The Greenwood Bulldogs’ junior varsity team improved its record to 2-0 this past Monday night with a home victory over the visiting Northside Grizzlies. After falling behind early, 14-6, the ‘Dogs scored 31 unanswered points for a 37-14 lead, eventually winning 50-28.
A consistent running game was the foundation of the GHS offense, with a trio of running backs doing most of the damage behind some solid blocking up front. Junior quarterback Jace Presley also had a nice game running the offense and throwing the football.
Northside scored on the game’s opening possession, connecting on a 65-yard touchdown pass. The extra point put the visitors up 7-0. Greenwood had to punt on its first offensive series, but scored on its second possession.
Forcing a Northside punt, the Bulldogs took over at their own 18, and needed eight plays to score, the biggest of which included a pair of pass completions by Presley. The first was a 23-yard pass to sophomore L.D. Richmond, reaching the 41. The second was to running back Caden Franks for 25 yards.
Franks then ran for 22 yards to the Northside 14. Three plays later junior running back Aaron Ligon scored from three yards out. The extra point failed, leaving the score 7-6 in Northside’s favor.
After the Grizzlies added their second touchdown on a fourth down pass from the GHS 12 on the first play of the second quarter, the Bulldogs got things rolling offensively.
Greenwood’s next score came in short order, at the end of an 80-yard drive that required just four plays. A screen pass to sophomore Caden Brown accounted for 52 of those yards. Franks also had a 23-yard run before scoring from five yards out. The extra point by Jackson Stewart cut the Bulldogs’ deficit to 14-13 early in the second quarter.
After another Northside punt, the Bulldogs scored again at the end of a 65-yard drive. The series lasted just five plays and included a facemask penalty on the Grizzlies. Caden Brown scored on a 29-yard touchdown pass from Presley. The PAT put the Bulldogs up, 20-14.
Another Northside punt led to yet another GHS scoring drive of 74 yards in six plays, two of which were very exciting. The first was a 22-yard pass from Presley to Franks, and the second was an incredible scramble by Presley himself that resulted in a touchdown.
From the Grizzlies’ 41, Presley was forced to run and broke several tackles. But as he neared the goal line he was stripped of the ball, which rolled into the end zone and was covered by Greenwood sophomore Jayden Jasna for the score. The extra point put Greenwood up 27-14.
Greenwood’s final score of the first half came on a 35-yard field goal by Jackson Stewart, putting the Bulldogs up 30-14 at the intermission.
In the second half, Greenwood scored on its opening possession after an 80-yard march that ended with a 2-yard plunge for Presley. The Bulldogs kept the ball on the ground for the entire drive, with Corbin Stone and Aaron Ligon doing most of the work. Stone ran three times for 15, 18, and five yards. Ligon ran twice for 26 yards. The PAT was good by Luis Morales.
Leading 37-14, the Bulldogs made a costly mistake on their next possession that led to Northside’s next score. An apparent incomplete pass was ruled a lateral and a Grizzly defender scooped up the ball and returned it for a touchdown, a play that covered about 65 yards.
But Greenwood responded with another impressive drive, following a nice kick return of 46 yards by Caden Brown. From the GHS 47, Presley completed a deep pass to Peyton Carter at the Grizzlies’ 29. Five rushing plays later, Caden Franks scored from two yards out. The PAT failed.
Leading 43-21, Greenwood continued subbing in players, trying to get everyone in the game. Meanwhile, Northside scored its final touchdown on a 5-yard run at the end of an 80-yard drive early in the fourth quarter.
The GHS defense set up the game’s final touchdown. Sophomore defensive back Bryson Langston picked off a Northside pass at the visitors’ 47, and Corbin Stone scored on the next play, bursting through the middle of the defense for the touchdown. Morales added the extra point for the 50-28 win.