For the second time in eight days the Greenwood Bulldogs relied on a strong second half defensive performance to overcome an upset-minded opponent. Last week’s victim was El Dorado, 52-24 losers to the ‘Dogs, before Siloam Springs suffered a similar fate this past Friday, falling 43-13 after trailing by just two points at the half, 15-13.
Both contests were conference games, and both were played at Greenwood’s Smith-Robinson Stadium. The 30-point victory pushed Greenwood’s season mark to 6-0 overall, 3-0 in the 6A West. Last Friday was also homecoming for Greenwood, with all the festivities conducted before kickoff.
With the game time temperature hovering around 50 degrees, it was also the first time this season the Bulldogs have enjoyed real “football weather”. Fans were attired in coats, jackets, hats, hoodies, and toboggans to stay warm. After a first half that was essentially a draw, the Greenwood defense took charge with a shutout performance in the second half.
The GHS offense went right to work on the game’s opening possession, driving 67 yards in 13 plays, taking 3:27 off the clock. Caden Brown returned the kickoff to the 24, then caught the game’s first pass from Jace Presley to the 33.
Aaron Ligon and Hunter Wilkinson carried once each, moving the ball to the 40 before Presley passed to Lazaro Angel at the 48 for another first down. Two snaps later Presley found Treyton Dawson for a 10-yard pickup to the Siloam Springs’ 39. Presley then scrambled to the 27.
Wilkinson carried the ball on the next five plays, the last one from behind center on a direct snap that led to a one-yard touchdown. Kicker Jackson Stewart booted the extra point for a 7-0 GHS lead (8:33).
But the Panthers punched right back, driving 82 yards in just seven plays to tie the score at seven-all. The biggest play of the drive was a well-thrown pass from quarterback Taylor Pool to receiver Gage Weaver, who made the catch and added a nice run to the Greenwood 6-yard-line. Weaver also caught the touchdown pass three snaps later. The PAT was good with 6:40 showing on the first quarter clock.
The ‘Dogs punted on their next possession, but the defense held and the Panthers were also forced to give up the football. However, the snap was high and the punter had to fall on the ball at the visitors’ 24-yard-line. Three plays later the GHS offense cashed in on that mistake with their second touchdown.
After Wilkinson ran for two yards on first down, Presley was forced out of the pocket and scrambled before sliding down at the 13 for a first down. Then on the next snap he lofted a well-placed pass into the corner of the end zone to Dawson for the touchdown. The ‘Dogs then lined up for a two-point conversion, a pass from Presley to Peyton Carter (3:52).
Leading 15-7, the GHS defense forced a punt on the Panthers’ next possession. But after a GHS drive died on fourth down, the visitors took over at their own 23. A penalty quickly sent them back to their own 15, but it hardly made a difference as they needed just five plays to score.
The combination of Pool and Weaver hooked up for a 40-yard completion to energize the possession. The touchdown came three plays later on a pass from Pool to receiver Tate Criner for 27 yards. But the two-point try failed, leaving the Bulldogs on top, 15-13.
The remaining 9:24 of the second quarter was spent primarily on the visitors’ end of the field, but neither team was able to score again. Stewart launched a beautiful punt that was expertly covered by his teammates at the Siloam Springs’ 1-yard-line, and the defense did its best to come up with a safety on first and second down, to no avail.
A pass interference penalty then gave the Panthers some breathing room at their own 15, but they finally had to punt, giving the ball back to the GHS offense near midfield, except for a controversial call by the officials.
They flagged the Bulldogs for defensive holding prior to the kick, giving Siloam Springs a first down and allowing the Panthers to maintain possession. Greenwood Head Coach Rick Jones was clearly upset with the ruling and conferred with the officials for a long time, but the call stood.
The Bulldogs did get the football back with 2:58 remaining, but Presley gave up his first interception of the season to end the possession, sending both teams to their dressing rooms with a 15-13 score at the half.
Just like the week before against El Dorado, the Bulldogs owned the second half, mostly due to excellent work by the defense, holding Siloam Springs to a handful of meaningless first downs and little more than 100 yards of offense over the final two quarters. At the same time the GHS offense scored on its first four possessions to put the game away.
Taking a bit of a risk on their opening drive, the Panthers were stopped on fourth down at mid-field when Greenwood senior linebacker Garrett Newman made a tackle for a loss at the Bulldogs’ 46. Seven plays later the Bulldogs were celebrating in the end zone.
Wilkinson ran for eight yards on first down, then got eight more and moved the sticks, reaching the Panthers’ 38. Presley passed to Peyton Carter for five yards, before the senior QB ran for five more to the 28. Wilkinson then rambled for 12 yards to the 16. Two snaps later Presley passed to Carter for the 16-yard TD. The kick by Stewart was good.
The defense stifled the visitors on their next possession, forcing a three-and-out punt, giving the GHS offense the ball once again at the home 46. But this time it took just four plays to score and expand the lead.
Wilkinson ran for seven yards, then Aaron Ligon rumbled for 12 more to the visitors’ 35. After a short gain by Wilkinson to the 32, Presley passed to Treyton Dawson for a touchdown. The extra point made the score 29-13 with 5:17 remaining in the third quarter.
Just over four minutes later Greenwood scored again after a turnover by the Panthers. Sophomore defensive back Colin Daggett intercepted a Siloam Springs’ pass near mid-field, giving the Bulldogs the football on the visitors’ side of the field at the 43.
Presley passed to Lazaro Angel for 12 yards on first down, but a holding penalty and a quarterback sack soon pushed the ball back to the 46-yard-line. Facing third-and-25, Wilkinson ran for a nice gain to the 33, setting up fourth-and-12. Presley then completed a first down pass to senior Justice Randolph, reaching the 14.
Aaron Ligon scored on the next snap after a strong second effort. Jackson Stewart’s kick was good with 1:12 left in the third quarter, putting Greenwood up 36-13 and taking away any hope for a Panthers’ comeback.
Greenwood’s final score came just over two minutes later after another defensive stand by the Bulldogs, stuffing a fourth down play by the Panthers at the GHS 46. The score came just two plays later, both on the ground.
Wilkinson ran for seven yards on first down. Presley then gave to Aaron Ligon, who found a seam in the defense and bolted 47 yards down the middle of the field for the touchdown. Stewart’s kick made the final score 43-13.
The remaining 10:42 of the fourth quarter were not totally uneventful. Greenwood junior Jayden Jasna returned a punt for a touchdown a short time later, but an illegal blocking penalty negated the score. Siloam Springs then recovered a Greenwood fumble, but neither team scored again as time expired.
“I was pleased the way we played in the second half,” said Coach Jones after the game. “[But] I wasn’t very happy with the first half. We threw our first [interception] of the year. We gave up some big plays defensively, and offensively we weren’t running [well]. We have to be better running the football, and we’re going to get better one way or the other.”
Jones agreed that the running game was better in the second half, saying, “Coach [Brian] Sims and Coach [Chris] Young made a few adjustments with the guys up front and we had a little better plan,” said Jones.
The coach also spoke highly of the Panthers. “Those guys are going to hang in there and play hard as long as they think they’ve got a chance,” he said. “You have to squash their hopes as soon as you can, and we took way too long to do it tonight.
“[But] it’s not supposed to be easy,” he added. “You’re not supposed to go in at halftime up 35 [points] every week. It’s a challenge each week. We just need to get better every week.
“[Siloam Springs] did well. They had a good plan,” said Jones. “Defensively, they gave us a little different look. I thought Coach [Brandon] Craig and his staff did a really good job. I give those guys all the credit. They made plays.”
Asked about senior running back Aaron Ligon, who had his best game this season, Coach Jones had words of high praise. “Aaron is a guy who does everything you ask him to do. He works tremendously hard. He has a great attitude about everything. He’s an awesome kid. We love him to death. Both of our running backs are hard-working good kids. We just have to get more holes for them.”
The Bulldogs have only one remaining home game over the final four weeks of the regular season. Next Friday they travel to Russellville to face the 1-5 Cyclones, 42-7 losers to Lake Hamilton last Friday. Russellville’s head coach is former GHS assistant Jeff Weaver.
Greenwood will then travel to Benton on October 25th in what could be a showdown for the 6A West conference title. Though the Panthers are just 3-3 on the season, their three losses were to Bryant, Arkadelphia, and Cabot, all among the top teams in the state. However, Benton defeated Siloam Springs by just two points, 28-26.
The last home game for Greenwood will be against Sheridan on November 1st. The Yellowjackets are enjoying something of a resurgence on the gridiron with a 4-2 record. They defeated El Dorado 41-26 last Friday, but lost to Siloam Springs earlier by a score of 28-27.
The final game of the regular season is also shaping up to be a big one, on the road at Lake Hamilton on November 8th. Like Greenwood, the Wolves are unbeaten through six games and could be playing the Bulldogs for the league title and one of the top four seeds in the playoffs.