The Greenwood Junior High Bulldogs improved to 2-1 this season after last Thursday’s 34-15 victory on the road at Pea Ridge in Northwest Arkansas. The visitors dominated the contest throughout, leading by 27 points until the final minute when the Jr. Blackhawks scored late against Greenwood’s defensive reserves. Greenwood led 17-7 at halftime.
Greenwood’s Myles Meeker returned the opening kick from the visitors’ 13-yard-line to the Pea Ridge 24, setting up an early score for the Bulldogs. Running back Parker Spencer got nine yards on his first touch of the game, reaching the 15. Quarterback Bentley Renick then carried in for the score on the next snap, finding running room around the left side. The extra point kick by Leo Anaya was good, making the score 7-0 in the opening two minutes of play.
The Blackhawks moved into Greenwood territory on their first possession, reaching the Bulldogs’ 42 before a loose football was recovered and returned to the Pea Ridge 48 by Coltyn Mourton. The play was made possible when linebacker Truett Embree hit the receiver after the catch, dislodging the football. But the visiting offense couldn’t take advantage of the turnover and punted the ball away.
After the home team was forced to do the same, giving Greenwood the ball at their own 27, the Jr. Dogs needed nine plays to add another three points to their lead. Spencer carried for eight yards to start the drive before Renick executed a nice fake and ran the ball 27 yards to the Pea Ridge 38. Spencer reached the 33 on the next snap before a loss to the 35. Renick then completed a pass over the middle near the 20 to receiver Chase Bercher, who continued on to the 8-yard-line.
That was the final play of the opening quarter, but when the action resumed in the second period the Bulldogs lost ground back to the 10. Renick carried to the 5-yard-line but suffered a disastrous sack at the 17 on the next play, bringing up fourth down. Head Coach Cory Chambers then summoned Josh Fitzgerald, the team’s new secret weapon, to kick a 34-yard field goal, which he did, making the score 10-0.
But the Blackhawks fought back quickly. After returning the kickoff to their 35, a deep pass reached the Greenwood 28-yard-line. Two snaps later, a pass over the middle was good for 26 yards and a touchdown. The extra point trimmed the Bulldogs’ lead to 10-7. But Pea Ridge wouldn’t score again until the final minute of the game.
Myles Meeker had a nice kick return of 27 yards to the 50 to set up Greenwood’s second touchdown. Another 27-yard gain by Parker Spencer advanced the ball to the 23. From there, Renick passed to Chase Bercher, reaching the 12, before repeating the play for the touchdown. Leo Anaya added the extra point and Greenwood led 17-7 at the half.
Both teams made mistakes early in the third quarter. Pea Ridge had a punt partially blocked by Greenwood defensive lineman Jaxon Sikes and the Bulldogs lost a fumble when quarterback Bentley Renick was hit at the Blackhawks’ 22-yard-line, stopping a Greenwood scoring threat. But the visiting defense did its job and forced another quick punt, giving the ball back to Renick and company at the visitors’ 33-yard-line.
On second down and 10, Renick kept the football and crossed midfield to the Pea Ridge 49, an 18-yard gain. Running back Truett Embree rambled for 21 yards to the home 28. Parker Spencer then carried to the 4-yard-line before Renick ran in for the score on the next snap. However, the point after kick was no good, leaving the score at 23-7.
It didn’t stay that way for long, though. Greenwood recovered an onside kick at the Pea Ridge 44, putting the offense right back out on the field. Spencer carried to the 31 on first down, moving the chains. He then ran twice more, once for 25 yards and again for five yards to the 1-yard-line. Truett Embree had the honor of scoring the touchdown on the next snap and Renick threw a completed pass to Myles Meeker for a two-point conversion, increasing Greenwood’s lead to 31-7.
The Bulldogs’ final score came midway through the fourth quarter after a short possession following a Blackhawks’ fumble at their own 16-yard-line. Greenwood recovered the ball inside the red zone, but the offense struggled to get anything going, even after a Pea Ridge penalty moved the ball to the 5-yard-line. Three consecutive plays for losses pushed the pigskin all the way back to the 25. Facing fourth down, Josh Fitzgerald entered the game and promptly kicked his second field goal of the contest, this one from 42 yards. He is 3-for-3 so far this season in field goals. Greenwood led 34-7 with minutes remaining.
The Greenwood coaching staff put in the #2 defensive unit on the Blackhawks’ final possession, and Pea Ridge had a pair of long runs to set up their second and last touchdown of the game. Their quarterback scored on a keeper from two yards out followed by a successful two-point play, making the final score 34-15.
The Junior Bulldogs moved to 2-1 on the season and 2-0 in conference play with six league games remaining. They will host Van Buren next Thursday at Smith-Robinson Stadium beginning at 7 p.m. They go to Farmington the following week before hosting Harrison on October 1st.