The home team took the lead early and was never headed in the contest. The defense continued to play well, the first team giving up only one score at the end of the first half. Coleman's final touchdown came late in the game against Greenwood's second team defense. The Junior 'Dogs also got solid work from a pair of offensive players, quarterback Houston Kennedy and running back Drew Morgan. Receiver Cole McAllister also scored his first TD of the season.

Greenwood began the game on offense at their own 33 following the opening kickoff, and needed eight plays to traverse the 67 yards to reach the end zone. The first three calls were all runs by Morgan, gaining 5, 18, and 9 yards to the Coleman 35-yard line. Zach Claude then rumbled to the 27 before Morgan ripped off 24 more yards, coming up just short of the goal line at the Cougars' 3. Following a misfire on Kennedy's first pass attempt, he handed off to Morgan for the game's first touchdown. Kicker Avery Sinkuler booted the extra point for the 7-0 Greenwood lead just over two minutes into the first quarter.

The defense held firm on Coleman's first offensive possession, sacking the QB on first down and holding the Cougars' veer option running attack to less than 10 yards. After the punt, Greenwood was in business at its own 32-yard line. But two major penalties and a pair of bad snaps hampered the drive, and the 'Dogs gave the ball back to Coleman in excellent field position at the Greenwood 45.

The Cougars managed a first down and reached the 26-yard line before a fumble ended the drive, with Greenwood's Tyler Thompson making the recovery for the defense at the 26 early in the second quarter. Once again the Bulldogs marched down the field, putting together a 53-yard drive that reached the Coleman 21-yard line. But after a loss to the 24, QB Houston Kennedy was intercepted at the goal line by Coleman's Michael Coliron at the 5:10 mark.

From their own 1-yard line, the Cougars managed a first down to the 17, but a nice defensive play behind the line of scrimmage by Mason Copeland pushed the visitors back to the 11-yard line. Three snaps later, a partially blocked punt rolled dead at the Van Buren 29, giving the host 'Dogs their best offensive opportunity of the game - an opportunity they would not waste.

Kennedy passed for four yards to Jansen Stein, before Morgan ran for 14 yards to the 11-yard line. After a short completion to Copeland, Kennedy gave the ball to Morgan, who slipped a tackle and ambled in for the score. The point after failed and Greenwood led 13-0 with 1:11 left in the first half.

The Cougars started their next drive at their own 38 after the kickoff, and marched to the Greenwood 28 in five plays. But with time running out, a Matt Sisco interception in the end zone stopped the scoring threat and brought the half to a conclusion with the Junior 'Dogs on top.

Van Buren received the opening kickoff of the second half, and promptly converted their first possession into a touchdown, needing just three plays for the score. Starting at their own 45 after the kick, the Cougars got an 11-yard run on second down to the Greenwood 44. On the next snap, QB Drake Stafford executed a nice play action fake in the backfield, then lofted a pass downfield to a wide-open receiver. William Walton caught the ball behind the defense and outran the pursuit for the score. The PAT was good to cut the Greenwood lead to 13-7 with 6:51 left in the third quarter.

That proved to be the only score of the period as the Bulldogs were forced to punt on their next possession, and Coleman turned the ball over on downs at the Greenwood 29-yard line. The home team then began a 7-play drive for its third score and a commanding 21-7 lead early in the fourth quarter.

After an incompletion that was nearly picked off, Houston Kennedy found Drew Morgan on a screen pass for six yards to the 35. Morgan then rambled for 11 yards to the 46 on the last snap of the third stanza.

When play resumed, Zach Claude ran for six yards into Coleman territory at the 48. On the next snap, Kennedy rolled out and passed to Avery Sinkuler for a big gain to the 26-yard line. Following an incomplete pass, Drew Morgan scored on a great run, breaking numerous tackles on his way to the end zone. The 'Dogs lined up for the extra point, but left-handed snapper Mason Copeland turned and made a legal toss to Morgan in the backfield, who scored on the fake PAT. The two-point conversion put Greenwood up by two touchdowns, 21-7.

The Wells' defense then stepped up to protect the lead on Coleman's next possession. After the visitor's penetrated into Greenwood territory, defensive back Jansen Stein knocked down a Cougars' pass attempt. On the next play, a long pass play was nullified when receiver Jaquille Franklin was stripped of the ball and the defense recovered at the 18-yard line.

The Greenwood offense then put together its last possession and scoring drive of the game. Morgan ran twice to the 26, before Kennedy tucked the ball and ran for 14 yards to the 40. Claude rushed for a couple more to the 42, then Kennedy passed to Sinkuler into Coleman territory at the 49. On third down, Kennedy found Sinkuler again for 18 yards to the Coleman 26. Four plays later, facing fourth down and five, Kennedy passed over the middle to a wide-open Cole McAllister, who made the catch and ran in for the score. Sinkuler's extra point kick was good for a 28-7 lead with 1:34 left to play.

Against Greenwood's second team defense, the Cougars were able to march 57 yards in nine plays after returning the kickoff to their own 43. Quarterback Drake Stafford ran in for the score from the 1-yard line with eight seconds left to play. The PAT made the final score Greenwood 28, Coleman 14.

Asked about a possible letdown after the big win over Chaffin the week before, head coach Don Harrison said, "I thought they responded well. We practiced really [well] on Monday, and that's what we want. You don't want to come out with that cocky, arrogant attitude. Our kids didn't and they played well."

Offensively, Morgan rushed for over 100 yards and three touchdowns. Kennedy threw for nearly 150 yards and one score. Although the defense was dropping a lot of guys into coverage, and his completion ratio was only about 50%, Kennedy made some really nice, pinpoint throws. "He made some great throws," said Harrison. "The play action worked well. Getting out on the edge worked well. On that last drive, he hit [Sinkuler] on a corner and just got it right in there. And that last play to [McAllister]. He threw that ball perfectly. It was great."

As for Morgan, the coach also had words of high praise. "Rushing for over 100 yards in a ninth grade game - that's a tough feat. I almost put it at rushing between 150 and 175 in a high school game. Eight-minute quarters are not a lot of time for him to run. And it wasn't just great blocking with no one touching him. He was making moves. He was getting his shoulders squared. He was breaking tackles. He protected the football all night when he got in traffic."

The coach also praised the work of his offensive line. "[Coleman] might have lined up [with] three down linemen, but they were bringing two backers every play. But our kids had their heads up. They executed their blocks. We [also] did a great job of being patient. I thought [Morgan] did a great job of letting [things] develop. And as soon as he sees daylight, he sticks that accelerator down and goes. And that all has to do with what a great job our line did tonight, from [Tyler] Thompson to [Logan] Gregory, from [Dalton] Pulliam to [Jay] Jackson, and Ryan Vota came in late at right guard. Of course, Ethan Clark, our center, does a great job."

As for the defense, Harrison couldn't find enough superlatives to express his pleasure. "I thought they played awesome," said the coach. "The first team defense gives up one touchdown on a busted coverage play. They played great. (Coleman) scored four touchdowns last week and beat Shiloh [Christian] 28-14, and then to come here and their offense only scores one touchdown on our starting [defense], that's huge. Our kids played great. I was so proud of them."