It took a lot longer than expected, but the Greenwood Jr. Bulldogs finally got their win over Van Buren this past Monday night at Smith-Robinson Stadium. The Freshmen ‘Dogs scored a touchdown in the first half last Thursday before inclement weather moved into the area and forced the suspension of the game with 5:17 left in the second quarter. Fortunately, both teams were able to schedule a makeup date on Monday, and Greenwood eventually won the contest, 28-0.
Greenwood scored on its first offensive possession, on its first play, a long pass play of about 60 yards from quarterback Brayden Brewer to wide receiver Brayden Renick, who raced down the sideline for the touchdown. Kicker Landon Franklin added the extra point for a 7-0 Greenwood lead, and neither team scored again before the weather started moving in. There was one delay of half an hour, then another before the game was called by GHS Athletic Director Chris Young with 5:17 on the second quarter clock.
When play resumed four days later, the Bulldogs had the football at their own 40, and it didn’t take long to score again. Mario Dunbar opened the possession with a 14-yard dash to the Van Buren 46, then ripped off a 20-yard run to the 26. Eighth-grader Drew Dickinson then carried the ball twice to the 10. Two snaps later, Brayden Brewer rolled out to his right and completed an 8-yard pass to another eighth-grader, Braxton Canada, who made the catch on the run and waltzed into the end zone. The point after kick was good, and Greenwood led 14-0 at the 3:37 mark of the second stanza.
The Junior Bulldogs scored again before the half, despite losing a fumble on their next possession. But the defense continued its stellar play, getting the ball back on downs at the home 23-yard-line with just 49 seconds left. A penalty on Van Buren advanced the ball to the 28, then Brewer threw a long pass to receiver Ty Holt to the visitors’ 40-yard-line. Another pass to Bailey Thibodeau reached the 29-yard-line and a short completion to Holt put the ball at the 23. Brewer then found Braxton Canada open in the left side of the end zone for the score. Franklin’s kick was good, and Greenwood led 21-0 at the break.
Late in the third period the Bulldogs took over at their own 48 after fair catching a Van Buren punt with 1:16 showing on the clock. Brewer passed to Canada on first down to the visitors’ 43 then connected with Thibideau to the 32. Two snaps later, Brewer kept the ball around the right side to the 9-yard-line, a 22-yard gallop on the final play of the period.
Mario Dunbar then ran twice to the 4-yard-line before following the left side of the o-line into the end zone. Landon Franklin’s kick was good, and Greenwood led 28-0 with 7:13 left to play, with the defense completing the Freshmen ‘Dogs’ second shutout of the season. They earlier defeated Prairie Grove, 49-0, also at Smith-Robinson Stadium.
After Monday’s game, Head Coach Luke Hales praised his team for their effort, starting with the defense, despite the unusual circumstances of the suspended game. “O my goodness,” said Hales. “A shutout. Coach [Eric] Daniel did an awesome job preparing those guys and making some adjustments with the split game. It was kind of a weird deal [but] we made some adjustments over the weekend. Our kids were prepared. They played hard. They tackled. They lined up. I was incredibly proud of our defense and the shutout.”
The coach also agreed that suspending the game last Thursday was the right call. “We had to,” he said. “We didn’t have a choice. I’m just glad we got to play it against a good quality team like Van Buren. We needed that. To deal with some adversity was good for our team,” he added.
As for individual defensive players, Hales said, “I think Jacob Berry is always a standout on defense, and Griffin Mourton – we moved him down to a linebacker position – is doing a real good job for us.” Berry is the 6’5” defensive end that has played havoc with opposing offensives this season and Mourton was formerly a defensive back.
Offensively, the coach said, “I think [quarterback] Brayden Brewer had a really good night, and the offensive line up front. [They] did a really good job. We ran it behind [linemen] Charlie Hudnall a couple times and Hunter Wallace and Ethan Shumate really got some movement.”
The Freshman Bulldogs had a quick turnaround after Monday’s conference win, traveling to Sallisaw, Oklahoma, on Thursday for their only non-conference game of the season. They will travel to Harrison next Thursday for a conference showdown with the Junior Goblins before returning home on October 12th to host Siloam Springs. All remaining games this season will be conference affairs and Greenwood plays three of its last four contests at home.