Having successfully defended their home turf at Smith-Robinson Stadium the first two weeks of the season, the Greenwood Bulldogs took their show on the road last Friday, crossing the border into Oklahoma, arriving at Sand Springs in mid-afternoon. But the change of venue hardly made any difference as the ‘Dogs rolled to another blowout victory, winning 50-20 over the Sandites.
The contest began with a Jackson Stewart kickoff with the wind into the Sand Springs’ end zone. But the home offense suffered a penalty and failed to pick up a first down. Punting into the wind, the Sandites interfered with Greenwood’s effort to make a fair catch, putting the football at the Sand Springs’ 40.
From there the Bulldogs needed nine plays to score, overcoming a pair of five-yard penalties along the way. After a six-yard gain by running back Aaron Ligon, quarterback Jace Presley completed three consecutive passes to L.D. Richmond, Caden Brown, and Justice Randolph, reaching the 17.
Two snaps later, facing fourth-and-two, Presley connected with Treyton Dawson at the 13 to move the sticks, keeping the drive alive. Moments later, on third-and-12, Presley passed to Dawson again for the touchdown from 15 yards out. The Bulldogs then lined up for a two-point try and quickly completed a short pass to Richmond for the conversion and an 8-0 Greenwood lead.
After the kickoff, the GHS defense continued its early season dominance, again forcing a three-and-out. But a fumble on the punt reception gave the ball right back to the Sandites at their own 46. But the defense refused to budge, with senior linebacker Eli Martin blitzing on third down for a loss, forcing another punt.
This time the Bulldogs let the ball roll dead at the GHS 32, but it didn’t stay there for long. Presley completed a third down pass to Lazaro Angel for a fresh set of downs at the 47, then connected with Richmond for 11 yards to the Sand Springs’ 42.
On the next snap the senior QB fired a dart down the middle of the field to a streaking Caden Brown near the 10-yard-line. Brown made the catch behind the defender and easily scored the touchdown. Stewart added the extra point for a 15-0 Greenwood lead with 3:34 left in the opening period.
The Sandites finally made a first down on their next possession as the game moved into the second stanza. But a big penalty and a QB sack by Jordan Hanna and Colton Erwin spoiled the series. Facing an impossible third-and-38 situation, the Sand Springs’ quarterback tried to surprise the ‘Dogs with a quick kick.
But the maneuver backfired when Colton Erwin broke through to block the kick, then recover it inside the 10, scooping the ball and scoring a defensive touchdown. Stewart’s PAT made it 22-0 at the 10:23 mark, and the rout was on for the Bulldogs. Unfortunately for the Sandites, there is no mercy rule in Oklahoma.
Greenwood’s next score came less than two minutes later after yet another Sand Springs’ punt that Jayden Jasna returned for 24 yards to the home 29-yard-line. After Aaron Ligon picked up a first down at the 19, Presley passed to Dawson for nine yards before completing a short toss to Caden Brown for the touchdown. The kick by Stewart made it 29-0 at the 8:55 mark of the second period.
The home team gift-wrapped Greenwood’s next scoring chance after a bad snap on a punt attempt was recovered at the Sandites’ 5-yard-line. But three plays later the Bulldogs faced fourth-and-goal from the 4-yard-line. Deciding against a field goal try, the offense remained on the field.
Aaron Ligon then took a direct snap and pitched the ball to Treyton Dawson, who tried to pass it into the end zone. But the ball was intercepted and returned to the Sand Springs’ 33, ending the Greenwood threat.
But the Bulldogs would score again just two minutes later after forcing another Sandites’ punt. Starting from their own 37, the ‘Dogs needed just five plays to reach the end zone. On second down Presley kept the ball for a seven-yard gain to the 44, then tossed a short flip-pass to Caden Brown that reached the home 42-yard-line.
Aaron Ligon then ran to the 29 before Presley found Justice Randolph near the sideline. The senior receiver made the catch, then shook off a would-be tackler, spinning away and sprinting untouched for the score. Stewart’s kick made it 36-0 at the 4:10 mark.
With the game firmly in hand, Greenwood began subbing in several of its reserves, and the defense gave up its first score of the game on a five-yard run. The play was set up by a 26-yard pass completion. The extra point was good, making the score 36-7. The Bulldogs got the ball back with less than a minute remaining and drove inside the Sandites’ 10-yard-line, but could not score before time expired.
The second half saw both teams score twice. Greenwood’s starting offense remained in the game for most of the third quarter and scored almost immediately after receiving the opening kick of the half.
From the GHS 26, Presley connected with Treyton Dawson down the sideline for a 74-yard scoring pass. The kick boosted Greenwood’s lead to 43-7 less than a minute into the half.
Just over six minutes later the visitors scored for the last time after a six-play drive. From the GHS 39, Caden Brown ran to the 47 before Presley passed to Aaron Ligon for a nice gain, aided by a facemask penalty, moving the ball to the Sand Springs’ 20.
Presley then passed to Lazaro Angel at the 12 and to Justice Randolph near the 5-yard-line, where the ball came loose and was recovered at the one by Treyton Dawson. Ligon scored two snaps later and Stewart added the extra point for a 50-7 GHS lead.
With 4:54 left in the third period, most of Greenwood’s starters retired to the sideline, giving their backups a chance to play the remaining 17 minutes. Sand Springs was able to score twice in the fourth quarter, once on a long touchdown pass of 28 yards and the other on a 61-yard run, making the final score 50-20.
The victory was the 310th in the long career of Coach Jones, who has posted an incredible record at Greenwood of 178-24. It was also the Bulldogs’ 15th consecutive win dating back to September of 2018.
The coach spoke briefly to the radio crew during and after the game that was well attended by several hundred GHS fans who made the trip to Sand Springs.
Friday’s game ended the two-year contract between the two schools. The Bulldogs will play Choctaw High School for the next two seasons.
“We did not execute things very well,” said Jones as he was leaving the field at halftime. “We messed up two times in the red zone. The defense is playing well, [but] penalties are killing us. We’re hurting ourselves.”
After the game the coach hadn’t changed his tune, still frustrated by his team’s mistakes but encouraged by their potential. “When we were good, we were really good, and when we weren’t so good, we weren’t very good at all. That’s the thing that’s frustrating,” he said.
“In the first half the offense had two drives stall out on the five-yard-line, and that was disappointing. We can be pretty good when we do things right, and that’s what I’m excited about,” he added.
“We’ve got a chance to be good. But if we keep messing up and not executing, we’re not going to reach our potential. We’ve got to keep getting better. We can’t just be satisfied with the outcome of the game.”
But throughout the season’s first three contests one aspect of the Bulldogs’ play has been consistently good – the defense. It was no different last Friday.
“They played fast,” said Jones. “They played hard and very aggressive. They got turnovers. They’re doing things the right way.”
Up next for Greenwood is another road trip this coming Friday to face an improved Little Rock Hall team that’s off to a 2-1 start with wins over Little Rock Fair and Little Rock Mills. After being tied at the half, Hall lost to Jacksonville last Friday, 20-6.
Game time this coming Friday is at 7 p.m. It will the be 6A West conference opener for both teams. Greenwood next plays at home on October 4th against El Dorado.