The Chris Young era of Greenwood football is officially underway, and what a start it was as the Bulldogs dominated Fort Smith Southside, building an insurmountable 42-3 halftime lead Friday night for the mercy-rule non-conference victory. A longtime GHS assistant coach and offensive coordinator, Young was promoted to head coach last February after Rick Jones resigned to take an advisory position with the Missouri Tigers of the Southeastern Conference.
While it was the season opener for the Bulldogs (1-0), the Mavericks (0-2) were playing their second game after losing their opener to crosstown rival Northside, 35-7. It was also Greenwood’s ninth consecutive win over Class 7A Southside. Under new head coach Kim Dameron, the Mavericks are struggling offensively, scoring just 10 points in two games.
The contest was held at Southside’s Jim Rowland Stadium before a sparse crowd because of precautions and restrictions imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Fans were required to wear masks and practice social distancing as were the officials, coaches, and players when not engaged in game activity.
It was a warm and muggy night with the game time temperature in the upper 80s. But the stifling conditions didn’t seem to affect the Bulldogs, who received the opening kick and burst from the gate with a 93-yard return for a touchdown. After catching the ball, Greenwood senior Caden Brown followed the left hashmarks to near the 30-yard-line before breaking to the visitor’s sideline and racing untouched for the score. Senior kicker Luis Morales added the extra point.
Morales also put the ensuing kickoff in the Southside end zone, forcing the Mavs to start their first offensive possession at their own 20. But the GHS defense made its presence felt early, forcing a quick three-and-out by Southside. The subsequent punt was fair caught by Greenwood senior Jayden Jasna at mid-field, giving the visitors great field position.
Senior quarterback L.D. Richmond then led a methodical 10-play march for the Bulldogs’ second touchdown. Running back Hunter Wilkinson scored on a 5-yard plunge, his fourth touch on the drive, including a catch for eight yards and a first down. But the senior didn’t return to action after sustaining a minor injury, though Coach Young had indicated before the game that Wilkinson would see only limited play in the non-conference affair.
A trio of players then rotated at running back, but it was mostly senior Ty Moose who followed Wilkinson in the first half. The GHS wrestling star is playing his first and only season of varsity football, and has impressed running backs coach Chase Meyers with his toughness and ability. The kick by Morales was good for a 14-0 GHS lead (8:11).
Three punts followed the second Bulldogs’ touchdown. Junior Ben Moy booted Greenwood’s only punt of the game, getting a great roll for a 62-yard net. Starting punter Noah Jantzen remains sidelined with a leg injury. The third kick was returned by Jayden Jasna for 35 yards to the Southside 26, setting up yet another GHS touchdown.
The possession lasted just four plays, the first two being short swing passes from Richmond to Caden Brown, netting 12 yards to the 14. Two plays later, Richmond lobbed a deep ball into the right back corner of the end zone and into the soft hands of junior receiver Luke Brewer, who made the catch for the score. Morales added the point after (1:00).
Leading 21-0 before the end of the opening quarter, the ‘Dogs were well on their way to another mercy-rule win, a staple under former head coach Rick Jones during his 16 years with eight state championships. The aptly named “Sportsmanship Rule” implemented by the Arkansas Activities Association allows the game to be shortened by an almost-constantly running clock in the second half after one team achieves a 35-point lead in the game.
Early in the second quarter, after forcing another Southside punt, the Bulldogs made the first of three errors in special teams’ play that led to the Mavericks’ only score of the contest, a 22-yard field goal. Greenwood fumbled a punt return, allowing Southside to recover at the GHS 22. Still, the visiting defense responded and kept the Mavs out of the end zone, forcing the short kick. With 10:04 left in the opening half the Bulldogs led, 21-3.
Greenwood had two more offensive series before the second quarter expired, and both were sustained drives that led to points. The first possession covered 91 yards and eight plays, ending with a leaping, falling catch in the end zone by senior Peyton Carter. The 6-5 receiver was well covered, but used his tall frame and long arms to win the battle for the ball. During the drive Richmond completed all seven of his pass attempts, including a 20-yard effort to Luke Brewer. The kick by Morales made the score 28-3 (7:58).
A quarterback sack on third down by Greenwood linebacker Jordan Hanna, assisted by defensive lineman Bo Asher, both seniors, forced the Mavericks to punt again, with the ball rolling dead at the GHS 24. Ten snaps later the ‘Dogs were barking in the end zone once again after Luke Brewer out-jumped a defender for the touchdown catch. The play covered 16 yards. Morales added the PAT, making the score 35-3 with 2:39 left in the half.
During the drive, Ty Moose rambled for 20 yards on four touches, including one rather humorous play in which Moose was apparently stopped for no gain before junior offensive lineman Jeremiah Presson (5-10, 250) joined the fray and literally pushed the pile seven yards downfield. Richmond completed four of five passes as well.
Greenwood’s final touchdown and the last score of the game came on the concluding play of the half with the Bulldogs on defense. Desperate to score and with nothing to lose, the Mavericks attempted a fourth down pass from the GHS 24, but the ball was deflected by Bulldogs’ linebacker Connor Marvin in pass coverage. The pigskin then ricocheted off the helmet of Southside’s intended receiver and back into the hands of Marvin, who raced 84 yards for a touchdown, aided by a key flock from teammate Hayden Wells at the Mavericks’ 38-yard-line. Morales added the extra point after time had expired.
The second half flew by quickly with the mercy rule in play and the clock moving almost without stopping. The Bulldogs had only two offensive possessions in the half, moving the ball into Southside territory, but did not score. From the home team’s 11-yard-line, with 50 seconds left on the game clock, sophomore backup QB Hunter Houston took a knee so as not to run up the score. Somewhat alarming, the Bulldogs did botch two more punt receptions in the second half, though neither affected the score or the outcome of the game.
After addressing his players, Coach Young spoke briefly to Richie Taylor, sideline reporter for the Greenwood Dog Pound, and shared some thoughts on his team’s victory, the first in what should be a long line of wins under Young’s leadership.
“It was a great performance by our kids,” said the coach. “[We] came out and set the tone with the kick-off return for a touchdown. We made plenty of mistakes, but we’ve got some good football players. L.D. [Richmond] did an outstanding job getting the ball to them so they could go and make plays, and then all those receivers just going up and snatching the ball. It was fun to watch.
“Defensively, I can’t tell you how proud I am of Coach [Jason] Gill and his staff,” continued Young. “They do an unbelievable job.” The GHS defense allowed Southside to gain less than 100 years in the first half.
“In the kicking game we turned the ball over three times, but the guy [senior Jayden Jasna] back there catching punts is a phenomenal returner. We’ve just got to get his confidence back. He’s a guy that’s going to help us win a lot of ballgames. [But] I’m really proud of the kids. When we made mistakes, we didn’t let it haunt us. It was a great night for the Bulldogs.
Asked about the running backs situation, Young explained, “Hunter [Wilkinson] got banged up early and only got a [few] snaps. We played three other running backs and I thought they did a good job and competed [well]. We’ve got playmakers, and they make plays, and that’s what those guys did tonight.”