For the eighth consecutive year the Greenwood Bulldogs defeated the Fort Smith Southside Mavericks on the gridiron. They did so this past Friday night at Smith-Robinson Stadium, taking a 37-0 lead early in the second half, invoking the mercy rule, before winning 44-14.
Greenwood improved its record to 2-0 overall, beating Fort Smith Northside a week earlier in the season opener, 38-10. Under Head Coach Rick Jones, the Bulldogs have dominated their two Sebastian County rivals in recent years. Northside and Southside are both Class 7A schools, while Greenwood is Class 6A.
The Bulldogs played very well in the opening half, building a 30-0 lead at the break, needing only a quick touchdown in the third quarter to trigger the sportsmanship (mercy) rule and a running clock for the remainder of the second half. But a pair of quick Southside touchdowns against the GHS reserves forced Coach Jones to put his starters back in for a series and one final score to ensure the victory.
The Mavericks kicked off to start the game and Greenwood’s Colin Daggett returned the ball to the GHS 27. Senior quarterback Jace Presley completed a short pass to running back Hunter Wilkinson to the 31, then two plays later earned a first down with a pass to Peyton Carter for 22 yards to the Southside 47. Carter went on to make several clutch catches in a spectacular first half.
Four plays later the ‘Dogs converted on a short fourth down play with Wilkinson advancing the ball to the Southside 31, moving the chain. After a QB sack, facing third-and-18 at the 39, Presley found senior receiver Justice Randolph down the visitor’s sideline for a big gain to the Marvericks’ 6-yard-line, setting up the game’s first score two snaps later on a two-yard run by Wilkinson.
The touchdown came with 9:09 showing on the clock. Senior kicker Jackson Stewart added the extra point, putting Greenwood on top, 7-0. The GHS defense then did its part by shutting down the Southside offense, just as it did Northside the week before. In fact, the starting defense did not allow a point in the second half to the Grizzlies or in the first half to the Mavericks.
Neither side scored on their subsequent possessions, with the Mavs forced to punt and the Bulldogs failing to convert on a fourth down play. But junior defensive lineman Tayshaun Leader’s second quarterback sack of the game forced the visitors to punt again, giving Greenwood the ball at its own 45.
Presley then completed three consecutive passes, two to senior Caden Taylor for 17 yards and another to Peyton Carter, who made a sensational leaping catch in traffic at the Southside 15. But after a third down pass fell incomplete in the end zone, Stewart entered the game and booted a 30-yard field goal for a 10-0 GHS lead with 2:27 remaining in the opening period.
The next score came early in the second quarter after both teams exchanged punts. Stewart’s kick was bobbled by Southside and the loose football was recovered by Jayden Jasna at the visitors’ 30-yard-line. The scoring drive that followed consisted of just two plays. The first was a pass from Presley to Carter to the 6-yard-line. The second play was the TD run by Wilkinson a few moments later. Stewart added the PAT at the 9:37 mark.
Leading 17-0, the GHS defense didn’t let up, choking off the Southside offense, forcing another three-and-out and punt, giving the home offense the ball once again in excellent field position near mid-field.
A nine-play, 55-yard scoring drive followed, piloted by Presley, who completed all six of his pass attempts, including the touchdown to Peyton Carter in the right side of the end zone. The play covered 16 yards as the team’s leading receiver made another great catch while falling down for the score. However, a penalty on the extra point moved the ball back five yards and Stewart missed it to the right, keeping the score at 23-0.
Still in the first half, after the GHS defense continued its stranglehold on the Mavs’ offense, the Bulldogs got an excellent punt return of 33 yards by Jasna to the Southside 22, setting up the final score of the first half.
They needed just three plays, the pivotal one a 17-yard blast through the middle by Wilkinson, reaching the 1-yard-line. Senior Aaron Ligon scored on the next snap. The extra point made it 30-0 at the break.
Both teams scored twice in the second half, and GHS fans were also treated to a long punt return for a touchdown that was called back due to a penalty. Jayden Jasna’s long run covered 59 yards with some nifty moves, including leaping over a would-be tackler near the goal line. The ball was returned to the GHS 37.
From there the home team needed just five plays to surpass the 35-point plateau necessary to invoke the mercy rule. The series also saw the return of last year’s top receiver Treyton Dawson, who suffered a serious knee injury during the off-season and made a remarkable recovery to return for his senior year.
Dawson caught two passes during the short drive, the first for seven yards to the Southside 48, followed by another catch that he turned into a long touchdown run down the visitors’ sideline. Stewart’s extra point kick made the score 37-0 at the 8:56 mark of the third quarter.
With the mercy rule in play and the clock moving almost continuously, Coach Jones felt confident enough to pull his starters and insert his reserves for some varsity playing experience. But Southside responded with a pair of quick touchdowns to change his mind, cutting the GHS lead to 23 points.
Both teams got a little sloppy with the football in the middle of the quarter, each side coughing up a fumble. Southside was able to capitalize on Greenwood’s only turnover, marching 59 yards in eight plays, aided by a facemask penalty against the Bulldogs. The two-yard TD run and extra point made it 37-7 at the 2:59 mark.
Another GHS miscue led to the Mavericks’ second score after a blocked punt put Southside in excellent field position at the home 12-yard-line. The scoring play came on the first snap, a touchdown pass. The point after cut the GHS advantage to 37-14 with 11:21 remaining in the game.
Not taking any chances, Coach Jones re-inserted his starting offense for one final series, hoping to pad his team’s lead. Starting from their own 29, the Bulldogs went right to work on offense. Presley passed to Wilkinson for nine yards to the 39, which also drew a flag for a late hit and a 15-yard penalty to the Southside 46.
After completing a pass to Aaron Ligon for nine yards to the 37, Presley connected with sophomore receiver Luke Brewer down the GHS sideline for a touchdown. Stewart made it 44-14 with the extra point. The final 9:54 went by quickly, with both teams using mostly reserves in mop-up duty.
Following the contest, Coach Jones talked with members of the media on the field, and just like after the season-opening win over Northside, he was mostly pleased with what he saw from his team, particularly the play of the defense and quarterback Jace Presley.
“I was proud of our guys,” said Jones. “We got the clock running, and that’s what we really wanted to do. I hoped that we could get a bunch of [players] in, but then [Southside] scored to make it 23 [points]. That’s just three scores with nine minutes to go and I thought we’d better try to get another [score], and luckily we were able to get one,” he added.
“I was proud of the offense to go back in and get [a score] when we needed it. You have to do what you have to do. I hated it. That meant some of our guys that work so hard and don’t get much playing time on Friday night didn’t get as much of an opportunity [to play],” said Jones.
“But our kids played with intensity. Our defense played lights out. They played very well. If our defense just keeps doing what they’re doing, we’re going to be alright. I’ve been really pleased with them. They had containment and I thought they tackled well. They really battled.”
It wasn’t all pretty and perfect though, according to the head coach. “We had a bobble in the kicking game, we turned the ball over and had sloppy protection, then we got a punt blocked. That wasn’t what we were looking for. We just wanted to play a good, clean [second] half and get the clock running, and we didn’t do that.”
The coach also expressed his disappointment with executing offensively in short yardage situations. “My frustration is third-and-one and fourth-and-one – not getting first downs,” he said. “It’s frustrating. You’ve got to be able to make a yard in this business. Great teams run when everybody knows you’re going to run, and they’re successful, and we’re not there yet, that’s for sure.”
Asked about Presley’s performance, Jones said, “He’s done a really nice job. The best thing he’s done is his decision-making. That’s the thing I’m most proud of, the way he’s running the offense. He’s thinking it through. He’s not panicking. He’s getting some pressure, but he’s able to move around and find some open [receivers]. He’s never been afraid to stand in the pocket, to deliver a throw and take the blow. I think he played better this week than he did last week [against Northside].”
Jones also talked about two of his receivers, Peyton Carter and Treyton Dawson. He agreed that Carter had a great first half. “Yes he did,” said Jones. “He caught one in double coverage. He had a really nice game. It’s nice to be [tall]. He also did some things after the catch that were exciting. I think he’s just getting better and more confident.”
As for Dawson, Jones was happy to have one of his go-to receivers back after four months of healing and rehab for a serious knee injury. “It’s just amazing. He’s worked so hard to get ready and come back for as much of his senior year as he could. I was really proud to see him out there tonight.”
Jones then responded to a question about his team’s final non-conference opponent, the Sandites of Sand Springs, Oklahoma, on the road next Friday night.
“I’ve been there a couple times,” he said. “I know quite a bit about them. I coached in Tulsa for 12 years and I’m familiar with them. We played them when I was at Tulsa Union and Broken Arrow. They are tough kids. They have a great wrestling program. They are always physical and tough. They’re not afraid of anybody.”
Jones added that Sand Springs is comparable to Greenwood in size and classification. “They’re exactly the same level as we are, [but] they’re enrollment is a little bit more.
He then explained how the series originated between the two schools. “We were begging for a game and I heard they had an [opening]. I was tickled to death to get them. What we saw last year is not indicative of what I know about Sand Springs,” concluded Jones. Greenwood defeated the Sandites last season, 49-13.