While the 2026 season didn’t begin the way Bulldogs’ fans would have liked – losing two non-conference games by a total of six points – there’s no doubt the last four games have seen a change in direction and momentum for the varsity Dogs, who won their fourth consecutive game last Friday night at Dardanelle, 49-7.
The 5A West conference victory improved Greenwood’s season mark to 4-2 overall and 3-0 in league play. They will host the Farmington Cardinals at Smith-Robinson Stadium next Friday and have three other conference games remaining against Pea Ridge, Clarksville, and Alma. So far in league play the Bulldogs have outscored their opponents by an average of 50 to 10.
But Farmington will likely be Greenwood’s toughest test in conference play. The Cardinals are unbeaten (6-0) so far this season and are 3-0 in 5A West play with wins over Harrison, Alma, and Morrilton. Farmington has scored 17 points less than Greenwood, 218 to 235, but has allowed five fewer points defensively, 102 to 107. The Bulldogs have beaten Morrilton, Harrison, and now Dardanelle in league play.
Of course, Greenwood’s level of non-conference competition was much stronger than Farmington, which owns non-league wins over Mountain Home, Rogers-Heritage, and Prairie Grove. Kickoff will be at 7 p.m. next Friday night with the victor having a leg up on the league championship and the #1 seed from the West in the playoffs.
At Dardanelle last Friday, the Bulldogs scored on all four of their first half possessions to build a 28-7 lead at the intermission, despite not being totally focused, especially on defense, according to Head Coach Jason Gill. The Dogs won the opening toss and elected to kick to the Sand Lizards, who were celebrating their 2026 homecoming.
Dardanelle reached the 4A state finals last season before falling to Elkins just as Greenwood reached the 6A finals before losing to Shiloh Christian. Both schools were “rewarded” by changing classifications this season. The Bulldogs dropped down to 5A while the Sand Lizards moved up to 5A. While Greenwood seems to be handling the change quite well, Dardanelle has struggled this season, posting a 2-4 record after last Friday’s loss.
The home team started their opening possession at their 20-yard-line after Landon Franklin put the kickoff in the end zone, the first of several such kicks on the night for Greenwood. But Dardanelle was not without some offensive weapons. They had a pair of good running backs, a capable quarterback, and a respectable offensive line. They picked up three first downs before the GHS defense could halt their advance at midfield on a failed fourth down pass attempt. Greenwood took over on downs at its own 45.
QB Cruz Coatney got things started with a pass to Braxton Canada for nine yards to the home 46-yard-line. Another toss to Ty Holt reached the 39 before Ty Karnes caught consecutive passes reaching the 28. A Sand Lizards’ penalty moved the ball to the 23 before Coatney connected with Canada again to the 12-yard-line. Running back Rhett Holloway then ran twice, the second time for three yards and the touchdown. Franklin’s extra point kick was good for a 7-0 GHS lead (6:04).
The Greenwood defense then forced a quick three-and-out followed by a punt to the visitors’ 35-yard-line with no return. On first down, Coatney passed to fellow senior Cooper Webb, who made a nice spin move to reach the Dardanelle 38. Two plays later he caught another Coatney offering for 12 yards to the 25. The Greenwood QB then used his feet to roll right and buy some time before locating Ty Karnes in the front corner of the end zone for the touchdown. The PAT followed by Franklin, making the score 14-0 at the 3:27 mark of the first quarter.
Another deep kick by Franklin forced the Sand Lizards to start their third straight possession at the 20-yard-line. But this time they sustained the drive to score their only touchdown of the game. The series lasted 10 plays and carried over into the second quarter. It featured mostly running plays but did include a key pass interference penalty on the Bulldogs. The touchdown came on a five-yard run followed by the PAT.
Yet the Bulldogs’ defense can be excused for losing focus when halfway through the drive GHS senior safety Bailey Thibodeau was apparently seriously injured and was taken off the field on a gurney and transported to the hospital. The game was halted for several minutes with players kneeling in respect for their fallen comrade, praying for his wellbeing. Thankfully, by the end of the game, word came that Thibodeau had been cleared medically and was released from the hospital to return to his family and teammates.
After the touchdown, Dardanelle tried an onside kick, but Greenwood’s Brayden Brewer recovered the loose ball at the 50. Five snaps later the Bulldogs were back in the end zone. The first play was a Coatney toss to Brayden Renick to the home 44-yard-line. Mario Dunbar then ran to the 40. After two plays for no gain, Cruz Coatney found Renick again at the 28 with the senior doing the rest with his legs, racing to the end zone. Landon Franklin’s kick was good, pushing the GHS lead to 21-7 (10:26).
The Sand Lizards used up the next eight-plus minutes on a time-consuming drive that covered 57 yards and 14 plays. But it ended in frustration when the GHS defense stopped a fourth down run short of a first down at the Bulldogs’ 23-yard-line. With just under two minutes left in the half, the Bulldogs’ offense needed 88 seconds to score their fourth touchdown. The drive required nine plays, all passes, two of them incomplete, overcoming a 15-yard penalty along the way.
Coatney completed a first down pass to Cooper Webb for six yards to the 29, then another toss to Brayden Brewer reached the 40. Braxton Canada was the next target for a short gain to the 43 followed by another pass to Brewer for a big gain to the Sand Lizards’ 17-yard-line. Canada then got two yards on a short toss, bringing up third-and-nine with 56 seconds left in the half. Coach Gill called a timeout to talk things over, and when play resume Coatney found Brewer again over the middle to the 5-yard-line for a first down.
After an incompletion, the Bulldogs were flagged for a personal foul, costing them 15 yards back to the 20. But that hardly proved to be an obstacle, actually giving Coatney and his receivers more room to maneuver, though the GHS coaching staff was not happy. Yet when the ball was snapped again, Coatney launched a deep pass into the right side of the end zone toward a leaping Braxton Canada, who caught the ball over a shorter defensive back for the touchdown. Franklin’s kick moved the score to 28-7 at the half.
Three more Greenwood touchdowns followed in the second half, two in the third quarter to invoke the mercy rule, and the other very early in the fourth. Another failed onside kick was recovered by Ty Karnes at the Dardanelle 49 to start the second half. Coatney then passed to Canada to the 31 and to Brayden Renick at the 17. Next, Rhett Holloway squirted through the center of the defense for an impressive TD run before Landon Franklin added the PAT.
Leading 35-7, the Bulldogs continued to play improved defense, forcing a quick Dardanelle punt to the GHS 49 with no return. But just as the Dogs were driving for another apparent score, Coatney’s pass to a receiver near the 10-yard-line was picked off by the Sand Lizards and returned to the 37. But the GHS defense got the football right back via another quick Dardanelle punt to the Greenwood 31.
Mario Dunbar ran for two yards and Coatney scrambled to the 37 before Holloway picked up a first down at the 44. Two more runs advanced the ball to the Dardanelle 43. Two snaps after that, Coatney targeted Canada on a crossing pattern over the middle to the home 21-yard-line. A penalty pushed the ball back to the 26, but two plays later Coatney was flushed out of the pocket by a blitz, finding running room down the left sideline all the way to the end zone for the touchdown. Franklin’s kick made the score 42-7, imposing the mercy rule over the remaining 16:49 of the contest.
Moments later, a botched pitch by the Sand Lizards was recovered at the GHS 40 by senior defensive end Terry McGinister, giving the first team offense one more chance to score. A quick, short pass to Cooper Webb resulted in a long gain with the tall and powerful senior running over and through defenders to the home 30-yard-line. Mario Dunbar then rumbled to the 14 and Rhett Holloway carried to the 6-yard-line on the final play of the third quarter.
When play resumed, Ty Holt lined up at running back and scored the touchdown on the first snap of the new period. Franklin’s extra point kick was good, making the final score 49-7 with most of the quarter yet to play. But the GHS coaching staff pulled their starters in favor of younger reserves, and Dardanelle soon followed suit as the final minutes went by quickly.
Statistically, Cruz Coatney had another excellent performance, completing 23 of 29 passes for 327 yards and three touchdowns. Greenwood receivers dropped two of those passes and one was picked off by the Sand Lizards. Coatney distributed the ball well, but his favorite target was Braxton Canada with six catches for 83 yards and a score. Sophomore Ty Karnes had five receptions for 45 yards and a touchdown. Brayden Brewer had four grabs for 68 yards and Cooper Webb caught four balls for 73 yards. Brayden Renick also had three receptions for 60 yards and a touchdown. Ty Holt and Asyen Dawson also caught passes in the game.
On the ground the Bulldogs were led by Rhett Holloway with eight carries for 66 yards and two scores. Mario Dunbar added 27 yards and a touchdown. Coatney also ran for 31 yards on two carries and a touchdown. Drake Little ran for more than 20 yards in reserve duty in the fourth quarter. All stats are unofficial.
After the victory, Coach Gill talked briefly with Greenwood Dog Pound sideline reporter Richie Cagle. Echoing his halftime comments, the head coach said, “I was disappointed with our defense in the first half. We just weren’t making plays or making tackles. I like to see our offense moving the football, and they were, but we [the defense] didn’t get it to them quick enough. We’ve got to do a better job of that, just coming out [ready to play].
“But I think we did a lot better job of coming out in the second half,” continued Gill. “And then our offense was clicking. We had the one turnover, but other than that we were pretty much perfect on the night. They were in the zone.” The coach then revealed the good news about Bailey Thibodeau, saying, “He’s been released from the hospital, and I think he’s on his way here, but he might be on his way home. But I hope to see him here in a little while.”