With just one game left on their mixed up 2021 schedule, the Greenwood freshmen Bulldogs are one victory away from their second consecutive undefeated season after last Thursday’s impressive 46-18 win over the visiting Jr. Pointers of Van Buren. Leading by just two points (14-12) with 4:37 left in the second quarter, Greenwood scored three more times before the half ended to take charge of the River Valley Conference contest at the break, 33-12.
Two more second half scores were enough to put the game away as the Greenwood defense held Van Buren’s powerful running game to just one touchdown over the final 16 minutes of play. The 28-point victory over a very good Pointers team was the 19th consecutive win for the Jr. Bulldogs, who are 8-0 this season. They host Alma next week in their season finale.
The weather was challenging Thursday evening with light rain throughout the day, temperatures in the 50s, and a strong wind blowing out of the northwest that affected both the passing game and kickoffs. But the weather was no obstacle for the home team, led by eighth-grade quarterback Kane Archer, surrounded by a wealth of talent both at receiver and at running back. No less than five different players scored touchdowns for Greenwood, with running back Jeremy Lawyer finding the end zone three times.
Van Buren received the opening kick, wind blown into the south end zone for a touchback. From their own 20, the Pointers then embarked on an impressive 12-play scoring drive that ate up six minutes of the first quarter. Greenwood helped out by jumping offsides on a fourth down play, moving the chains and keeping the possession alive. The touchdown came five plays later on a 20-yard run, but a fake extra point run play was sniffed out by the Greenwood defense.
Trailing 6-0 before taking their first snap, the Jr. Bulldogs wasted little time in responding to the threat from Crawford County, needing just 1:16 to drive 51 yards in seven plays and take the lead away from the visitors. Van Buren’s squib kick was skillfully covered by the Bulldogs at their own 49, but a penalty soon moved the ball back five yards.
A short pitch-pass from Archer to Grant Karnes reached the 50 before Archer connected with Daniel Burton at the visitors’ 40-yard-line for a first down. Two snaps later Karnes caught another pass at the 30, moving the sticks again before Archer targeted Burton once more at the 23, setting up the touchdown on the next snap, a perfect strike to Karnes at the goal line in traffic for the score (:42). The kick by Zachery Edwards was good, putting Greenwood on top, 7-6.
The Greenwood defense and a procedure penalty sabotaged Van Buren’s next possession, forcing a punt to the home 35-yard-line after a short return by Daniel Burton early in the second quarter. The Jr. ‘Dogs then made quick work of their next score, driving 65 yards in six easy plays, or so it seemed. Kane Archer scrambled on first down for 14 yards to the 49, followed by Jeremy Lawyer, who got eight yards to the Van Buren 43.
The budding Greenwood QB then threw to Grant Karnes at the 28 and to Zachery Edwards at the 17 before scrambling out of trouble once again to the 3-yard-line. The touchdown came on the next snap when Daniel Burton made a nice diving catch in the end zone (5:54). The extra point was good by Edwards, and the Greenwood lead increased to 14-6.
Yet, the visitors still believed and showed the strength of their offensive line and ground game with a pair of long runs that netted a quick six points. The first dash was for 17 yards into Greenwood territory, but two snaps later a 46-yard scamper reached the end zone. Another two-point try failed and the Pointers still trailed 14-12.
But the final 4:37 of the half would be huge for the freshmen Bulldogs, especially the defense. But their next score came in conventional style, driving 62 yards in seven plays, most of which involved Archer throwing to Karnes. The two hooked up on five consecutive passes for 49 yards to the Van Buren 13 before a sixth pass fell incomplete in the end zone. Facing fourth-and-two, Archer then kept the ball around right end for the touchdown. Edwards’ kick was good (2:26).
Leading 21-12, the home defense took the field after the kick return to the Van Buren 25. But three snaps into the possession, Greenwood defensive back Kaylor Jasna nabbed an errant pass near the visitors’ 40 and returned it all the way to the 3-yard-line. Unfortunately, a personal foul penalty on the Bulldogs pushed the ball back to the 18.
But it made no difference as Archer threw to Karnes in the end zone on first down, with the dynamic receiver making a leaping catch over a defender for the touchdown. The extra point kick by Edwards banged off the upright, keeping the Greenwood lead at 27-12 with 1:47 left in the first half. But the home team wasn’t done yet.
Hoping to score themselves before the half expired, the Pointers drove from their own 35, using their timeouts and a well-executed 20-yard screen pass to reach the Greenwood 15-yard-line. But with just three ticks remaining on the clock, the Van Buren quarterback telegraphed a pass that floated toward a receiver near the 10-yard-line, a perfect opportunity for Greenwood defensive back Isiah Arrington, who stepped in front of the ball and raced almost unhindered down the east sideline for a pick-six. The play covered 91 yards and gave the Jr. ‘Dogs a 33-12 halftime lead after a failed two-point play.
The home team also received the opening kick of the second half and quickly reasserted themselves offensively with a three-play drive covering 55 yards for their sixth touchdown. Starting at the GHS 45 after another Van Buren squib kick, Archer threw to Karnes for 19 yards to the visitors’ 36, then found Arrington for a 33-yard catch-and-run to the Van Buren 3-yard-line. Jeremy Lawyer then carried in for the score on the next snap. This time Edwards’ kick was good (7:05).
Trailing 40-12 after giving up 26 unanswered points, the Jr. Pointers finally regrouped offensively and pounded out another methodical, time-consuming drive. It ended with a 10-yard TD run on the 11th play of the possession covering 65 yards and taking 5:28 off the scoreboard clock (1:37). Another two-point attempt failed, making the score 40-18.
The game’s final touchdown came just over two minutes later after what turned out to be one of the strangest plays of the season due to a colossal mistake by the officials. Starting from their own 40, the Bulldogs quickly picked up a first down at the 50 before a holding penalty knocked them back to their own 41, and that’s when it happened, or not?
Taking the snap, Archer fired the ball downfield to Grant Karnes near the Van Buren 40, but the pass sailed low, about knee-high to the streaking receiver, who deftly caught it using only his left hand while being well-guarded, then punctuated his circus catch by dashing all the way to the end zone for the apparent touchdown.
But wait! Suddenly the officials huddled and headed to the Greenwood sideline to explain things to the home coaching staff. It seemed that one or more of the officials inadvertently blew their whistles during the play, essentially nullifying it as if the play never occurred, taking the touchdown off the scoreboard and depriving Karnes of a spectacular reception. Needless to say, the Greenwood coaches were not happy with the result.
But the Bulldogs proved unflappable. Two snaps later Isiah Arrington ran for 27 yards to the Van Buren 32 on the final play of the third quarter. Archer then passed to Daniel Burton twice, reaching the Pointers’ 13-yard-line. After an incompletion, Archer handed off to Jeremy Lawyer, who made easy work of juking his way around left end for the score.
The extra point failed, but the Bulldogs still held a commanding 46-18 lead that would hold up over the next seven minutes. The Pointers managed to drive into GHS territory on their final possession, with several of Greenwood’s defensive starters out of the game, but the drive fizzled at the 25-yard-line. Greenwood then ran out the remaining time (:39) for the win.