It’s been a crazy season for the GHS freshmen Bulldogs, with three games either cancelled or postponed during the first seven weeks of play. But they finally returned to action this past Monday, eleven days after their last game at Pea Ridge. Still, despite the weird schedule, the Jr. Bulldogs have maintained their high level of play and remain unbeaten at 6-0. They will get a chance to improve to 7-0 on Thursday when they travel to Harrison for their second game in four days.
Monday’s opponent was the Jr. Grizzlies of Fort Smith Northside, making up for the game lost due to inclement weather and lightning on September 30th. Earlier this season Greenwood defeated Northside, 49-21, in a non-conference affair at Smith-Robinson Stadium. This week’s River Valley Conference game also went Greenwood’s way, 48-14.
The Bulldogs dominated the game early, building a 28-0 lead until a late first-half touchdown by the Grizzlies broke the shutout. Northside also scored early in the third quarter to briefly make it competitive at 28-14, until Greenwood scored three unanswered touchdowns in just over eight minutes to claim its 17th victory in a row dating back to the last game of the 2019 season. The freshmen ‘Dogs went undefeated (10-0) in 2020 and remain so this season.
Ironically, the RVC contest was played at Jim Rowland Stadium on the campus of Fort Smith Southside. Greenwood and Southside were originally scheduled to play a junior varsity game on Monday, but it was cancelled, opening the door for the Greenwood-Northside junior high matchup rather than at Mayo-Thompson Stadium on the Northside campus. And why not? Nothing about this season’s schedule has been predictable or orderly.
But there was nothing confusing or chaotic about Greenwood’s offense in the first half against the Grizzlies. The visiting Bulldogs scored on four of their first five possessions, failing to do so only once due to a turnover. As usual, Greenwood relied on a strong running game and the talents of eighth-grade quarterback Kane Archer and a bevy of sure-handed receivers to get the job done.
The offensive line provided the needed protection for Archer and opened holes for the running game. Individually, besides Archer’s good work, Greenwood offensive standouts included Grant Karnes, Jeremy Lawyer, and Samuel Burton. Defensively, the Jr. ‘Dogs had a trio of pass interceptions and racked up numerous plays for losses.
The visitors received the opening kickoff, returned 21 yards to the Greenwood 37 by Paul Brixey. On first down, Archer dumped the ball off to receiver Grant Karnes, who made the catch and reached the Northside 45. Two snaps later Archer threw to Karnes again for 14 yards to the 31, then again to the 13 for another first down.
Next, tailback Jeremy Lawyer ran to the 8-yard-line before Archer carried to the five. After a Northside penalty and a short gain by Samuel Burton, Archer executed a nice fake and practically walked into the end zone for the game’s first touchdown. Kicker Zachery Edwards added the extra point, making the score 7-0 at the 5:43 mark of the period.
Northside’s first offensive possession ended quickly with a punt to the 50-yard-line, giving Archer and Company excellent field position, and they didn’t waste it, scoring in six plays. The first of those was a run by Samuel Burton to the Northside 44, followed by a 10-yard scramble by Archer to the 34. The eighth grader then rolled out to his right and located his older brother, Cash, for a completion to the 16. Lawyer then carried to the 3-yard-line before Archer threw to Karnes for the touchdown two snaps later. The kick by Edwards was good, making it 14-0 (2:42).
Starting with good field position after a nice kick return, the Grizzlies went for broke on fourth-and-seven from their own 42, but the pass was incomplete, giving the ball back to the Bulldogs, and they made quick work of their third scoring drive.
After an incomplete pass and a penalty that pushed the ball back to the 50, Archer passed to Grant Karnes on the right sideline on the third play of the possession. The dynamic freshman receiver did the rest with his legs, racing down the Greenwood sideline, eluding tacklers all the way for the touchdown. But the extra point try was partially blocked, leaving the score at 20-0 early in the second quarter (7:28).
The Greenwood defense forced another quick Northside punt, but the two teams then traded turnovers in a span of less than a minute. Greenwood coughed up a fumble and the Grizzlies threw a pass interception picked off by Kaylor Jasna near midfield. From the Northside 48, the Jr. ‘Dogs put together a nine-play series that resulted in their fourth score.
On first down, Jasna caught a short pitch-pass and reached the Northside 37. Three snaps later Archer hooked up with Jackson Cole for 12 yards to the 22. Two plays later Lawyer got five yards to the 17 before Archer carried to the 8-yard-line. Lawyer then ran for the touchdown around the right side before Edwards’ kick made the score 28-0.
But with 2:06 remaining in the half, the Grizzlies had just enough time to get on the scoreboard. Starting from their own 33 after the kickoff, the Bears needed seven plays and nearly two minutes to score, aided somewhat by a personal foul penalty on Greenwood good for 15 yards. The touchdown came on an 11-yard lob pass into the end zone. The kick was good.
Northside also received the opening kick of the third quarter, and a long touchdown pass of 60 yards momentarily made the score look respectable at 28-14. But that margin didn’t last long as the visitors scored on their next three possessions to put the game away and notch their third conference victory of the season.
Greenwood’s next score came at the end of a nine-play drive that started at the Bulldogs’ 26-yard-line. Grant Karnes carried on first down to the 42, but a penalty on the next snap pushed the ball all the way back to the GHS 35. Jeremy Lawyer then ran to the 45, and again to the 50. Samuel Burton reached the Northside 46, then Archer passed to Karnes to the 37 and Archer ran to the 32. Karnes caught another pass to the 18 and Archer scrambled around the left side for the touchdown, getting a nice block from Zachery Edwards along the way. The extra point was good, making the score 35-14 (4:27).
After another defensive stand forced a Northside punt, the Greenwood offense was back on the field and scored in just four plays. From the visitors’ 31-yard-line, Jeremy Lawyer ran to the 39, then again to the 45, and a third time to the Northside 35, plowing through the Grizzlies defensive line. Kane Archer then lofted a deep pass downfield and into the waiting arms of receiver Daniel Burton at the 5-yard-line and into the end zone for the touchdown. The extra point kick was good with 1:21 left in the third quarter.
Trailing 42-14, the Grizzlies went to the air on the first play of the fourth stanza, and Greenwood’s Kaylor Jasna intercepted the ball at the Northside 40, his second pick of the game, returning it to the 12-yard-line, setting up the Bulldogs’ final score. It came three snaps later when Kane Archer threw to his brother Cash for the 1-yard catch-and-score. That same combo also connected on first down for 11 yards to make the touchdown all but certain. At the 6:45 mark of the fourth quarter, the extra point failed, leaving the score at 48-14.
The remaining highlight for the Bulldogs included a final defensive stand and a third interception. The Grizzlies used up most of the remaining time on a last-ditch effort to score again, but came up short when Greenwood’s Scott Holland picked off a pass in the end zone with 1:21 left to play. The Bulldogs then ran out the remaining time.