After their 52-14 whipping of the Pine Bluff Zebras last Friday night, the Greenwood Bulldogs are the 2017 Class 6A state football champions, proving what many astute observers suspected all along, that the Bulldogs were head-and-shoulders better than any other team in the 6A ranks, and perhaps in any other classification this season as well. The game was played at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.
Several thousand GHS fans turned out on a chilly but pleasant evening to watch their beloved Bulldogs earn the state championship trophy that had eluded them the past two seasons, with losses in the finals to Pine Bluff (2015) and Russellville (2016). There would be no doubt about this one.
After giving up an early touchdown to the Zebras, the Bulldogs ripped off 31 unanswered points before Pine Bluff scored again late in the first half. Despite having the football on offense for less than 5½ minutes in the half, Greenwood led 31-14 at the intermission.
Three third quarter touchdowns sealed the victory for Greenwood, as the vaunted Bulldogs’ defense pitched a second half shutout. By the fourth quarter, with the mercy rule in play, both teams had removed most of their starters.
Pine Bluff received the opening kick and drove 80 yards in seven plays, the last one a 43-yard pass from quarterback Tyler Foots to receiver Jyrimee Thompson for the touchdown. The extra point put the Zebras up 7-0 exactly three minutes into the game.
But Pine Bluff fans had hardly settled back into their seats before the Bulldogs tied the game with a one-play scoring drive. After Aaron Ohl returned the kickoff to the GHS 27, running back Kenny Wood took the handoff from quarterback Connor Noland and rambled 73 yards off right tackle for the touchdown. The kick by Grant Ennis was good to tie the score at 7-all.
The Zebras’ next offensive possession was short-lived and ended with a punt to the Greenwood 34 after a short return by Peyton Holt.
Eight snaps later Ennis lined up for a 30-yard field goal try, putting the Bulldogs ahead for good at 10-7 (5:13). The biggest play of the drive was a 30-yard pass from Noland under pressure to Holt that reached the 14-yard line.
After another quick stop by the GHS defense, the Bulldogs took over on offense at their own 41 with 3:33 left in the opening quarter. Noland passed to Holt for 14 yards on first down to the Zebras’ 45, followed by a 10-yard pass, also to Holt, on the next snap.
Josh Barlow caught another Nolan toss for six yards to the 29, followed by a longer Barlow reception at the Pine Bluff 5-yard-line. Kenny Wood then got the call and a lot of help from his teammates, who pushed the pile forward and across the goal line for six points. Ennis added the PAT for a 17-7 Greenwood lead (2:28).
A pair of pass interceptions followed in quick succession as the first period wound down. Greenwood’s Aaron Ohl made a diving catch of a tipped pass at the Pine Bluff 40. But three plays later Connor Noland was picked off by Pine Bluff’s Isiah Singleton, but the Zebras would have to punt.
Greenwood’s next snap was the last play of the first quarter, an 11-yard pass play from Noland to Holt at the Pine Bluff 49. But on the first play of the second period, Noland found a wide-open Holt over the middle near the 20-yard-line for an easy touchdown. The extra point made the score 24-7.
Greenwood’s second pass interception ended Pine Bluff’s next possession. Linebacker Nick Vota made a diving catch of a tipped ball at the Zebras’ 39-yard-line, giving the Bulldogs excellent field position with 10:54 showing on the second quarter clock.
Nineteen seconds later Greenwood was in the end zone again. Noland completed a 17-yard pass to Holt that reached the Zebras 22, before throwing to Kade Orlicek near the goal line for the score. The extra point by Ennis made the score 31-7 (10:35).
On its next possession, Pine Bluff finally moved the ball on the Bulldogs, marching over 50 yards, penetrating to the GHS 14 before disaster struck. A quarterback sack by Greenwood’s Morgan Hanna cost the Zebras four yards to the 18. But a desperation fourth down pass into the end zone was picked off by Greenwood’s Trey Woods for a touchback at the 20.
However, on the very next play the Bulldogs fumbled the ball at the 24, giving the Zebras another chance, and this time they cashed in on the opportunity. A personal foul penalty on the Bulldogs also helped immensely, moving the ball from the 29 to the 14. Two plays later Pine Bluff scored on a one-yard QB sneak. The extra point made the score 31-14 (:53) at the half.
It was all Greenwood in the third quarter as the Bulldogs never gave the Zebras a chance to come back. Starting from their own 19 after the kickoff return, the ‘Dogs needed less than a minute and only four plays to score their fifth touchdown of the game.
Noland passed to Holt for 16 yards to the 35 on first down. Three snaps later, after a Pine Bluff penalty and a short gain put the ball at the 43, senior reserve running back Jackson Webb burst through the middle of the line virtually untouched for a 57-yard touchdown run. The kick made it 38-14 (10:56).
Following another Pine Bluff punt, the Bulldogs went back to work on offense, starting from their own 47. Kenny Wood got three yards to the 50 and Noland passed to Holt for 10 more to the Pine Bluff 40, moving the first down marker.
Then Noland lofted a pass downfield to a wide-open Kenny Wood inside the Pine Bluff 30. The senior running back caught the ball, then bounced off two would-be tacklers at the 25 before racing to the end zone. The kick by Grant Ennis made the score 45-14 (7:55).
Greenwood’s last score came on its next possession after another Zebras’ punt. From the Pine Bluff 49 the Bulldogs needed 10 plays to break the 50-point barrier, overcoming a procedure penalty along the way. On third down, Noland scrambled for eight yards and a first down at the Zebras’ 39.
Three plays later Wood moved the sticks with a seven-yard run to the 26. After another Wood run to the 23, Noland passed to Holt for 13 yards to the 10, and two snaps later the same two players hooked up for a nine-yard TD pass, invoking the mercy rule. The extra point pushed the score to 52-14 (2:04).
With the clock in motion almost continually, the final 14 minutes flew by quickly, with both teams substituting freely. GHS Head Coach Rick Jones and his staff brought many of the seniors and starters out of the game, so they could be recognized by the fans for their superb season and great careers.
So, a few thousand happy and satisfied Bulldogs’ fans returned home to Greenwood early Saturday morning savoring the sweet taste of victory after two seasons of coming up short in the title game. All things being equal, it’s just more fun to win.
Congratulations to the Pine Bluff Zebras for reaching the finals, but this was Greenwood’s year, and nothing was going to stop the determined Bulldogs from achieving their goal of a state championship.
These young men, along with their coaches and support staff, worked many long and exhausting hours to make their dream a reality, and the entire community of Greenwood owes them a debt of gratitude for their efforts. Good job, guys. We enjoyed the ride.