According to Hooten’s Arkansas Football, the state’s gridiron bible, the 2021 Greenwood Bulldogs will capture “a second straight [6A state] title and fourth in five years. The Sebastian County outfit has players galore and didn’t flinch last season when it dominated en route to the title following the February 2020 departure of legendary coach Rick Jones.”
One thing is certain, Rick Jones has departed Greenwood after 16 unbelievable years of gridiron success. But if 2020 proved anything, it’s that GHS football is about more than one man – even a legend like Jones – and new head coach Chris Young and his staff and players were more than up to the task of continuing the winning tradition established by Jones. And now the Bulldogs are preparing to defend their 2020 crown and seem poised to do just that, according to Hooten’s.
In an interview conducted after last week’s scrimmage against Fayetteville, Coach Young talked about this year’s team, recent staff changes, the results of the scrimmage, Covid-19, and more. The second-year head coach appeared relaxed and comfortable 18 months after being named to succeed Jones and a year removed from winning a championship under extremely difficult circumstances in the middle of a global pandemic.
“We’ve gotten healthy,” said Young when asked about any pre-season injuries. “We held out a couple of running backs (Javon Williamson, Cameron Krone) last night that we banged up a little bit over the summer. We just wanted to give them another week off. But we’re as healthy as we’ve been – knock on wood – in a long time. We feel good about [our health].”
The coach also talked about his latest hire, former GHS quarterback Luke Hales, who took over as offensive coordinator for the junior high, replacing Josh Holloway, who moved up to the varsity staff as special teams’ coordinator. Hales was a Bulldog from 2014-16 and played in the state championship game each of his last two years.
“We’re excited to bring Luke back to the program,” said his boss. “He was around last year during some breaks that he had. He would watch practice and be around the coaches’ office. He knew that coaching is what he wanted to do, so he tried to hang out a little bit and learn the ropes.
“We had an opportunity to move up Coach [Josh] Holloway, which is something he deserved for a long time. But once we had the opportunity to hire Luke, that was a natural fit. Luke is going to do a great job. He understands the game and our offense. He understands quarterback play and is great with the kids. Luke will have complete control of the [junior high] offense.
“Josh has been here a long time and is very well respected by our staff. He’s run our junior high offense the last eight years, and done an unbelievable job. He’s used to calling plays and designing plays, and we think he will take our special teams to the next level,” offered the Bulldogs’ head coach.
Besides Holloway, Young also hired former GHS quarterback Stephen Hogan as co-offensive coordinator. “Stephen is another one of those guys who played for us and understands our expectations. He played at Arkansas State and had four different head coaches and quarterback coaches. He had a great experience up there and then went to Owasso, OK, for two years and worked with Bill Blankenship, which is as good as there is in the coaching business. He won two state championships there. Then last year he became the offensive coordinator at Sand Springs and really turned that offense around. He has a lot of experience coaching quarterbacks and understands the offense.”
Hogan and Holloway replaced departed coaches Chase Meyers and Zach Watson, both of whom were hired prior to the 2020 season. Meyers has left the coaching profession but remains in Greenwood as assistant principal at the high school, while Watson was hired as a first-time head coach at Elkins, Arkansas.
Asked if things were slowly getting back to normal after the rigors of last season dealing with all the Covid-19 protocols, Young said, “It’s kind of up and down. About the time you think you’ve got it figured out, they change something on you. We still have to wear masks in the locker room and anytime our kids aren’t six feet apart they have to wear a mask. It is nice to be able to take it off when we go outside and just play football.”
But Young is fully onboard with whatever steps the administration thinks are required to keep kids in the classroom and student-athletes competing in their respective sports. “We’ll do what we have to do to play and to keep kids in school. You can throw opinions out the window. I think we all agree that kids need to be in school and kids need to be playing, so whatever we need to do to make that happen, we will,” asserted the coach.
“The big difference this year is if we have to cancel a game due to Covid, it’s a forfeit,” revealed the coach. “It’s not a no contest like last year. So we’ve got to do our best to keep kids safe, to keep them spread out, and keep them from being quarantined so we can have a full season.
“We’ve got a large number of our kids who are vaccinated and therefore can’t be quarantined, and as long as we do a good job of wearing the masks, our unvaccinated kids won’t be quarantined. So hopefully we can limit those who are positive and have a full team most games.”
One of the GHS traditions lost during the 2020 season was the annual father-son senior retreat held just before the start of pre-season practice. Thankfully, with the relaxation of some of the Covid restrictions, the 2021 seniors and their dads were able to revive the tradition. This year’s senior class is a big one, with 28 twelfth graders on the squad.
“The father-son retreat was awesome,” said Young. “We have a great group of seniors, a really large group, and their dads got to spend time with them and get away from football. To watch them talk with their sons and share with their sons, it was a great day.” The annual summer retreat is a way to use football to forge memories and bond fathers and their sons.
Another tradition lost last season was the FASDOGS summer program that annually attracted around 500 kids of all ages from across the region. The annual three or four-week camp focuses on improving athleticism and agility through flexibility and speed training, and has been hugely successful over the years. Bulldogs’ players are required to attend the camp.
According to Young, about 470 kids participated in FASDOGS this past July, including all his varsity players. “Obviously, we had a day or two where guys were sick or had a doctor’s appointment or something like that, but we had great participation in the summer, because [the players] know our expectations. If they want to play, they know it’s something they have to do. Our kids bought into that and they were here.”
As for last week’s scrimmage with Fayetteville at Smith-Robinson Stadium, Young said, “Coach [Casey] Dick and I talked about playing our #1s and #2s in the first half, and in the third quarter we would play our 3s and 4s. Then in the fourth quarter we would come back with whoever we felt needed more reps. Most of our guys played in the first half that we think will help us on Friday nights.
“Offensively, we moved the ball well the first drive. We fumble it on first down going in, about to score, and that was frustrating, but that’s going to happen early on. We haven’t been live. We haven’t been hitting our running backs [in practice]. Dylan [Tucker] made a great run and ran over a guy, then the ball came loose. That’s something we can work on.
“The next two series were long drives. I think we had four drives with our #1s and we scored twice and fumbled in the end zone once. So I was very pleased offensively, especially with our guys up front. I thought they protected the quarterback well. Hunter [Houston] did a good job. He missed some reads and some throws, but that’s going to happen early on. I thought he was poised and moved in the pocket well and had the big [touchdown] pass to [Luke] Brewer.”
Asked to discuss his offensive line, Young said, “We played six guys with that first group. Five starters and Ryan Shortes, a sophomore, is rotating in some and is going to help us out. We feel like those six guys, any combination of them, will start, and we’ve got some depth behind them.” In his second year on the staff, o-line coach Austin Moreton has been promoted to co-offensive coordinator and running game coordinator.
“Defensively, Fayetteville had some great athletes and can make you look bad in a hurry,” offered Young, pointing out that one of Fayetteville’s receivers is headed to the University of Oregon. “They had three really good wide receivers and made us look bad at times. But part of that is just not being used to that speed. I think the longer we played the better we would have gotten. We feel like our secondary will be a strength by the end of the year.
“The most glaring thing [on defense] was not tackling, but that goes back to not doing that live in practice, trying to keep kids healthy. We missed [some] tackles last night, especially after catches, so we’ve got to get better at that. I thought as the game went on, we got better defensively,” he continued.
“I thought we were able to put some pressure on them up front and get to the quarterback. I think we sacked him two or three times. It’s just something we’ve got to continue to work on. I think we’ve got to get a little more aggressive and fly around a little more [defensively]. Colt Owenby made a heck of a play in the end zone on the interception.”
Asked about points of emphasis in the final days before the season opener at Muskogee, Young said, “Ball protection with running backs and wide receivers, [and] offensive line play is always a concern. We’re happy with how it’s been and how it was last night, but that’s something we’ve got to continue to get better at. Defensively, just tackling and finishing the play. We’re getting there, but we’ve got to finish.”
The coach then offered up the names of his o-line starters plus one. “The offensive line is Corben Webb (6-1, 229), Jeremiah Presson (5-9, 260), Hayden Webb (6-0, 298), Trevor Reeves (5-9, 230), Hayden Leonard (5-9, 273), and Ryan Shortes (5-9, 245). Hayden Webb is a junior and Shortes a sophomore, with the other four being seniors, giving the Bulldogs are very experienced group up front with good depth behind them.
Their main goal this season, besides opening holes for the running backs, is to protect junior quarterback Hunter Houston, who was the backup in 2020. He played mostly in mop-up duty last year, but did start and win game three against Choctaw, OK, 23-12. Houston is a three-sport athlete (football, basketball, baseball) who will be backed up this season by sophomore Slade Dean, who will gain needed experience playing on Monday nights in junior varsity games.
“Slade is going to be a good one too,” said his head coach. “He’s just got to get the experience playing on Friday night. There’s a big speed difference between junior high and high school. He’s got a good arm and is very intelligent, and we feel very confident with him as the backup.” Young also said the coaching staff has options in the unlikely event that a third QB is needed, mentioning sophomores Jaden Wolfe and Cole Kindle as candidates.
“At wide receiver right now is Bryce Caldwell, Aiden Kennon, Tanner McKusker, and Luke Brewer,” continued Young. “Brett Wood and L.J. Robins are in that conversation, and Peyton Presson. Those seven guys will all be playing on Friday nights.”
Brewer, a senior, is the most experienced and accomplished of those players. Caldwell is also a senior while McKusker, Kenon, and Wood are juniors. Robins is a sophomore who played running back last season in junior high. The coach then turned his attention to the offensive backfield.
“At running back it’s a crowded room, and that’s a good thing,” he said. “We were pleased last night with Dylan Tucker, the way he ran the ball physically, and Jake Glover, we moved him a week ago, and I think that’s going to be a neat 1-2 punch, with a big heavy strong guy, and Jake is so quick.”
Tucker is a senior move-in who was initially slated to play linebacker before being moved to running back, and at 5-10, 225 pounds he is a load and hard to tackle one-on-one. A junior, Glover moved from defensive back and offers a different look to defenses with his smaller size (5-5, 145), speed and elusiveness.
“Then throw in Javon [Williamson] and Cameron Krone,” Young continued. “I think those four guys are going to get big time snaps, and it will allow us to do some different things at running back. Another kid is Carson Hobbs (5-7, 150), who’s had a great fall camp, a sophomore running back, who had a touchdown last night. He’s going to be our JV running back. He’s a tough kid that is going to be a really good football player here before he’s done.
Williamson returns to Greenwood after spending a year at Fort Smith Southside after playing his ninth-grade season with the Bulldogs. At 6-0, 182 pounds, the junior tailback was impressive as a freshman. Krone was injured in 2020 and did not play, but at 5-10, 190 pounds, he also packs a wallop, and is hoping for a healthy senior season.
Turning to the defense, a strength for the Bulldogs in recent years, Young began with the linebackers, led by two experienced seniors. “We’ve got Parker Gill and Colt Owenby back from last year. Lui Honkala is another senior that’s had a great camp and Evan Williams is a junior and a good athlete that can play sideline to sideline.
“We feel good about those four guys. I think we’ll [also] see Fletcher Gill and Braden Mackey out there with those guys, [and] Jake Glover may play some outside linebacker when he’s not at running back. So we feel like that’s a deep group for us. They just have to continue to improve.
Fletcher Gill is a senior who missed last season due to injury, but is now fully recovered. “It’s great to see him back out there. He’s a guy that can play all four positions and move around. He’ll provide some good depth for us,” said Young. Mackey is an up-and-coming sophomore who shined as a freshman last year.
Regarding the defensive line, Young said, “[Senior] Landon Kilgore (6-3, 267) is our returning nose guard with a lot of experience and [senior] Tyler Crossno (6-2, 240) is at defensive end,” referring to his two returning anchors. “Cameron Dehart has really come on [in camp]. He’s a little undersized, but plays fast with a good motor.”
Crossno, a state wrestling champion, and Dehart will man the end positions, with fellow seniors Jalen Fowler and Cole Meyers also vying for early playing time on the d-line. “Young guys Brady Pettigrew and Cole Kindle (both sophomores) can help us down the road. We like our depth on the defensive line,” said the coach.
As for the defensive backfield, Young said, “We feel really good about our secondary. They got exposed a little bit last night, but we wanted to keep the Fayetteville [receivers] in front of us, and for the most part we did that. [Seniors] Colin Daggett and Levi Russell are our two corners. Landon Nelms is a sophomore who will see a lot of time. He’s a good player who is coming on and will get a lot of reps.
“Sebastian Crumb and Storm Scherrey are our two safeties. We’re excited about those two. Sebastian will come down and hit you in a heartbeat. He’s real physical for a smaller guy. Storm Scherrey is a great athlete. He can cover a lot of space. Braden Skaggs broke his foot in baseball this summer and he will be cleared to play in about a week. He’s a guy we think can help us too,” said the coach. Crumb is a senior while Scherrey is a junior and Skaggs a sophomore.
The starting lineup is largely set for the Bulldogs, admitted Young. “We just have more competition than anything. We’ve got some pieces to the puzzle, we’ve just got to figure out how to put it together. We’ve got a really good young group [of sophomores] and those guys are going to help us by the end of the year. We’ve just got to get them some experience to see where they fit.”
Finally, Young talked about his kickers, another strength for Greenwood over the years. “Our punter is [senior] Noah Jantzen. He’s got a huge leg and he’s an athletic kid. We expect him to get better and better. He’s just going to kick right now, but that could change.” Jantzen started at quarterback as a freshman and spent time at receiver on the varsity team, but was injured much of last year.
“[Senior] Ben Moy is our other punter that has done a great job in the pre-season too,” added the coach. “Moy and Bodie Steinfeldt (a sophomore) are competing for the place-kicking spot. We’re just looking for consistency from those two guys. Whoever does that job the best will win the position. [Sophomore] Stone Dean is our deep snapper and at returner we’ll probably have a combination of guys – Williamson, Daggett, or Kennon. There may be several guys getting reps back there.”
The GHS Top Dog is also glad to have fans returning this season in full force, at least for now. In 2020 the bleachers at Smith-Robinson Stadium were largely empty due to the pandemic and restrictions placed on the gathering of large crowds for the sake of public health. Mostly only family members were allowed to attend while practicing strict social distancing.
“They are going to be able to come back out, and I just think that’s a huge advantage we have,” said Young of the GHS fan base. “We’ve got to pack that stadium. The best thing about football at Greenwood is the fans. We need that atmosphere to return. We need the student section rocking. We need the fans packed in the stands and getting there early and being loud and staying all night. We think that truly helps us win, so we’re excited about the possibility of getting back to Greenwood football.”
Asked if he had hit his stride or found his comfort zone yet as a head coach, Young said, “I think we’re getting closer to a routine, but there’s a lot of putting out fires because things are changing so often. We just have to do a great job of adjusting, but I think it’s things that will help me down the road as a head coach, because there won’t be a tougher year than last year. But I’ve got a great staff and that’s what really helped more than anything. I had a great staff last year and a great staff this year. So I don’t have to do those things by myself. I’ve got 11 other coaches including the junior high that can help me to make the right decisions for our kids.”
Concerning his coaching style, Young said, “I’m probably a little more hands-on with the offense. I’m fortunate to have Coach [Jason] Gill with the defense and I don’t mess with him. He handles that completely and does a great job. He handles the defensive staff and players. And the same with Coach Holloway on special teams. He does what he does, and I trust him and give him the freedom to make those decisions.
“Offensively, I’m a little more involved in the play calling. But the good thing about our offensive staff is we split our offensive coordinator job between Coach Hogan and Coach Moreton. But then we have Coach Holloway too, and I think we’ll be better off because all four of us can call plays. We will do more of a team approach offensively, but I’ll certainly be involved more with the offense.”
In conclusion, the coach answered a question about the new lighting at Smith-Robinson Stadium. “I thought it was great. It’s just another example of our community supporting our kids and giving them what they need. It helps parents [and fans] in the stands be able to see [player’s] numbers, but I think our kids noticed it, just the ability to see the ball in the air.”
The Bulldogs open their 2021 season a week earlier this season on the road Friday night at Muskogee, Oklahoma beginning at 7 p.m. The game will be live streamed on the Internet by the Greenwood Dog Pound with the broadcast starting at 6:30 p.m. Greenwood’s first home game will be the following week against Fort Smith Southside.