For the second consecutive week the Greenwood Bulldogs have shut out an opponent. After clobbering the Clarksville Panthers a week earlier, 58-0, the Dogs returned to Smith-Robinson Stadium to demolish the Alma Airedales last Friday evening, 56-0. With the victory the Bulldogs improved to 8-2 this season, having won eight straight games after starting 0-2.
Greenwood seems to be firing on all cylinders as the regular season ends and the playoffs are about to start. The Bulldogs will remain at home as long as they continue winning with possibly three more games at Smith-Robinson Stadium after winning their 82nd consecutive home game last Friday. That impressive streak extends all the way back to the last game of the 2014 season, a playoff loss to El Dorado. Greenwood will host Pine Bluff next Friday in the first round of the playoffs.
Renewed rivalry; same old results
Last Friday’s contest with Alma was special for several reasons. It was senior night for the Bulldogs, with a host of seniors being honored before the game, along with their families. It was also the regular season and 5A West conference finale, and the opponent was an old familiar rival, though the two teams had not met on the gridiron since 2017.
Alma once dominated the rivalry under legendary head coach Frank Vines throughout the 1980s and 90s. But that began to change with the arrival of Head Coach Rick Jones, who led the Bulldogs for 16 seasons (2004-2019) and lost only once to the Airedales, in his inaugural season. Greenwood never lost again to Alma before the Bulldogs moved up to Class 6A in 2012 and the Airedales cancelled their non-conference series with the Bulldogs after the 2017 season.
But now the Bulldogs are back in Class 5A, and no one could be more unhappy about that fact than the Alma Airedales, who are trying to regain their former glory under first-year head coach Jeremie Burns, an Alma alum who graduated in 1991 and played for Coach Vines. The Airedales are the #3 seed from the West and will travel to Hot Springs Lakeside next Friday. In case you are wondering, Greenwood and Alma could only meet again this season in the state finals at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock on December 5th. That’s a very remote possibility.
The Airedales came into last Friday’s contest with one of the better passing offenses in the state, led by junior quarterback Jay Lemieux, but the always improving GHS defense completely smothered the Airedales’ air and ground attack, pitching a shutout for a second straight week in conference play, greatly padding their season stats offensively and defensively.
The Bulldogs scored 447 points in the regular season or 44.7 points per game. That’s second only to Joe T. Robinson High School in Little Rock with 471 points. The GHS defense has allowed just 128 points or 12.8 points per game, nearly 50 fewer points than Robinson (10-0), the defending 5A state champs and Greenwood’s likely opponent in the finals should the Bulldogs make it there for a seventh consecutive season.
Greenwood dominates first half
Greenwood’s Braxton Canada returned the game’s opening kickoff 20 yards to the home 39 to get things started Friday night, and it didn’t take long for the Bulldogs to draw first blood. On third down from the 40, quarterback Cruz Coatney found Canada over the middle for a 60-yard touchdown pass. Canada made the catch in full stride at the Alma 47 and was never touched on his way to the end zone. Landon Franklin’s extra point kick was good for a 7-0 GHS lead (10:47).
The Airedales were forced to punt on their first possession with Braxton Canada returning the kick before losing his grip on the ball, only to have it plucked out of the air by teammate Bailey Thibodeau at the Alma 47. A quick sideline pass to Cooper Webb then turned into a long gain after a nice run to the 23. After a holding penalty pushed the ball back to the 33, Coatney found fellow senior Ty Holt over the middle at the 20. The GHS receiver slipped a pair of tackles at the 10 before gaining the end zone. Franklin’s PAT was good for a 14-0 Greenwood lead (8:20).
With the help of a big penalty on the Bulldogs, the Airedales were able to cross midfield on their second possession, but gave up the ball after a failed fourth down play at the home 47. Senior running back Mario Dunbar ran to the 50 before a short pass to Canada at the Alma 47. Coatney then located Ty Holt again wide open for a catch at the 42 with no one between him and the end zone, high-fiving teammate Braxton Canada as they crossed the goal line together. The PAT was good for a 21-0 GHS lead (2:53).
Another Alma punt was returned by Canada a short distance to the visitors’ 47-yard-line, but a penalty moved the ball back to the home 35. Senior Brayden Renick caught his first pass of the game at the 44 before Canada lined up beside Coatney and took the handoff to the Alma 49. Three plays later, on third-and-nine, Coatney reconnected with Ty Holt at the 44 before the hard-running senior bulled his way for a first down at the Alma 37. The two teams then swapped ends of the field as the first quarter came to an end.
But it took only one more play to score Greenwood’s fourth touchdown. With the offensive line providing excellent protection, Cruz Coatney lofted a pass deep down field for Braxton Canada at the goal line and six points. Franklin’s extra point kick was good again and the rout was on with the Bulldogs leading 28-0 at the 11:52 mark of the second period.
Things would get heated on Alma’s next possession when Greenwood defensive lineman Gunnar Flanary was flagged and tossed from the game by the officials for unsportsmanlike conduct. Greenwood Head Coach Jason Gill was livid over the ejection and called timeout to get an explanation from the referee. AAA rules may require Flanary to sit out at least part of Greenwood’s first playoff game next week. But the delay didn’t help the Airedales, who failed on a fourth down pass play at midfield, giving up the ball to the Bulldogs at the home 49-yard-line.
Senior Rhett Holloway ran twice to the 31 for a first down before Mario Dunbar carried to the 26. A Coatney pass to Canada reached the 13, with the junior receiver helping his quarterback by coming back for the catch. Holloway then ran three more times for five, two, and three yards, the last one taking him into the end zone. Franklin’s kick was good again and the Bulldogs achieved the mercy rule with 6:38 left in the first half, leading 35-0.
Alma’s next possession ended when GHS defensive back William Rye wrestled the ball away from an Airedales’ receiver at the Bulldogs’ 17. But the GHS offense failed to pick up a first down and quickly punted the ball away to the Alma 18. But the visitors fumbled the ball when Greenwood senior Terry McGinister chased down the Alma quarterback and knocked the ball loose. Bailey Thidodeau recovered the loose pigskin at the 16-yard-line. GHS linebacker Bryer Hackler was shaken up on the play and left the game. He did not return, but a sideline report in the second half confirmed that he was okay.
The Bulldogs then scored on their first snap. Coatney found Ty Holt again at the 10-yard-line before the elusive senior angled across the middle of the field and into the end zone for Greenwood’s sixth touchdown of the first half. Landon Franklin’s kick was good again for a 42-0 GHS lead with 3:35 left in the second quarter.
After another Alma punt, Greenwood got the football back with 1:39 remaining after Braxton Canada returned the kick a short distance to the Airedales’ 47. Coatney threw to Cooper Webb to the 37, moving the sticks. Canada then made a catch at the 25 before Holt had a reception at the 18. Next, Coatney threw to Canada to the 14 and to Webb at the 7-yard-line. The touchdown came on a short toss from Coatney to Canada near the right front pylon (:32). The PAT made it 49-0 at the half.
Mercy rule; reserves come in early
The game’s only score in the second half came on Greenwood’s first possession after another failed fourth down play at the Alma 44 by the Airedales. With the first-team offense still in the game for one last series, Cruz Coatney passed to senior Brayden Brewer for 10 yards to the 34 and a first down. Another toss to Brewer reached the 20 before running back Drake Little carried to the 18. Rhett Holloway then ran twice to the 6-yard-line before Coatney found Brewer again in the left side of the end zone for the touchdown, Coatney’s seventh TD pass on the night. Grayson Cobbler added the extra point.
Leading 56-0 with the clock running almost continuously, the second half would have ended in short order but for a serious injury to backup running back Drake Little in the fourth quarter. The game was delayed for several minutes until he could be taken off the field on a gurney with a knee injury. He flashed a thumbs up to the crowd in a hopeful sign, but his injury will likely keep him out of action until next season. Greenwood junior linebacker Drew Dickinson also had a third quarter interception.
Stats and comments
Statistically, Cruz Coatney had his best game of the season and his career with seven touchdown passes, completing 23 of 26 passes for 346 yards, unofficially. Braxton Canada had nine grabs for 140 yards and three touchdowns while Ty Holt had five catches for 114 yards and three TDs. Brayden Brewer had four receptions for 30 yards and a score. Rhett Holloway was Greenwood’s leading rusher with 40 yards and a touchdown on nine carries.
"Our offensive line put us in a great spot all night," said Coatney after the win. "The receivers make everything a lot easier, too. It was just a great night. We knew about this rivalry all week. We got a lot of guys on our team that know people on [Alma’s] team. We did just a great job being us."
"He's found his groove," Coach Gill said of his quarterback. "He's got a lot of weapons over there. He's come in with pressure on him, with his family history with the program and following Kane Archer and all the other quarterbacks that have been here. Cruz has done an awesome job."
Coatney’s dad, Brooks, was the first QB to really put Greenwood on the map in Arkansas football. Brooks was a three-year letterman who threw for over 10,000 yards and led the Bulldogs to their first ever state finals in 1996 under then head coach Ronnie Peacock. Cruz is hoping to do what his father could not do, and that’s winning a state championship. He is four games away from having that opportunity.
Defensively, the Bulldogs were stellar across the board. Coach Gill challenged his defensive backs, knowing that Alma could pass the football, and they responded with aggressive play that led to a pair of interceptions by William Rye and Drew Dickinson. Terry McGinister had two sacks and forced a fumble, recovered by Bailey Thibodeau. Bryer Hackler also had a sack. The defensive front played well too, containing Alma’s run game and putting pressure on the quarterback.
“We challenged them this week,” said Gill. “[Alma] has a really good offense, and I thought we were all over them. We were getting after the quarterback, and the defensive backs played awesome. I know they had a lot of pass breakups, and I think we had a couple of picks. I couldn’t be more proud of that group. They study film every weekend and every morning. People don’t see that. Those kids come in early, watch film, and do an awesome job on offense and defense.
“I think this team is coming together,” said the coach. “We’ve just got to stay healthy and keep this thing going.” Gill also answered a question about re-enforcements from the ninth-grade Bulldogs who finished their season 9-1. “We’re going to let them practice with us. We’ve probably got 15 or 20 who are going to come out and practice. If they are the best guy, they’ll play. We don’t care what grade they’re in. We’re going to play the best guy. If any of those guys can help us, we’ll look at it.” At the very least, those younger players can get some early varsity experience in practice and provide some added depth throughout the playoffs in case of injury to some of Greenwood’s starters.