It’s a remarkable accomplishment, even for junior high football, but the Greenwood freshman starting defense hasn’t allowed the opposition to score a single point in 16 quarters, or the equivalent of four games. They turned in yet another sterling performance last Thursday in a 35-6 win over visiting Pea Ridge.
The Jr. Blackhawks are the newest members of the River Valley Conference (RVC), but had only marginally more luck scoring than Greenwood’s previous three opponents. Their only touchdown came in the game’s final minute with the starting defense standing idle on the home sideline. Altogether, the Jr. Bulldogs have given up just 18 points all season through five games.
After surrendering 12 points to Shiloh Christian in their season opener, the Jr. Bulldogs won 40-0 over Russellville, 36-0 over Fort Smith Chaffin, and 49-0 over Fort Smith Kimmons before welcoming Pea Ridge to the league last week. Greenwood’s defensive scoreless streak extended to almost 18 full quarters before giving up that late touchdown.
All the home scoring took place in the first half of the game, and the implementation of the mercy rule ensured that the second half would fly by very quickly, and it did, with both teams playing their reserves.
Greenwood offensive coordinator Josh Holloway was in charge for the second straight week with Head Coach Shannon Rhea recently sidelined due to possible exposure to Covid-19. The virus scare temporarily halted the season for both seventh grade teams, costing them a couple of games each. The eighth grade game last week was also cancelled by Pea Ridge. Thankfully, the younger grades have now resumed practice and will return to action next week.
As for Thursday’s game, Greenwood’s Austin Mitchell returned the opening kick to the home 40. Two snaps later, quarterback Slade Dean connected with receiver Noah Chaser for a nice gain to the Pea Ridge 42. It worked so well that the same play was called to the other side of the field, reaching the 36. Dean then executed a short pitch pass to Mitchell, who raced around right end and down the sideline for the game’s first touchdown. Kicker Bodie Steinfeldt added the extra point.
The Jr. Blackhawks got a huge run on their first offensive snap of the game, covering 55 yards. But that proved to be the bulk of their entire offensive production in the first half. Greenwood cornerback Josh Ligon ran down the ball carrier to prevent the touchdown. Moments later, fellow defensive back Landon Nelms picked off a desperation fourth down pass at the Greenwood 10-yard-line.
Back on offense, the Jr. ‘Dogs didn’t take long to score again – just two plays. Quarterback Slade Dean ran a draw for three yards to the 13, then threw to Austin Mitchell near the 27. The Greenwood receiver made the catch over the middle and outran the defense to the end zone. Steinfeldt added the extra point for a 14-0 lead.
Another defensive stand by the Bulldogs forced a Pea Ridge punt, giving Greenwood the ball at its own 40, even after suffering a penalty on the kick return. As the game moved into the second quarter, the home team needed six plays to score again, with Dean himself responsible for a 35-yard QB scramble to the visitors’ 15-yard-line. He also completed a 10-yard pass to his twin brother, Stone, before running back Bryce Williams scored three plays later from five yards out.
After the extra point, Greenwood’s lead was 21-0 and growing, and the home defense continued to clamp down on Pea Ridge. Another three-and-out by the visiting offense ended with a punt from their own end zone, returned from the 33 to the 24-yard-line by Greenwood’s Braden Skaggs. One play later the Jr. ‘Dogs were in the end zone again.
On first down, Dean passed to receiver Eli Whitaker at the 19, who then eluded the defense with a nifty 360-degree spin move at the 15 before sprinting to the end zone. Steinfeldt added his fourth extra point of the game for a 28-0 Greenwood lead midway through the second quarter.
The Jr. ‘Dogs’ final score came moments later after another defensive stand forced a Pea Ridge punt out-of-bounds at the home 35-yard-line. New quarterback Cole Kindle then smoothly guided his teammates on an 8-play drive to score the team’s fifth touchdown before the break, invoking the mercy rule for the second half.
Kindle passed to Josh Ligon for seven yards before running back L.J. Robins rumbled for 21 yards to the Pea Ridge 37. After a short gain, a penalty, and a snap for no gain, Greenwood faced a fourth down at the 41. Kindle then connected with Braden Skaggs for a completion to the 24, moving the sticks. Kindle’s pass over the middle to Peyton Presson on the next snap resulted in a touchdown, and Steinfeldt’s extra point made the score 35-0.
With the mercy rule in play, the second half went by quickly, and the Blackhawks finally managed to score against Greenwood’s defensive reserves very late in the fourth quarter. A two-point conversion try failed, making the final 35-6.
Defensive players for Greenwood seen on the field at various times in the first half included Josh Ligon, Kaleb Garner, Caden Nelms, Josh Allen, Andrew Bass, Stone Dean, Bryce Williams, Brady Mackey, Landon Nelms, Braden Skaggs, Cameron Green, Cooper McCombs, Eli Whitaker, Peyton Presson, Riley White, L.J. Robins, Brayden Davis, Braxton Davis, Brenden Chick, Isaiah Niles, and Austin Mitchell, among others. That many players are a testament to Greenwood’s defensive depth, and several of those players also see time on offense.
Overall, the Junior Bulldogs have outscored their opponents by a huge margin this season, 195 to 18. And while Coach Rhea has been cleared to return to duty, offensive coordinator Josh Holloway served as acting head coach for the last two games. Eric Daniel is the defensive coordinator and Brian Sims is the junior high line coach. Varsity head coach Chris Young raved about his junior high staff in his weekly post-game comments on Saturday morning.
“I think our junior high coaches have done an awesome job this year,” he said. “They’ve won every game they’ve played so far in seventh, eighth, and ninth grades. They’re doing a great job preparing and coaching our kids. They’ve also done a great job winning the right way. They’ve been way up [in scoring], and it’s allowed them to give a lot of kids a lot of playing time. I just appreciate the way they are handling themselves and showing great sportsmanship.
“Offensively and defensively, those guys are doing a great job, Coach Holloway with the offense and Coach Daniel with the defense. Our kids are so well-prepared at the junior high level. I don’t think there’s been a close game this year. We’re just thankful for the staff we have down there. I can’t say enough good things about what they are doing.”
As for the recent Covid-19 scare that shut down the two seventh grade teams and cancelled one eighth grade game, Young said, “Everybody is now good to go. Coach Rhea was back Thursday night and it was great to have him back. He does a great job leading our junior high staff and our football team. Coach Holloway was the interim head coach for a couple weeks, but Coach Rhea is back and has resumed his head coaching duties.
“They had an extra practice this morning [Saturday]. Our junior high staff brought [the players] in just to give them another day to get back in shape and back into the swing of things before they play again on Tuesday. Right now, we are full go with all levels of football,” said the varsity head coach.
Asked about the off-season move that shifted Brian Sims from the varsity staff to the junior high, Young was effusive in his praise. “It is unbelievable the difference in our junior high offensive line and the job Coach Sims has done. I bet they score on 80% of their possessions. Our offensive line has been outstanding.
“I am thrilled with the job Coach Sims has done,” continued Young. “He is a huge asset to us on Friday nights as well. He’s one of the smartest offensive line coaches I’ve ever been around. He can really see it and understands it. We’re tickled that he is with us. It’s a huge advantage for our junior high staff to have a guy with his knowledge.
“Three of those guys are former [varsity] head coaches (Rhea, Daniel, Sims). We’ve got an outstanding junior high staff and we’re fortunate to have them. They are doing an outstanding job week in and week out, putting our kids in a great position to be successful,” he concluded.
This week the Jr. Bulldogs will host Van Buren on Thursday at 6 p.m. at Smith-Robinson Stadium. Three road games will follow, two of those in Fort Smith against Ramsey and Darby junior highs before a trip to Alma on October 29th. Greenwood will close out its regular season by hosting Harrison on November 5th. That game will likely decide the RVC championship.