So how can we describe the collision between two of the state’s top gridiron programs in the biggest game of the year – the Class 6A state championship game? ‘Clash of the Titans’ comes to mind, and that’s exactly what happened last Saturday night at Little Rock’s War Memorial Stadium. The Greenwood Bulldogs and the Pulaski Academy (P.A.) Bruins tangled in a classic battle of football giants, both schools entering the contest with ten state titles to their names, tied for the most in the modern playoff era. When the proverbial dust settled more than two hours later, the Bruins had escaped with a 42-35 victory over the Bulldogs.
It was the second time this season the two teams had met, with Greenwood hosting and winning their first meeting on October 28th by a score of 33-23, giving the Bulldogs the top spot in the 5A West conference. Both teams earned a bye in the first round of the playoffs and no one was surprised when they both reached the title game. But even more significant, last weekend’s rematch is clearly a preview of things to come in the future.
Don’t be surprised to see these same two teams facing off in the championship game again and again in years to come, which is fine for Greenwood and P.A., but what about the rest of Class 6A? It’s going to be extremely difficult for another team such as Benton, Little Rock Christian, Little Rock Catholic, or El Dorado to topple the twin towers of Greenwood and Pulaski Academy to claim a championship. It will happen occasionally, but it will be the exception, not the rule. The Bulldogs and Bruins are just too good and show no signs of slowing down.
But Greenwood and Pulaski Academy aren’t the only teams that dominate their respective classifications. The Class 7A Bryant Hornets just won their fifth consecutive state title, something that has never happened before in Arkansas playoff history. Other teams have come close to establishing dynasties, schools like Junction City, Harding Academy, Shiloh Christian, Fayetteville, and a few others, but most faded after a few years of dominance. There are just so many factors that figure into the long term success of a football program that it’s hard to sustain over a long period of time.
So for the next few years Greenwood and P.A. fans should sit back and enjoy what they have in the Bulldogs and Bruins, two programs that will likely forever be linked in Class 6A football in Arkansas. Both coaching staffs and their players have a great deal of respect for the other, and both will have their fair share of wins and losses against the other. In 2022 it was Pulaski Academy that had the last word, winning the 6A crown, but next year it could be Greenwood. In their history, the two schools have split their six previous games, 3-3, and each contest was a classic, so stayed tuned.
As for last Saturday, things started off well for the Bulldogs, who won the coin toss and elected to kick to start the contest. But on the game’s third play from scrimmage, a P.A. pass attempt was tipped by Greenwood defensive end Cash Archer before linebacker Kaleb Garner got a piece of it, deflecting it into the hands of defensive back Josh Allen for the interception at the Bruins’ 35-yard-line. All three GHS players involved in the play are underclassmen and will return next season.
On offense, the Bulldogs quickly cashed in on the early turnover. Senior quarterback Hunter Houston completed two passes to receivers Aiden Kennon and L.J. Robins, reaching the 4-yard-line before running back Brayedan Davis scored the game’s first touchdown. Kicker Bodey Steinfeldt added the extra point and Greenwood led 7-0 at the 9:53 mark.
But the Bruins responded quickly, starting from their own 21 after the kickoff, needing ten plays and just over three minutes to reach pay dirt. Running back Kenny Jordan did a lot of the damage against the GHS defense that was playing a three-man front throughout the first half. The Bruins’ junior tailback scored from three yards out and finished the game with nearly 200 yards rushing. However, Kaleb Garner made another big play for Greenwood by stuffing the subsequent two-point conversion attempt by P.A.
Still leading 7-6, the Bulldogs recovered the expected onside kick by the Bruins at midfield and continued firing on all cylinders offensively. They marched 50 yards in nine plays, overcoming a holding penalty and converting a fourth down play to keep the drive alive. The biggest plays of the possession included Houston’s pass to a leaping Isaiah Arrington for 18 yards, an 11-yard toss to Noah Chaser on fourth down, and a screen pass to Grant Karnes for 26 yards. Jake Glover scored from two yards out and Steinfeldt added the PAT, making the score 14-6 (4:29).
A 40-yard pass completion moved the Bruins down the field quickly on their next offensive series before junior quarterback Kel Busby scored from one yard out. But once again the two-point conversion try was stopped by GHS senior safety Storm Scherrey, keeping the score at 14-12 with 2:29 left in the opening period.
The ensuing onside kick sailed out-of-bounds at the Pulaski Academy 49-yard-line, once again giving the Bulldogs excellent field position. Houston found Grant Karnes for a short gain before scrambling for a first down at the P.A. 39. He then dumped a short pass off to running back Jake Glover, who turned the corner and turned on the jets, sprinting away for the touchdown. The extra point was good and the Bulldogs continued to pad their lead, up 21-12 (1:40).
Still, the persistent Bruins kept pace, scoring again on their next possession, driving 71 yards in seven plays, including a 33-yard gallop by P.A.’s Kenny Jordan, followed by another 14-yard romp, setting up the 1-yard touchdown run by Busby early in the second quarter. However, for the third consecutive time the GHS defense was able to thwart the Bruins on their two-point conversion attempt, keeping the score at 21-18. It would be Greenwood’s final lead of the game.
The Bulldogs’ luck finally ran out on their fourth possession of the contest. After recovering another onside kick and advancing the ball deep into Bruins’ territory, the drive ended on a failed fourth down pass play from the 5-yard-line. Four snaps earlier Greenwood had first-and-goal from the 8-yard-line and two snaps after that had third down at the 1-yard-line. Whether poor execution by the offense or great defense by Pulaski Academy, the drive ended in frustration for GHS fans and gave the Bruins a chance to take the lead at halftime.
Nine plays later Pulaski Academy moved ahead for good on a short run by Jordan soon after the Bruins completed a long pass of 50 yards deep into GHS territory. This time Bruins’ Head Coach Anthony Lucas changed his tactics and kicked a conventional extra point to make the score 25-21 at the 3:40 mark of the second quarter.
Back on offense after falling on another onside kick, the Bulldogs were unable to move the ball and were forced to quickly punt the ball away, a short kick to the P.A. 34-yard-line, giving the Bruins a chance to score again before the half ended. Thankfully, in the final seconds, defensive back Brady Mackey intercepted a Bruins’ pass attempt at the 11-yard-line, returning it to the Greenwood 36, ending the threat. The half soon expired.
With a combined 46 points scored in the first half, everyone believed the offensive shootout would continue in the second half, but they were wrong. Neither team scored another point until the fourth quarter as both defenses bared their teeth and dug in their heels. Still, the Bulldogs had their chances but misfired on a couple deep pass plays that could have resulted in scores. P.A. also changed tactics again, dispensing with their onside kick attempts, forcing the GHS offense to drive 70-plus yards to score.
On their opening possession of the half, the Bulldogs drove to the P.A. 16-yard-line but failed on a fourth down pass play, marking their third consecutive series without scoring points. That string would extend to five straight possessions. But to their credit, the GHS defense did their job well, changing formations to slow down P.A.’s running game, forcing the Bruins to punt on their first two second half possessions.
As the contest moved into the fourth quarter, the Bruins finally dented the scoreboard, suddenly choosing to kick a rare field goal instead of going for it on fourth down. The 33-yard kick by John Goodwin was good, pushing the P.A. lead to 28-21 with 10:16 left to play in the game. But the Bulldogs were about to break out of their offensive slump.
Isaiah Arrington returned the kickoff to the GHS 31, setting up the short-lived possession. Jake Glover ran to the 35 before Hunter Houston passed to Grant Karnes to the Pulaski Academy 49. Houston then found Aiden Kennon for a nice gain to the Bruins’ 39 before lofting a deep bomb to L.J. Robins, who hauled in the missile near the 5-yard-line before crossing the goal line for the touchdown. Steinfeldt’s extra point kick tied the score at 28-all with 8:20 remaining.
But that’s when things went sideways for the Bulldogs, giving the Bruins all the momentum they needed to nail down the victory. On their next possession, P.A. completed a 35-yard pass into Greenwood territory, then later got a questionable pass interference call at the GHS 17. Kenny Jordan scored on the next snap, but the extra point try was blocked by GHS senior linebacker Evan Williams, keeping the score at 34-28 (6:35). Time remained for a GHS comeback.
But on the first snap of Greenwood’s next possession, Houston’s pass bounced off the hands of receiver L.J. Robins and into the waiting arms of Pulaski Academy safety Patton Whicker, who returned it about 20 yards to the GHS 9-yard-line. Two snaps later QB Kel Busby scored his third touchdown of the game from four yards out. Kenny Jordan then scored on the two-point conversion, making the tally 42-28 with 5:32 left in the contest.
But after Greenwood’s amazing comeback win over Fort Smith Northside in week two of the regular season, these Bulldogs were not about to give up, and needed only two plays to narrow the Bruins’ lead to just seven points. Grant Karnes returned the kickoff to the 39-yard-line and Houston completed a first down pass to Noah Chaser to the P.A. 44. He then threw deep to Robins for the touchdown and Steinfeldt’s kick pulled the Bulldogs within striking distance at 42-35 with 5:10 left.
Perhaps inspired by their offensive brethren, the GHS defense reared up and slammed the brakes on the Pulaski Academy offense, forcing a quick three-and-out with the punt rolling dead at the Greenwood 20 with just over four minutes left. Plenty of time for a classic Bulldogs’ scoring drive to tie or win the game in regulation or force overtime. But it simply wasn’t meant to be.
Houston’s first pass attempt fell incomplete and his second toss to Karnes reached the 27, bringing up third down. But an untimely procedure penalty pushed the ball back to the 22, making it third-and-eight. Uncharacteristically, the Bulldogs were unable to complete their next two passes and pick up the first down, giving possession back to the Bruins at the GHS 22. P.A. then ran the ball four consecutive times to pick up a first down at the 11 before taking a knee twice to run out the clock.
With the final buzzer the Bruins claimed their fourth consecutive state championship, but their first in Class 6A. Ironically, Greenwood also won a state title in its first year in 6A back in 2012. A quick glance at their rosters reveals that both teams are quite young and many of their top players will return next season, so don’t be surprised to see a rematch in the 2023 championship game.