Freshmen ‘Dogs positioned to win conference title

Freshmen ‘Dogs positioned to win conference title

With only one blemish on their season record – a one-point loss to Van Buren – the Greenwood freshmen Bulldogs are poised to play for the 2024 league title this coming Thursday on the road at Clarksville. Last week’s 35-14 home victory over Siloam Springs made possible their rendezvous with destiny and a chance to at least share a piece of the conference title.

They are currently tied with Shiloh Christian and Van Buren with one conference loss. Shiloh beat Van Buren, which defeated Greenwood, which beat Shiloh, creating a perfect triangle. Barring an upset on Thursday, all three teams will finish tied for the league lead, but Greenwood has the advantage with the most points scored in league play, which is the second tiebreaker.

At Smith-Robinson Stadium last Thursday, the Freshmen Bulldogs made their final appearance of 2024 and jumped out to a quick 14-0 lead, only to have the Junior Panthers rally to tie the score at halftime, 14-14. But led by its stellar defense, Greenwood dominated the second half, pitching a shutout while scoring three more touchdowns to seal the victory. The win improved their season record to 8-1 and 6-1 in conference play.

Underdogs coming into the contest, the visitors took a chance early with an onside kick attempt to start the game, but Greenwood’s Lawson Leath fell on the football at the Siloam Springs’ 47. A penalty soon moved the ball to the 42, and three plays later Drew Dickinson ran for a first down at the 33. Bryer Hackler then carried twice to the 17 before Gunner Flanary toted the rock off right tackle, shedding several Panthers’ defenders on his way to the end zone. The extra point kick by Grayson Cobbler was good for a 7-0 Greenwood lead (6:11).

The next time the Bulldogs touched the football it was Braxton Canada, who fielded a Siloam Springs’ punt at the home 21-yard-line and proceeded to return it 79 yards for an apparent touchdown. But the score was nullified by a holding penalty on Greenwood, moving the ball back to the visitors’ 41, still excellent field position for the hometown troops, and they soon took advantage of it.

Keeping the ball on the ground, the freshmen ‘Dogs needed just six plays to traverse the 123 feet to the end zone, deviating only slightly along the way while occasionally avoiding enemy defenders. Drake Little ran twice to the 34 before Drew Dickinson carried twice to the 28. Bryer Hackler then completed the drive with a pair of runs to the 18 then for the touchdown. Grayson Cobbler’s kick was good, and Greenwood led 14-0 with 1:01 remaining in the opening quarter.

But the visitors rallied in the second period with a pair of big plays to knot the score at the break. The first was a 53-yard catch and run to the Greenwood 11-yard-line on the first snap of the second quarter. Three plays later the visiting quarterback carried in for the score from one yard out. The extra point was good to make the score 14-7 (6:08).

Their next big play was truly spectacular and totally unexpected on the final snap of the first half. Having driven from their own 16-yard-line, the Bulldogs were at the Siloam Springs’ eight before calling timeout with nine seconds left. When play resumed, quarterback Jubal Parks fired a bullet into the end zone, but the Panthers’ best overall player snagged the ball two yards deep in the end zone and never broke stride, taking it all the way back for a defensive touchdown. The kick tied the score at 14-all.

Greenwood’s first offensive possession of the second half came after a Siloam Springs’ punt to the visitors’ 41-yard-line. Jubal Parks threw to Lawson Leath on first down, reaching the home 32. Drake Little ran twice to the 28 and Drew Dickinson also ran twice to the 8-yard-line. Bryer Hackler then carried in for the score around the left side. The extra point kick was good, putting the Bulldogs back on top, 21-14 (3:16).

After another Panthers’ punt to the Greenwood 35, the Bulldogs were in business again as the game moved into the fourth quarter. A short flip pass to eighth grader Ty Karnes reached the 42 before Drew Dickinson blasted his way to the visitors’ 48 on the last play of the third period. Jubal Parks then lofted a screen pass to Braxton Canada, which he caught down around his knees before righting himself and racing across the field for the touchdown. Grayson Cobbler’s kick was good (7:42).

A failed fourth down play by Siloam Springs gave Greenwood the football at the Panthers’ 37 with time slipping away. Drake Little ran to the 30 before Parks passed to Ty Karnes, reaching the 19. Little ran again to the 12 and then to the eight before crashing the goal line on the next snap for the touchdown. The extra point was good again, making the final score, 35-14.

Head Coach Luke Hales was obviously pleased with the win and the efforts of his players. “We started a little slow in the first half,” said Hales immediately after the game. “We weren’t as physical as we like to be and made a couple mistakes here and there. But we came out in the second half and played physical, and our defense dominated. That was clear. Our linebackers and defensive linemen were tackling and hitting. [Siloam Springs] is pretty good. Shiloh only beat them by 10 points, so that’s a pretty good football team over there. I’m proud of how our kids responded. It’s easy to lay down, but our kids stood up and faced some adversity and responded well.

“Bryer Hackler did a great job,” continued Hales. “He scored two rushing touchdowns and played linebacker the whole game. William Rye played both sides of the ball the past couple of weeks and he’s doing a great job. He covered their best player and made some big catches for us. And Jubal Parks, our quarterback, did a great job. That one interception was a bad call on my part. But he’s had two really good games back-to-back. I’m just pleased with those kids and their efforts.”

Asked about the season finale next Thursday at Clarksville, the head coach confirmed that it is a conference game and the first time the two schools have met in recent history. “It’s the first time we’ve played them since I’ve been here the last three or four years,” he said, while admitting his coaches still don’t know much about the Panthers. “I think they are Class 4A, but we haven’t heard a whole lot about them. We’ll get some film and figure it out.”

When asked about motivation for his players this week before their last game, he said, “We’re playing for the championship, at least a share of it. So this is our shot. We’ve got to give it everything we’ve got. We’re looking forward to wrapping up [the season] on a high note next week.” Hales, a former star quarterback at Greenwood and the University of Central Arkansas, is concluding his third season as head coach of the Jr. Bulldogs. He’s gone 8-2 in each of his first two seasons at the helm.

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