If there was any doubt about the legitimacy of Greenwood’s ranking as the state’s top football power in Class 6A, it was dispelled by last Friday’s 52-21 drubbing of the El Dorado Wildcats (4-1, 1-1) by the unbeaten Bulldogs (5-0, 2-0). El Dorado has been ranked #2 in Class 6A all season.
The game was significant for other reasons beyond bragging rights for #1. The win gave Greenwood the upper hand in the conference race and made the Bulldogs the odds-on favorite to claim the league’s top seed in the post-season, which would include a bye in the opening round of the playoffs.
In fact, Friday’s contest might have been a preview of the 6A state title game in December. A Greenwood-El Dorado rematch is a real possibility. Last season the Bulldogs defeated the ‘Cats in the regular season, and again in the second round of the playoffs. If they meet again in 2017 it could well be in the championship game.
But the regular season is only half over and there are still meaningful and difficult games ahead for the Bulldogs and Wildcats. Both teams must still face the Benton Panthers (4-1, 2-0) in conference play, not to mention potential playoff teams like Jonesboro (4-1), West Memphis (5-0), and Pine Bluff (4-1) from the 6A East.
Greenwood’s Grant Ennis booted the opening kick into the end zone to start Friday’s contest, but four snaps later the Wildcats punted back to the Bulldogs, who needed just seven plays to score the first of their season-high 52 points. The big three – QB Connor Noland, running back Kenny Wood, and receiver Peyton Holt – did all the damage behind an improving offensive line.
Wood ran three times to start the series, advancing the ball from the GHS 26 to the 45. Noland then threw a swing pass to Holt for big yardage all the way to the El Dorado 23 and another first down. A short pass completion and a holding penalty on Greenwood put the ball at the Wildcats’ 28, setting up the touchdown play.
Throwing into double coverage, Noland lofted a beautiful pass just over the defense and into the grasp of Peyton Holt, who made a great catch while falling into the right side of the end zone across the goal line. Ennis added the extra point for a 7-0 GHS lead with 8:59 showing on the first quarter clock.
Moments later, another three-and-out by El Dorado put the ball right back into the hands of the red-hot Greenwood offense. The punt left the Bulldogs in great field position at the visitors’ 48-yard-line, and this time the touchdown drive consisted of five plays.
Facing third-and-nine at the 47, Noland and Holt hooked up once again for a big gainer to the 24, moving the sticks. Wood then ran for 17 yards to the seven fighting through contact for the last several yards. Wood then ran untouched off right tackle for the touchdown. The kick was good for a 14-0 GHS lead (6:37).
Facing a potential blowout early, the Wildcats’ offense finally woke up and marched 78 yards for their first score on the 16th play of the drive. A 15-yard penalty on Greenwood helped, and the ‘Cats converted a pair of fourth down situations on their way to the end zone. QB Darius Holly scored on a 1-yard run and the extra point cut the Greenwood lead in half at 14-7 (:52).
The Bulldogs fumbled on their next possession at their own 35, temporarily halting the team’s momentum, but the defense held and forced another quick punt by the Wildcats, who downed the ball at the GHS 2-yard-line. But with the game moving into the second quarter, the Bulldogs engineered one of their most impressive scoring drives of the season – 98 yards in 13 plays.
A seven-yard pass completion to Holt at the 13 moved the first down marker and gave Connor Noland and his crew some space to operate. Kenny Wood then ran twice for 19 yards to the 32 and another first down before Noland threw twice to Holt, reaching the El Dorado 46. A 15-yard scramble by Noland later moved the ball to the 30.
Wood then had a pair of big runs, the second of which went for 19 yards to the 2-yard-line. The defense stiffened momentarily, but Wood scored the touchdown two snaps later from inside the 1. The kick by Ennis was good for a 21-7 Greenwood lead (8:14).
Good defense and a quarterback sack by Greenwood left the Wildcats punting from their own 15 on their next possession. The kick sailed out-of-bounds at the El Dorado 43, giving the Bulldogs excellent field position once again, and they were quick to capitalize.
Kenny Wood got the call on first down, taking the handoff from Noland on the short side of the field in front of the El Dorado bench. Following his blockers, Wood found a crease in the defense and sprinted down the sideline for the 43-yard TD run. The kick was good and with 7:10 remaining in the first half the Bulldogs were comfortably ahead, 28-7.
But there was much more scoring to come. The Wildcats punted on their next possession and Greenwood took over at its own 30, looking to increase its lead before the half. But after driving inside the visitors’ 20-yard-line, Noland was intercepted by El Dorado’s Mon-Tre Marshall, who rumbled 85 yards down the GHS sideline for a touchdown, cutting the GHS lead to 28-14 (1:45) and keeping the Wildcats in the game.
But the Bulldogs responded immediately, though they ultimately ran out of time and had to settle for a field goal. Starting at their own 34 after the kickoff, the ‘Dogs utilized their timeouts and ran eight plays, including two carries by Wood for 15 yards, a pair of runs by Noland for 11 yards, and a trio of pass completions for 36 yards, with Wood making two of those catches.
From the 20-yard-line with two ticks remaining, holder Kade Orlicek deftly handed a high snap and the kick by Ennis was good from 37 yards as time expired. A personal foul was called on El Dorado for roughing the snapper, with the penalty assessed on the second half kickoff. The two teams then left the field at halftime with Greenwood leading 31-14.
The penalty hurt the Wildcats, allowing for a good kick return by Greenwood’s Aaron Ohl to the El Dorado 39-yard-line, a 30-yard return. A pair of short passes to Holt moved the ball to the 26 for a first down before Noland scrambled to the 18. Wood then ran for 12 yards and Noland kept for the six-yard TD run. Ennis added the extra point for a 38-14 lead (10:50).
A pair of punts followed before an El Dorado fumble was recovered by Greenwood’s Camden Hall at the Wildcats’ 16-yard-line, setting up another Bulldogs’ touchdown just three plays later. After Holt and reserve running back Jackson Webb combined for seven yards to the nine, Wood returned to the field and with great second effort, bouncing off contact at the five, reached the end zone (5:09). The kick was good.
Leading 45-14, the Bulldogs were in firm control of the game. But the Wildcats continued to play hard, driving to the GHS 30 before giving the ball up on downs at the 35. The Bulldogs then proceeded to march for their final touchdown in 10 plays.
A swing pass from Noland to Wood reached the 46, and a pass to Kade Orlicek was good for 20 yards to the Wildcats’ 34 and another first down. Wood ran for 11 yards before a penalty pushed the ball back to the 28. A defensive holding penalty also helped, moving the ball to the 18 before Wood ran to the 14.
The drive seemed to stall after a penalty and a play for lost yardage. But as the game moved into the fourth quarter, facing fourth-and-18, Noland scrambled to buy time and somehow found Kenny Wood in the far right back corner of the end zone for the TD catch in traffic. The extra point by Ennis was good, making the score 52-14 (11:45).
The remaining highlight for the Bulldogs was a pass interception by senior linebacker Camden Beshears, but the first team offense did not return to the field for Greenwood. The Wildcats scored on the game’s last play against the Bulldogs’ second team defense, and the extra point made the final score 52-21.
Statistically, it was another big game for the GHS offense, rolling up 291 yards rushing and 243 yards passing for 534 total yards. Kenny Wood had 223 yards rushing on 26 carries, while Noland completed 20 of 25 pass attempts, 13 of which went to Peyton Holt for 143 yards. Wood also had five catches for 71 yards.
Halfway through the regular season, Wood has 755 yards rushing, Noland has 1125 yards passing with 15 touchdowns, and Holt has 42 receptions for 566 yards. Wood also has 17 catches for 233 yards.
Defensively, Jon Womack led the team with eight tackles, seven assisted. Hunter Webb had six tackles, five assisted, while Dawson James also had six, four assisted. Luke Johnson had five assisted tackles.
GHS Head Coach Rick Jones was pleased with his team’s performance, except for the two turnovers. After addressing his team on the field following the game, he also spoke to the media.
“I thought we played well,” said Jones. “We came out in the third quarter and got some [good] field position with the penalty and we were able to cash it in. We were rolling, and the only people stopping us was us. But [El Dorado] has a really good football team. They’re well-coached. Their kids play hard and tough and clean. It was a hard-fought game and we were able to execute.”
Jones was asked about the offensive line, which was something of a concern in the spring and pre-season. “The offensive line is getting better,” said the coach. “We’re not perfect, but I think the guys are getting better. We played seven different guys and we’re probably going to play eight when it’s all said and done. We like to roll them in like we do on defense to keep them fresh.”
As for a potential rematch, Jones said, “We did the same thing last year with El Dorado down there, and then played them in the playoffs and had to fight and scratch for every inch we got. So, we know how this thing works. We just have to get ready to go to work on Monday and get better. We’re probably going to play them again. I wouldn’t be a bit surprised.”
Jones also continues to praise his defense and the kickoff unit. “They’re playing well,” he said of his defense, which has allowed just 73 points through five games or less than 15 points per game, and not all of those were scored on the starting defensive unit.
“Our kickoff team has [also] been phenomenal,” he said. “I’m so proud of those guys. They take great pride in it. We’re pinning them deep and making [teams] go 80, and it’s a struggle.
“I thought we had a great plan,” he added. “Coach [Offensive Coordinator Chris] Young and Coach [Jason] Gill and Coach [Kenneth] Chick on the defensive side. I was just real excited about our plan. We mixed in a lot of [different] personnel and made a lot of substitutions. We didn’t execute as well as I thought we would, but we’re doing some good things.”
As for the state of the conference race just two games into the league schedule, Jones said, “It doesn’t really matter who it is, because next week’s game is every bit as important as this week’s game. It’s good to get the win [over] El Dorado, because I know they’re going to be one of the contenders. [Coach] Scott [Reed] does a great job. They have great tradition. [We] just have to keep driving and keep grinding. No one says it’s going to be easy.”
The Bulldogs will host the Siloam Springs Panthers this coming Friday and the game will serve as Greenwood’s 2017 football homecoming, with Queen Gracen Gill and her court being introduced during pre-game festivities. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
The ‘Dogs will then play three of their final four conference games on the road at Russellville, Benton, and Lake Hamilton. Greenwood’s last regular season home game will be October 27th against Sheridan.