12-2-06 By: Dustin Graham
Special From The Greenwood Democrat

GREENWOOD- The Bulldogs made their second trip to War Memorial stadium in as many years and returned champions once again as they beat out Pulaski Academy for the Class 5A state championship in an offensive shootout that ended 56-55 in Greenwoods favor.

Tyler Wilson hit Jared Morris in the end zone with 12 seconds on the clock to make the score 54-55. At this point Greenwood could kick the field goal and go into overtime or go for the win with a two-point conversion. Coach Jones elected to try for the two point and it paid off with a pass to Nathan Staton to go ahead by one point and give the Bruins virtually no chance to recover. "There was a little bit of discussion on whether to go for two or not but I just thought that they are so good on offense lets try it in one shot," said coach Jones. "I thought that we had a good play called and I thought that was how we needed to go about it, I just did not like our chances in overtime."

It was a struggle the entire game for the Bulldogs as they trailed by as many as 14 points on two occasions. But every time it looked as though the game would be put out of reach the Bulldogs would rally. "I expected them to score about 50," said Jones. "I was just hoping we could score 51 and that is about how it worked out. Our guys don't give up they just keep battling and that's the difference in our guys and a lot of guys they just keep fighting."

There was some speculation that perhaps the Bulldogs allowed the Bruins to score in the final minutes in order to get the ball back. But apparently there was a mix up on a blitz that lead to PA's score. "We did not let them score," said Jones. "But I tell you the truth, I told those guys on the sidelines 'that is just what we wanted they are going to kick the extra point and we are going to go down and score and go for two and tie it and go to overtime just like we did against Wynne two years ago in 2004 I was tickled to death that they scored to tell you the truth." But Greenwood would not have to make the conversion to tie as the Bruins would go for two themselves and fail on an incomplete pass.

Greenwood took over with 1:49 on the clock and drove 57 yards in nine plays to get within striking distance of Bruins. Tyler finished the game with a school record 563 passing yards and a single season school record of 4,208 yards and 49 TDs. "When you have people around you contributing and making big plays it's easy," said Wilson. "It wasn't easy tonight but we made some big plays and everyone around contributed and helped. Ridener did a great job and our receivers were awesome. Our defense made some big plays in big situations." "Tyler was Mr. Clutch what can you say," said coach Jones. "He was rushed around more tonight than he has been in quite a while but he stood right in there and made play after play after play. He is a champion."

Nathan Staton, Kyle Walters, William Ridener and Josh Hogan each had more than 100 receiving yards with Staton and Walters combing for over 300. Walters scored on a 57 and a 47-yard pass from Wilson as well as making two interceptions on two consecutive possessions in the second quarter, but inexplicably did not win the games MVP.