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Coleman Just To Much For Freshman Bulldogs
Coleman 21, Greenwood 14
10-20-11
Photos By: Brian Vaughn
Game Article By: Richard White
Jr. Bulldogs fall to Coleman 21-14, after flat second half
By Richard White
After playing a nearly flawless first half, the Greenwood Junior Bulldogs came out flat in the second half, losing their second consecutive River Valley Conference game last Thursday to the Cougars of Van Buren Coleman Junior High. The game was played at Greenwood's Smith-Robinson Stadium, as the Jr. 'Dogs fell to 5-3 on the season, knocking them out of the race for the league title. After scoring late in the first half, and leading 14-7 at the intermission, Greenwood failed to score over the final 16 minutes, and had a crucial turnover that helped Coleman tie the game in the third quarter before the Cougars won it in the fourth period.
The Cougars received the opening kickoff, and got a good return to near midfield. They also wasted little time in scoring, needing just two plays, each covering about 25 yards. Running back Austin Braswell carried in for the touchdown, and the extra point made it 7-0 just 26 seconds into the game. But the defense made the necessary adjustments, and the Cougars did not score again the first half.
The Greenwood offense, on the other hand, responded to the challenge, marching 65 yards in seven plays to tie the game. Kolton Hughs had a nice kick return to set up the scoring drive. Quarterback Reid Wheeler then passed twice to receiver Jackson Cole, reaching the Coleman 46-yard line. On the next snap, a pitch play to running back Cameron Palmer was good for 20 yards to the 26. Palmer got the football three more times - two runs and a short pass completion - netting 10 yards to the 16, just short of the first down. Facing fourth down and inches, Kevin Jones lined up in the shotgun formation in place of Wheeler and took the snap, rushing straight up the middle for the touchdown. He also kicked the extra point to tie the game at 7-7 with 4:55 left in the first quarter.
The Cougars marched deep into Greenwood territory on their second possession, from their own 20 to the Bulldogs' 14-yard-line. But two plays later they faced fourth-down-and-seven before a pass attempt was foiled when quarterback Kendall Pittman was sacked at the 16 by the Greenwood defense. As the game moved into the second quarter, the Jr. 'Dogs marched 76 yards on just three plays, reaching the Coleman 8-yard-line, threatening to retake the lead.
On first down from their own 16, Cameron Palmer took an option pitch and got four yards to the 20. On second down, Reid Wheeler threw over the middle to Kevin Jones for 14 yards to the 34. Palmer then took a handoff and found a hole through the middle of the Cougars' defense, before breaking toward the right sideline before being caught from behind at the Coleman 8-yard-line. But two plays for no gain and a big loss on a third down pass completion left Greenwood facing fourth-and-long. Kevin Jones tried a 33-yard field goal, but the kick sailed wide to the right, keeping the score tied at 7-7.
Coleman got the football at the 20 following the failed field goal attempt, and managed to make a first down at the 32. But a loss to the 28, a penalty, and a bad snap recovered at their own 4-yard-line, left the Cougars facing fourth-and-39. Punting from the back of their own end zone, the kick reached the 33, where Kevin Jones fielded it and returned it to the 28, giving Greenwood excellent field position with 1:41 left in the first half. But negative yardage and a penalty pushed the football back to the 35. Facing fourth down and needing 10 yards to move the chains, the Bulldogs called time with just 16 seconds left. When the ball was snapped, Reid Wheeler found Kevin Jones wide open down the left sideline for a touchdown pass. Jones also added the PAT, and Greenwood headed to the locker room up 14-7, seemingly having grabbed the momentum.
But things changed quickly at the start of the second half. Greenwood recovered an onside kick attempt at its own 49-yard-line, with Chris Sunde covering the ball. Working with a short field, the offense seemed to be in a good position to add some more points and apply greater pressure to the visiting Cougars. But on third down, a wide receiver pass play went awry, with Kevin Jones getting pressure and throwing an interception, giving Coleman the football at its own 46. And it didn't take long for the Cougars to take advantage of the turnover, needing just five plays to reach the end zone. On first down, a pass completion reached the Greenwood 36, a penalty moved the ball to the 27, and a long run moved the line-of-scrimmage to the 5-yard-line. Three plays later, QB Kendall Pittman scored on a 1-yard run. The extra point tied the game at 14-14 with 4:48 left in the third period.
The Jr. 'Dogs reached mid-field on their next possession, thanks to a 24-yard pass completion from Wheeler to Jones, but the drive stalled and Greenwood was forced to punt, giving the Cougars possession of the ball at their own 20. From there, Coleman needed just seven plays to take the lead for good, as the game moved into the fourth quarter. Every call was a rushing play, with Austin Braswell getting the final 19 yards on two carries, the last one for 17 yards and the touchdown. The extra point was good, and the visitors led 21-14 with 7:17 left to play.
Greenwood had plenty of time and two more possessions in which to score, but the offense sputtered and was able to make just one first down for the remainder of the game. Two motion penalties on the Jr. 'Dogs also took their toll, putting even more pressure on the offense, plus horrible field position on their last possession. The defense forced Coleman to punt the ball away with 3:27 left, but the kick rolled dead at the Greenwood 1-yard-line. On fourth down, a pass completion to Kevin Jones came up just short of the first down at the 26. The undefeated Cougars took over with 2:11 remaining and managed to run out the clock, securing a victory and possibly a conference title for themselves.
Greenwood head coach Kenneth Thornton was somewhat at a loss to explain his team's play in the second half. "It was a different team," he said. "We were so jacked up and ready to play [at the start]. I'd have bet my truck on this game. I have not felt like we had a better plan, a better week of practice, and a better game-day preparation than today. I thought we were ready. And throughout the first half, we moved the ball all three times, scored [twice], and missed a field goal. It could have been 17 or 21 to seven, and all [Coleman] had was that first drive. But we just came out flat in the second half. I guess that's my fault, but for the life of me, I don't know what we could have done different. We were just flat. I don't know what to tell you," said the frustrated coach.
The coach did agree that the season is not yet over and there is much that can still be accomplished, with games remaining against Shiloh Christian and Alma, both at Greenwood. "Absolutely," he said, "[we've] still got something to play for, [but] we've got to regroup real quickly, because it doesn't get any easier." Shiloh comes to Smith-Robinson Stadium this week and the two teams have developed a nice non-conference rivalry over the past few years. "We like beating those boys," said Thornton. Of course, Greenwood also has a score to settle with Alma, which defeated the Jr. 'Dogs in the season opener in non-conference action. Thornton and his players had hoped the two teams might be playing for a River Valley Conference title, but they will apparently be playing just for pride. Game time Thursday night against Shiloh Christian is 7 p.m.
By Richard White
After playing a nearly flawless first half, the Greenwood Junior Bulldogs came out flat in the second half, losing their second consecutive River Valley Conference game last Thursday to the Cougars of Van Buren Coleman Junior High. The game was played at Greenwood's Smith-Robinson Stadium, as the Jr. 'Dogs fell to 5-3 on the season, knocking them out of the race for the league title. After scoring late in the first half, and leading 14-7 at the intermission, Greenwood failed to score over the final 16 minutes, and had a crucial turnover that helped Coleman tie the game in the third quarter before the Cougars won it in the fourth period.
The Cougars received the opening kickoff, and got a good return to near midfield. They also wasted little time in scoring, needing just two plays, each covering about 25 yards. Running back Austin Braswell carried in for the touchdown, and the extra point made it 7-0 just 26 seconds into the game. But the defense made the necessary adjustments, and the Cougars did not score again the first half.
The Greenwood offense, on the other hand, responded to the challenge, marching 65 yards in seven plays to tie the game. Kolton Hughs had a nice kick return to set up the scoring drive. Quarterback Reid Wheeler then passed twice to receiver Jackson Cole, reaching the Coleman 46-yard line. On the next snap, a pitch play to running back Cameron Palmer was good for 20 yards to the 26. Palmer got the football three more times - two runs and a short pass completion - netting 10 yards to the 16, just short of the first down. Facing fourth down and inches, Kevin Jones lined up in the shotgun formation in place of Wheeler and took the snap, rushing straight up the middle for the touchdown. He also kicked the extra point to tie the game at 7-7 with 4:55 left in the first quarter.
The Cougars marched deep into Greenwood territory on their second possession, from their own 20 to the Bulldogs' 14-yard-line. But two plays later they faced fourth-down-and-seven before a pass attempt was foiled when quarterback Kendall Pittman was sacked at the 16 by the Greenwood defense. As the game moved into the second quarter, the Jr. 'Dogs marched 76 yards on just three plays, reaching the Coleman 8-yard-line, threatening to retake the lead.
On first down from their own 16, Cameron Palmer took an option pitch and got four yards to the 20. On second down, Reid Wheeler threw over the middle to Kevin Jones for 14 yards to the 34. Palmer then took a handoff and found a hole through the middle of the Cougars' defense, before breaking toward the right sideline before being caught from behind at the Coleman 8-yard-line. But two plays for no gain and a big loss on a third down pass completion left Greenwood facing fourth-and-long. Kevin Jones tried a 33-yard field goal, but the kick sailed wide to the right, keeping the score tied at 7-7.
Coleman got the football at the 20 following the failed field goal attempt, and managed to make a first down at the 32. But a loss to the 28, a penalty, and a bad snap recovered at their own 4-yard-line, left the Cougars facing fourth-and-39. Punting from the back of their own end zone, the kick reached the 33, where Kevin Jones fielded it and returned it to the 28, giving Greenwood excellent field position with 1:41 left in the first half. But negative yardage and a penalty pushed the football back to the 35. Facing fourth down and needing 10 yards to move the chains, the Bulldogs called time with just 16 seconds left. When the ball was snapped, Reid Wheeler found Kevin Jones wide open down the left sideline for a touchdown pass. Jones also added the PAT, and Greenwood headed to the locker room up 14-7, seemingly having grabbed the momentum.
But things changed quickly at the start of the second half. Greenwood recovered an onside kick attempt at its own 49-yard-line, with Chris Sunde covering the ball. Working with a short field, the offense seemed to be in a good position to add some more points and apply greater pressure to the visiting Cougars. But on third down, a wide receiver pass play went awry, with Kevin Jones getting pressure and throwing an interception, giving Coleman the football at its own 46. And it didn't take long for the Cougars to take advantage of the turnover, needing just five plays to reach the end zone. On first down, a pass completion reached the Greenwood 36, a penalty moved the ball to the 27, and a long run moved the line-of-scrimmage to the 5-yard-line. Three plays later, QB Kendall Pittman scored on a 1-yard run. The extra point tied the game at 14-14 with 4:48 left in the third period.
The Jr. 'Dogs reached mid-field on their next possession, thanks to a 24-yard pass completion from Wheeler to Jones, but the drive stalled and Greenwood was forced to punt, giving the Cougars possession of the ball at their own 20. From there, Coleman needed just seven plays to take the lead for good, as the game moved into the fourth quarter. Every call was a rushing play, with Austin Braswell getting the final 19 yards on two carries, the last one for 17 yards and the touchdown. The extra point was good, and the visitors led 21-14 with 7:17 left to play.
Greenwood had plenty of time and two more possessions in which to score, but the offense sputtered and was able to make just one first down for the remainder of the game. Two motion penalties on the Jr. 'Dogs also took their toll, putting even more pressure on the offense, plus horrible field position on their last possession. The defense forced Coleman to punt the ball away with 3:27 left, but the kick rolled dead at the Greenwood 1-yard-line. On fourth down, a pass completion to Kevin Jones came up just short of the first down at the 26. The undefeated Cougars took over with 2:11 remaining and managed to run out the clock, securing a victory and possibly a conference title for themselves.
Greenwood head coach Kenneth Thornton was somewhat at a loss to explain his team's play in the second half. "It was a different team," he said. "We were so jacked up and ready to play [at the start]. I'd have bet my truck on this game. I have not felt like we had a better plan, a better week of practice, and a better game-day preparation than today. I thought we were ready. And throughout the first half, we moved the ball all three times, scored [twice], and missed a field goal. It could have been 17 or 21 to seven, and all [Coleman] had was that first drive. But we just came out flat in the second half. I guess that's my fault, but for the life of me, I don't know what we could have done different. We were just flat. I don't know what to tell you," said the frustrated coach.
The coach did agree that the season is not yet over and there is much that can still be accomplished, with games remaining against Shiloh Christian and Alma, both at Greenwood. "Absolutely," he said, "[we've] still got something to play for, [but] we've got to regroup real quickly, because it doesn't get any easier." Shiloh comes to Smith-Robinson Stadium this week and the two teams have developed a nice non-conference rivalry over the past few years. "We like beating those boys," said Thornton. Of course, Greenwood also has a score to settle with Alma, which defeated the Jr. 'Dogs in the season opener in non-conference action. Thornton and his players had hoped the two teams might be playing for a River Valley Conference title, but they will apparently be playing just for pride. Game time Thursday night against Shiloh Christian is 7 p.m.