Prior to last Thursday’s conference road game at Siloam Springs, the Greenwood Junior High Bulldogs enjoyed an open date after their heartbreaking 20-14 loss to league rival Shiloh Christian, likely costing them a conference championship. Still, that’s the only blemish on their now 7-1 record following their most recent win against the Jr. Panthers, a 41-0 blowout. It was arguably their best offensive performance of the season despite losing their top two receivers and playmakers, Ty Karnes and Ryan Ross, promoted to the GHS varsity squad after the loss to Shiloh.

With the freshmen out of town, the elder Bulldogs moved their usual Friday game to Thursday night at Smith-Robinson Stadium to avoid the wet weather forecast for the weekend, and they too had a terrific offensive performance, winning 56-3 over Van Buren. Neither Karnes nor Ross has seen much action yet, but both are getting a taste of varsity football which should help them greatly as sophomores next season. They were also promoted to bolster the GHS receiving corps, which has been hit hard by injuries this season, though most of those players are now returning for duty.

Last Thursday’s contest began with a surprising onside kick by the hometown Panthers, but Greenwood’s Grady Garner covered the ball at the visitors’ 46, giving the offense good field position. But that opening opportunity was squandered moments later when the GHS freshmen fumbled and turned the ball over at the Siloam Springs’ 47.

But the Greenwood defense, the strength of the team all season, flexed its muscles early by forcing a quick Panthers’ punt to the Jr. Dogs’ 28-yard-line. Back on the field, eighth-grade quarterback Bentley Renick then led his teammates on a lightning fast four-play scoring drive to take an early lead. After getting a yard on first down, Renick found Aysen Dawson for a short completion to the left before the Greenwood receiver bolted down the sideline all the way to the home 14-yard-line. Teammate Sebastian Snipes had a terrific block on the edge to spring Dawson for the long run. Wyatt Elliott then carried to the five before Renick ran left then cut back to the middle for the touchdown. Kicker Grayson Cobbler added the PAT for a 7-0 Greenwood lead at the 4:57 mark of the opening period.

The Panthers got a long pass play into Greenwood territory on their next possession, reaching as deep at the 20 before the defense rose up and forced them to turn the ball over on downs at the 22-yard-line. The visiting offense then returned to the field and quickly traversed into home territory to the 33 before another fumble cost them possession at the Panthers’ 30.

But the home team returned the favor two snaps later, coughing up the football at the Siloam Springs’ 23, recovered by Greenwood’s Brandon Jarrels. Bentley Renick then threw to Bentley Neece on first down, reaching the Panthers’ 4-yard-line before Wyatt Elliott carried in for the score on the next snap. Grayson Cobbler’s second extra point kick was also good for a 14-0 Greenwood lead early in the second quarter (6:05).

But the GHS freshmen weren’t done scoring, adding two more touchdowns before halftime. Excellent coverage on the kickoff had the Panthers starting at their own 10 before the defense forced another quick punt, with the Bulldogs taking over at the home 37-yard-line. With another short field to work with, Renick and company made short work of their next scoring drive, needing just three plays.

The first was a QB keeper by Renick to the 31 before passing to Bentley Neece for 12 yards to the 19 and a first down. The third snap resulted in a Renick pass to Aysen Dawson at left end, who made the catch and raced ahead into the end zone for the touchdown. Grayson Cobbler’s kick made the score 21-0 at the 3:04 mark.

Starting at their own 20 moments later, the Jr. Panthers suffered a loss back to their 18 then a penalty to the 13-yard-line. But on the next snap, Greenwood defensive lineman Brayson Hunt broke through the protection and rushed the quarterback, forcing him to retreat before losing the football. Greenwood’s Ben Clark then fell on the live pigskin for a defensive touchdown. The extra point made it 28-0 with just under a minute left to play in the half.

When play resumed in the third quarter, another Siloam Springs’ fumble was again recovered by Clark at the Panthers’ 13-yard-line. A quarterback keeper by Renick reached the three before Aysen Dawson carried to the two. The touchdown came on the next snap with a handoff to Wyatt Elliott up the middle and into the end zone. Cobbler’s kick made it 35-0 with 6:15 still left in the third period, invoking the mercy rule for the rest of the contest.

Another Siloam Springs’ punt followed before the Bulldogs turned the ball over on downs at the home 17-yard-line on the final play of the quarter. But the Panthers lost the ball again near the 6:00 mark with the clock running almost non-stop. Greenwood’s Champ Benavides recovered the fumble at the visitors’ 46-yard-line.

The freshmen Bulldogs’ final score came moments later after an eight-play possession that required about four minutes in real time. On first down, running back Ty Kennedy rambled for 15 yards to the Panthers’ 39 before new quarterback Ben Clark ran to the 34. RB Kim Rodgers then ran four consecutive times to the 5-yard-line, his longest a 19-yard scamper. Kennedy then carried twice, the second time for the 1-yard touchdown and six more points. A flawed exchange led to a missed extra point by backup kicker Austin Hernandez.

The game’s final score happened with about two minutes left on the clock, allowing just enough time for the kickoff. But time expired before Siloam Springs could line up for another play, making the final score 41-0, moving Greenwood to 7-1 on the season and 5-1 in conference play. The freshmen Bulldogs will end their 2025 season at Smith-Robinson Stadium against the visiting Clarksville Panthers on the day before Halloween.