While the Bulldogs were getting pasted at Springdale Har-Ber in week one, the Bobcats also lost to perennial football power Nashville. So both teams entered Friday's game needing a win, though Greenwood was heavily favored. But the Bulldogs struggled early on offense. Quarterback Tyler Shook failed to complete a pass in the first quarter, and Greenwood made only two first downs and ran just nine offensive plays. Still, an interception return had the 'Dogs up 7-0.

Junior defensive back Tony Sandifer ended Hope's first possession, perfectly reading quarterback Dree Bradley, Jr. as he eyed his target on the right side of the GHS defense. Sandifer's timing was also impeccable, flashing in front of the receiver near the 25-yard line. He returned the interception untouched for the game's first score. The extra point was good by kicker Austin Hartness, and just under 90 seconds into the contest, the Bulldogs grabbed a lead they would never relinquish.

Hope managed a couple of first downs on its next possession, moving into GHS territory before failing on fourth down and one, when senior defensive lineman Damien McClain nailed the running back for no gain at the 47-yard line, giving the ball back to the Bulldogs' offense.

On first down, Senior RB Travis Green rumbled 23 yards to the Hope 30-yard line, following up with a six-yard run to the 24. But that's as far as the Bulldogs could go. Shook was sacked at the 33, then overthrew two passes to open receivers, giving the ball back to Hope on downs.

Once again the Bobcats threatened, moving into Greenwood territory to the 39, before the defense stiffened, forcing a punt that was downed at the 9-yard line. On first down, Tyler Shook kept the ball around the right side for the game's longest offensive play. With the help of a major block by wide receiver Seth Parker, Shook scampered 43 yards to the Hope 48-yard line. But again, the drive sputtered and junior punter Stephen Hogan kicked the ball away on fourth down.

Early in the second quarter, the Bulldogs finally found some offensive traction, marching 58 yards in just three plays for the score. On first down, Shook found senior Spencer Harris for a 28-yard pass completion to the Hope 30. Travis Green then exploited open ground around the left side of the GHS line, rambling 29 yards before being pushed out of bounds at the 1-yard line. On the next snap, Shook lofted a pass toward the back of the end zone, finding Harris in front of the goal post for the score. The play was special because Harris juggled the ball as he went down, finally corralling it while seated on the ground in the end zone. Problems with the snap and hold apparently bothered kicker Austin Hartness, and the PAT was no good.

Leading 13-0 with 10:43 left in the second quarter, the Greenwood defense got the ball right back for the offense, forcing the Bobcats to punt. Starting at its own 42, the 'Dogs repeated their earlier drive of 58 yards in three plays. After a short pickup on first down, Shook connected with sophomore Blake Hasley for a 39-yard gain to the Hope 17-yard line. The GHS quarterback then ran left and found nothing but green turf between himself and the end zone. Hartness was true on the PAT and with 7:57 left in the half, Greenwood had the game firmly under control at 20-0.

After another Hope punt, the Bulldogs marched 46 yards for their fourth score. On first down, Spencer Harris made a nice adjustment and came back for a Tyler Shook pass, battling a defensive back for the catch inside the 20-yard line. Harris then struggled his way to the 12 before going down beneath a wave of tacklers. Two plays later, Travis Green run for seven yards to the 5, but a high snap sailed over the head of backup QB Hayden Smith, who calmly and smartly covered the ball at the 28-yard line. Facing third and 26, Shook re-entered the game and promptly connected with a wide-open Harris streaking down the right sideline for the touchdown. The PAT was good for a 27-0 lead at the 5:02 mark, a score the Bulldogs took into the locker room at halftime.

A fumble recovery and return accounted for Greenwood's first score of the second half. It came with 9:27 left in the third quarter when senior defensive lineman Kyle Helms plucked the loose pigskin out of the air and ran six yards for the touchdown. For the second time in the game, the PAT sailed wide of the uprights, keeping the score at 33-0.

With the help of two penalties, the Bobcats moved deep into Greenwood territory on their next possession, reaching the Bulldogs' 21-yard line. On fourth down, defensive back Stephen Hogan intercepted a Hope pass and the home team took over on offense at its own 5-yard line. Thirteen plays later, Austin Hartness booted a 22-yard field goal to make the score 36-0, invoking the mercy rule and hastening the end of the game.

Now early in the fourth quarter, with the clock running continuously, and with Greenwood substituting freely, the Bobcats finally got on the scoreboard. Hope marched 75 yards in 12 plays, the touchdown coming on a short pass completion to Ricky Willis. The kick was good, making the score 36-7 with 3:45 left to play.

The final GHS score came on special teams. On a Bulldogs' punt, junior Taylor Thompson recovered a fumble and returned it for the score at the 1:23 mark. The ball was ripped away from the Hope ball carrier by fellow junior Dylan Dixon. Hartness added the PAT. Greenwood sophomore Brandon Boerjan recovered yet another Hope fumble just seconds later at the Bobcats 36-yard line, but the Bulldogs were content to run out the clock for the 43-7 victory.

After the game, Coach Jones had glowing words for his defense. “I thought they played well, from the first kickoff to the last, they played really, really well. I was proud of them. We didn't do as well as I wanted offensively in the first quarter, but the defense made play after play. We had three touchdowns on defense and special teams, and that's a good night in anybody's book. I like the fact that we were still hustling with very little time on the clock, in a game that wasn't close.”

Regarding the offense and some of the little things that went wrong against Hope, the coach was resolute. “We're not going to cancel practice next week, I can assure you of that. [The offense] wasn't as crisp and clean as I would like it to be, but the effort was there, and that's the main thing we were looking at. Coming off last week I wanted to make sure that we gave great effort, [and] I thought we made strides in that direction. [But] we have to get better. We [need] to have great practices, because we have a big challenge next week. We had better get ready. We have to work hard and get better. That's what football is all about.”

As for the Shiloh Christian Saints, who will be coming to Greenwood next Friday, Coach Jones was cautiously optimistic. “They're a really good football team. They're a big, big physical team, and we need to have a great week of practice and play with great effort. As long as we do that, we'll be fine.” The saints are ranked among the top 100 teams in America in most national polls, but Jones expressed gratitude that the game will be played at Smith-Robinson Stadium. “Our kids love playing at home. I always think that's a great advantage,' he said.

Finally, Coach Jones and his staff were able to play a significant number of reserves in the second half against the Bobcats. “We got a lot of them in,” said Jones. “We always try to go with the non-starting seniors first. We didn't get everybody in, but we got a number of guys in. Of course, we didn't start running the clock until the fourth quarter.”
     
     Official offensive stats had quarterback Tyler Shook completing 10 of 15 passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns. Spencer Harris was the top receiver, catching four of those passes for 96 yards and both scores. Running back Travis Green rushed 15 times for 111 yards.