun trip for the Bulldogs as fans stopped several times with signs of support and encouragement along the trip. Best sign had to be over the interstate just before entering Morrilton were a sign hanging over the interstate read, "Win the Rock Bulldogs!..G-wood".
   During the first quarter the most undisputed best team in the state in 2005 came to watch the Bulldogs play. Springdale coached by Gus Malzhan and the best high school player in America Mitch Mustain.
   The game itself was expected a battle till the final horn. Morrilton struck first on their opening possession going 80 yards in 6 plays in just a 1:40 with a 18-yard run by Josh Trezvant to put the Devil Dogs up 7-0.
   Not to be out done, the Bulldogs would mount a 65-yard drive in 4 plays in just one minute capped off by a 52-yard run by William Ridener to tie the game at 7-7 after Mason Knox's PAT was good.
   Nathan Staton picked off a Devil Dog pass on their next possession and returned it 47-yards to put the Bulldogs up 14-7 with 6:47 to go in the 1st quarter.
   Morrilton added another touchdown on a 16-yard run by Trezvant late in the first quarter and would had a 40-yard field goal by Aaron Askins to take a 17-14 lead 5:19 before the half.
   Daniel Stegall would lead the Bulldogs on a 80-yard drive in 6 plays complete with a 54-yard touchdown pass to Nathan Staton to put the Bulldogs up 21-17 at the break.
   It would be the William Ridener show once again in to start the second half has he broke loss up the middle on the second play from scrimmage for 72-yards just 37 seconds into the third quarter.
   Morrilton would not give up though and Devil Dog quarterback Kyle Russell hit Walter Parks for a 57-yard touchdown pass to pull the Devil Dogs to within 3, 28-25.
   The two teams would fight it out till the final seconds in the final quarter with Daniel Stegall going in from 3 yards out to put the Bulldogs up 35-25.
   The Devil Dogs would battle right back though going 88-yards in 6 plays in 1:14 to score with exactly one minute to play in the game and pull to within 3 once again 35-32.
   Morrilton would onside the kickoff, the ball bounced around and was in the hands of a Devil Dog briefly before bouncing and being covered by Nathan Staton.
   Let the celebration begin! The Bulldogs quickly went into Victory formation and ran the clock out securing the win and the 2005 State Championship.
   Nathan Cox won the Burlsworth Award for the game from Greenwood and William Ridener was selected as the MVP of the game.
   This team set out on a goal last December in that very lockerroom at War Memorial Stadium after the heartbreaking defeat to Wynne 28-26 to return in 2005 and walk out as Champions. They worked all year in the off season, paid the price during those 6:00 AM summer workouts. In the end...they did just as they said they would winning the State Championship and tieing the school record for wins in a season at 13-1. The same as the 2000 State Champions.

The following is Coach Rick Jones post game interview.

Jones: "We haven't turned the ball over that much all year long and there we turn it over 3 times in the first quarter, it just seemed unbelievable. We knew Morrilton was going to be tough, we knew we had a battle coming in, our kids were ready to play a tough game thank goodness, because that's just what it was. The turnovers were just so surprising because we just haven't had very many turnovers all year. Morrilton is so explosive, Coach Hill did great job and had a good plan. We made enough plays to win including covering the onside kick after three or four people batted it around."

Press: "You have be proud of the heart of that team to come back after those turnovers."

Jones: "Well that's 9 times we've come from behind to win games this year. 9 times, if that's not a national record, I don't know what is. We've won 13, we've come from behind 9 times to win games, if that's not heart and desire and character, I don't know what is."

Press: "Last year you were on the other side, this year you're on this side, does it give you a greater appreciation for it?"

Jones: "I really think it does. It's really tough on the other side, especially when you lose a close heartbreaking game like those guys did tonight. We were there last year exactly. They have a bunch of juniors and I know Coach Hill and his bunch will have them back. I want to say our kids worked so hard. They've worked since January for this day. I'm so proud of them and so proud of the staff. The staff the crunched time and grinded and made adjustments time and time again and found a way to get it done. I'm just proud of our kids and proud of our staff."

Press: "That community support back there behind you."

Jones: "That's the winning edge right there. You can't beat it. Greenwood's a wonderful place to live and a wonderful place to raise a family, but if you're a football player at Greenwood, they support you, it's an amazing thing."

Photo By: Mark Stallings
The Greenwood Bulldogs take a knee in front of the Greenwood crowd with their Championship Trophy following the 35-32 win over Morrilton.

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Bulldogs 2005 AAAA State Champions
Greenwood 35, Morrilton 32

Photos Below
By: Kim Singer
Singervmd@aol.com
www.kimsingerphotography.com

A Special Thank You!
   I want to take a moment to Thank, Mark Stallings and Kim Singer for letting us use their photographs here on the website. They both do outstanding work and are a huge edition to the website.
   Mark's pictures were showcased throughout the year in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. You can email Mark at mark@stallingsphotography.com to purchase any of his photographs from the season.
   Kim has started her own online photography store and you can order prints from her directly from the site online at www.kimsingerphotography.com

Photos Below By: Mark Stallings
mark@stallingsphotography.com

2005
AAAA State Champions
Greenwood Bulldogs