Alma

The following is the announcement read during the pregame ceremony honoring Coach Vines.

Ladies and gentlemen, at this time we direct your attention to the center of the field for a special presentation. It would be remiss of us as a district and long time friend and friendly rival of Alma to fail to acknowledge in some way the announcement of Coach Frankie Vines this last Wednesday regarding his retirement. Tonight's game will be the last game for Coach Vines as the head coach of the Alma Airedales.

Coach Vines is currently the winningest active high school football coach in the state of Arkansas.

His outstanding coaching career spans 31 years and has produced 270 wins and 3 state championships as well as numerous conference titles.

Coach Rick Jones, head coach of the Bulldogs, will present Coach Vines with a football in recognition of his many accomplishments.

Beyond his victories has been his character clearly seen in the lives of the student athletes who played for him the last 31 years and clearly recognized by those of us who have watched him from across the field for more than three decades.

From all of Greenwood we want to say "Thanks, Coach Vines". Its been a great and memorable ride for all of us.

We wish you well.

11-3-06 By: Dustin Graham, Greenwood Democrat
Special From The Greenwood Democrat

The Greenwood Bulldogs won their second 5-A west championship in as many years defeating the Alma Airedales 28-21. The Bulldogs share the 5-A west title with the Morrilton Devil dogs, which beat Little Rock Christian Friday night to remain tied for first place. However, Greenwood won the head to head match up with Morrilton earlier this year 28-0, making Greenwood the number one seed.

The Airedales came into the game Friday night hoping to give their long time head coach, Frank Vines, one last victory before he retired.

An interception on their own 30-yard line by Alma would give the Airedales the momentum they would need to drive the length of the field in 18 plays to strike the first blow against the Bulldogs.

Greenwood would be quick to answer back charging from their own 20 to the Alma 35 where QB Tyler Wilson would complete a pass to William Ridener, who would drop the ball and then pick it back up again to run all the way to the five yard line to set up a touch down pass to Nathan Staton to even the score.

Alma would fumble on their next drive to give Greenwood a first and ten on the 44-yard line. Wilson would find Staton with a pass that he would take to the Alma 8 yard line, but an interception in the end zone give the ball back to Alma on the their own 20. The Bulldog defense would stop them before they could get started and force them to punt the ball away. Travis Sandifer would give Greenwood a great starting point running the ball to the Airedale 49. William Ridener would do the rest running 49 yards on the first play of the drive to put the Bulldogs ahead 14-7.

The next drive by Alma would be short lived thanks to the Bulldog defense, which would force yet another punt by the Airedales. It would take Greenwood just seven plays to march from the 27-yard line to another touchdown to finish the half 21-7.

Greenwood would start the second half of the game by shutting down the Alma offense and taking the ball back. Greenwood would then march down field and score their final touchdown of the game on a William Ridener two-yard run. Alma would score two more times before the end of the game but it would be too little late to catch the 5-A west champions.

“They wanted coach Vines career to end in a victory and they fought hard I give those guys a lot of credit,” said Head coach Rick Jones. “Coach Vines is a wonderful man he has been so gracious to us and he will be missed by people who love football in Arkansas. The only thing that I would hate worse than ending it like we did would be to end it with him winning. This was a super win for our kids.”

“That was the definition of a hard fought ball game,” said coach Jones. “We knew it would be tough, I am just proud of our kids they found a way to get it done. It wasn’t pretty, but we got it done.”

Greenwood, being the number one seed, will have home field advantage as they take on Monticello in the first round of the playoffs starting Friday night at Smith Robinson stadium.