The Greenwood Junior Varsity team took down Southside Monday night for the third time this season. The Bulldogs kicked off to Southside to start the game but the Mavs' drive was short lived, thanks to a big tackle for loss by Garrett Newman on second down.
Greenwood got the ball on their own 35 for their first drive and quickly earned a first down as Jace Presley hit multiple targets to move the chains. But the drive was cut short when Southside recovered a Greenwood fumble.
SHS made quick work of the Greenwood defense, completing a pass for about fifty yards on the next play. Southside QB Parker Wehunt found another open receiver on the next play for a touchdown pass from seven yards out. The PAT by Southside made it 7-0 early in the first quarter.
Caden Brown gave Greenwood good field position to start their second drive, returning the Southside kick to the 37-yard-line. The 'Dogs continued moving down the field as Presley found Jase Strozier for a gain of 20 yards.
On third-and-10, Greenwood kept the sticks moving when L.D. Richmond caught a pass for a first down. The Southside defense then pushed Greenwood back to fourth-and-20, but GHS went for it and it paid off. Presley found Caden Taylor from 35 yards out for the touchdown, making it 7-7 after the extra point by Jackson Stewart.
The GHS defense then forced a three-and-out by the Mavs to get the ball back, and they started with great field position again as Jayden Jasna returned the ball to the Mavs’ 41-yard-line. The ‘Dogs were stopped on third down, but went for it again, this time on fourth-and-two, and they came away with a first down, reaching the Mavs’ 9-yard-line. The next play, Aaron Ligon burst into the end zone with 42 seconds left in the first quarter. The PAT put the Bulldogs on top, 14-7.
But Southside did not go away quietly, tying the score quickly, running the ball 63 yards up the middle to the house.
A long run by Ligon and multiple completions by Presley had Greenwood right back in scoring position, but a sack stalled the drive and forced a punt. The Greenwood defense, who was big all night, came up with a huge play in the second quarter when Connor Marvin intercepted a pass and took it all the way for a touchdown with seven minutes left in the first half.
Leading 21-14, a bit of GHS trickery gave the ball back to the Bulldogs, successfully recovering an onside kick. But on the very next play Southside recovered a Greenwood fumble. Southside then took a gamble on fourth down and found a receiver open 37 yards down field to tie the game at 21-all.
Responding quickly, Greenwood kept its electric offense going as Presley found Justice Randolph from 11 yards out to regain the lead with 4:14 left in the half. Jackson Stewart also knocked home a 36-yard-field goal with one second left to make it 31-21.
The Bulldogs continued their strong offensive performance in the second half with Presley completing passes to Richmond and Corbin Stone for first downs. While on the Mavs’ 29-yard-line, Presley found Brown open for a touchdown, but the play was brought back due to a holding call.
But on the very next play Presley found Brown again for the touchdown, this time with no penalty flag. The PAT was blocked, but the 'Dogs were now up 37-21 with eight minutes left in the third quarter.
Hayden Wells kept the train rolling for the Greenwood defense, intercepting a pass at the Mavs’ 49-yard-line. The offense went right back to work as Presley found Brown for a 20-yard gain. After a completion to Richmond and a QB keeper by Presley, Greenwood scored as Stone took it in from one yard out. Luis Morales was successful on the PAT try to make it 44-21.
The Greenwood defense scored once again, this time on a scoop and score by Garrett Douglas. Augustino converted the PAT to make it 51-21. Both teams went quiet for the rest of the game.