For the third consecutive year, the Greenwood Bulldogs are 3-0 to start their season after posting a 26-point margin of victory over the Alma Airedales last Friday night. The long-time rivals met before a large and enthusiastic crowd at Airedales Stadium in the season’s final non-conference contest for both teams.
It was also the last time they will meet on the gridiron until at least 2020, though they will continue to face each other in all other sports. Losing to Greenwood every year since 2005, the Airedales did not renew the contract between the two schools, though reclassification could reunite them in the same class and conference in 2020.
Friday’s triumph was the 13th consecutive victory for Head Coach Rick Jones and his Bulldogs over the Airedales, who’s only win over Jones came in his first season at Greenwood in 2004. The Bulldogs hold a 25-20 series advantage over Alma, and the two schools have played continuously since 1975.
Alma is adding Russellville to its non-conference schedule to replace Greenwood, while the Bulldogs are still searching for a suitable replacement, but have held discussions with Sand Springs, Oklahoma about filling the vacancy for the next two years.
“It’s great memories over here,” said Coach Jones of the rivalry. “We’ve had some great games and it’s a great rivalry. Our people look forward to it, and we’re sorry it’s over.”
Greenwood entered the contest as the overwhelming favorite according to Hooten’s Arkansas Football, which picked the ‘Dogs to win by three touchdowns. Yet covering the spread proved more difficult than expected, even after the visiting offense scored on its first three possessions to build a 21-0 first quarter lead.
But what looked like another patented GHS blowout victory quickly turned into a dogfight as the proud Airedales rallied, outscoring Greenwood 28-13 over the next 23 minutes, cutting the Bulldogs’ lead to a scant six points at 34-28 early in the second half. Alma’s surge was aided by a string of costly penalties on Greenwood.
GHS kicker Grant Ennis showed off his leg in the first half, booming several kickoffs into the Alma end zone, forcing the Airedales to start nearly every offensive possession at their own 20, including the game’s opening kick.
After the stout Greenwood defense forced a punt, quarterback Connor Noland and his teammates quickly went to work, driving 49 yards and scoring in just six plays.
Starting with good field position at the Alma 49, Noland gave to running back Kenny Wood for 13 yards to the 36. Noland then passed to Zane Harmon for 10 yards and to Peyton Holt for seven yards to the 19.
A short completion to Josh Barlow reached the 12, before Noland handed off to Holt, who bolted virtually untouched through the middle of the Alma defense for the touchdown. Ennis made the score 7-0 at the 9:32 mark.
Another three-and-out for Alma gave Greenwood the football again, this time at the GHS 47. A quick hitter from Noland to Barlow reached the Airedales’ 27, setting up a remarkable scoring play to Holt two snaps later.
After an incompletion, Noland fired a strike to his favorite receiver near the 10-yard-line. Holt at first secured the catch, then dropped the ball before retrieving it and continuing the play, cutting back across the field, breaking tackles before diving and laying out across the goal line for the touchdown. The kick made it 14-0 (8:00).
A botched punt attempt by Alma gave Greenwood the football at the Airedales’ 22-yard-line just over a minute later, and the visitors needed only one play to capitalize for a 21-0 lead.
On first down, Noland dumped off a short pass to Kade Orlicek near the 15-yard-line, but the senior receiver turned it into the Bulldogs’ third touchdown in the first quarter. Ennis added the extra point at the 6:47 mark and most everyone in attendance assumed the game would quickly turn into a complete blowout. But not so.
The Airedales somehow avoided the knockout blow and got up off the canvas on their next possession, converting a third-and-12 situation to move the sticks for the first time. Two snaps later, quarterback Garrison Jensen completed a 57-yard bomb to Grayson Bailey, putting Alma on the scoreboard at 21-7 after the PAT.
Undaunted, Greenwood countered with yet another first half score. Remarkably, the Bulldogs scored on 16 consecutive first half possessions in their three non-conference games, including six times each against Fort Smith Northside and Southside, and the first four times against Alma. All but two of the 16 scores were touchdowns.
From the GHS 44 the Bulldogs marched 56 yards in eight plays to make the score 28-7. Noland completed five of six passes for 48 yards and Kenny Wood got the last eight yards on the ground, including the four-yard TD run. Ennis added the extra point with 2:03 left in the opening quarter.
On Alma’s next possession the Airedales marched 80 yards in eight plays that included a 15-yard personal foul penalty against Greenwood, helping to keep the drive alive at the GHS 27.
On the final play of the possession, Jensen was pressured by the Greenwood defense and forced to scramble before throwing up a desperation pass that was somehow caught in the end zone by receiver Felix Wright, who came down with the jump ball. The extra point was good, trimming the Alma deficit to 28-14 early in the second quarter.
Greenwood’s string of first half scoring possessions ended with their next offensive series, largely due to another personal foul penalty and a flag for holding. A punt followed, but Alma failed to make a first down and quickly punted back to the Bulldogs near midfield.
From the Alma 48, Noland passed to Orlicek for 10 yards to the 38, before Wood ran twice to the 24. Another pass to Holt reached the Airedales’ 9-yard-line before Noland pitched the ball forwarded to Holt again, who found running room around the right side for the touchdown. However, the kick by Ennis was wide.
But the Airedales weren’t finished. With just over six minutes left in the half, Alma marched 76 yards for its third touchdown, keeping their fans’ hopes alive for a comeback victory over the rival Bulldogs.
The touchdown came on the 13th play of the drive that included two more big penalties against Greenwood for pass interference and another personal foul. Jensen kept the ball for the two-yard scoring play.
Leading 34-21 at the half, Greenwood received the ball to start the third quarter and hoped to quickly pad its lead over the feisty Airedales after Ethan Escalante returned the kick to near midfield. But two more big penalties led to what appeared to be a huge momentum shift in the game.
After a holding penalty on the Bulldogs, Noland was intercepted by Alma’s Coltin Bowerman near the Airedales’ 10-yard-line. But during the return the visitors were flagged again for a personal foul (targeting), moving the ball to the Alma 33.
The home team scored on the next play when Jensen hit Brayden Johnson with a beautifully thrown pass behind the GHS defense. The kick made the score 34-28 with 9:55 left in the third quarter.
The Airedales had a chance to take the lead on their next possession, after holding Greenwood to a couple of short pass completions and forcing a punt to the Alma 42.
Crossing midfield to the GHS 49, the Airedales lost yardage to their own 44, then suffered a QB sack at their 37, but another personal foul penalty on the Bulldogs moved the ball to the Greenwood 48. Given a second chance, the Airedales reached the GHS 20 before the defense stiffened and stopped the drive at the 16 on downs.
From there it was all Greenwood again as the Bulldogs put their worried fans at ease with 20 unanswered points. A 10-play drive ended with a two-yard TD run by Kenny Wood, who rushed for 35 yards on four carries during the possession. A pass interference penalty on Alma helped as well, and Noland ran twice for 26 yards. A two-point conversion try failed, leaving the score 40-28 with 1:30 left in the third quarter.
Following an Alma punt early in the fourth period, the Bulldogs scored again after an eight-play drive from their own 31-yard-line. Wood ran for 28 yards on the first play, reaching the Alma 41. Noland then scrambled for 12 yards and Wood ran again for nine yards to the 20.
After a penalty on the Airedales, Wood ran three consecutive times for the remaining 15 yards, the last of which was a two-yard TD plunge. Ennis added the extra point for a 47-28 GHS lead with 9:25 remaining.
The game’s final score came just over six minutes later after Alma turned the ball over on downs at its own 45-yard-line. The Bulldogs then engineered a time-consuming 10-play drive, the biggest play of which was a third down keeper by Noland that netted a first down at the 19 despite a holding call on Greenwood. Wood later scored from one yard out at the 3:16 mark. The kick by Ennis was good, making the final score 54-28.
Offensively, the Bulldogs had another stellar performance, racking up 273 yards rushing on 36 carries and 226 yards passing. Noland completed 21 of 31 attempts. Wood ran 23 times for 174 yards and Peyton Holt had eight catches for 75 yards to lead the receiving corps. Kade Orlicek (3/44), Zane Harmon (3/26), Kenny Wood (3/27), and Josh Barlow (4/54) all had multiple receptions.
Defensively, Greenwood was led by Nick Vota with 13 total tackles, all assisted. Dylan Vota had 12 tackles, 10 assisted, and Morgan Hanna had 10 tackles, all assisted. Camden Beshears also had 10 total tackles, nine assisted, and Hunter Webb had nine assisted tackles. Jon Womack and Aaron Ohl had three solo tackles each.
“We played really well early, and then we decided we’re not going to stop them,” Coach Jones said after the game. “I give Alma a lot of credit. They had a chance to throw it in and they didn’t do it. They battled, and that’s what a rivalry game is all about, [playing] with heart and passion and fire. It was a crazy game. It was a great crowd and a great atmosphere, and we’re going to miss it.
“Our defense stood up when it had to,” he said regarding the fourth down stop when Alma was driving in the third quarter with a chance to take the lead. “[They] made a huge stop, and we needed it.”
The coach also addressed his team’s mistakes. “We gave up way too many penalties. We were holding and hitting late, and keeping [Alma’s] drives alive. Part of it is that we’re a pretty aggressive team and we get after it. [But] we were not very smart tonight in many cases.
“We didn’t play very good football during that stretch in the second quarter,” Jones continued, “but we needed a game like that. It’s just been too easy the first two games, and we needed a battle. We had to get after it. We had to check ourselves out a little bit. [We’re] not going to run the clock on everybody.”
The coach also lauded the play of Connor Noland and Kenny Wood. “We’re really lucky to have a great quarterback, and Kenny looked like Kenny tonight. He’s been out for a while. But Alma got a little dose of what he’s really all about. He’s a physical runner. He makes good cuts and good decisions running the zone.”
Finally, Jones spoke about the Bulldogs’ first ever trip to Texarkana this coming Friday. The Arkansas High Razorbacks have a new coach in Barry Norton, the ultra-successful coach (152-25-1) from across town at Texas High, known for building strong defensive teams.
Arkansas High is 2-1 this season with wins over crosstown rival Texas High and Camden Fairview, losing their season opener to Pleasant Grove, Texas.
“It’s going to be a big game,” said Jones. “When I saw the 7-0 Texas High - Arkansas High score I thought, ‘Oh my goodness.’ I’ve met Coach Norton before and I know he has a great record at [Texas High].
“[The Razorbacks] were young last year and they have those guys back. It’s going to be a huge challenge to get in that bus and drive 3½ hours and play a great football game.”
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. as the Bulldogs open conference play on the road.