The Greenwood Junior High Bulldogs continued their total domination of opponents this season with a 49-0 drilling of the Fort Smith Kimmons Raiders last Thursday night at Smith-Robinson Stadium. The victory marked the third consecutive shutout for the freshmen defense after allowing just 12 points in their season-opening win over Shiloh Christian.
The victory pushed the team’s River Valley Conference mark to 2-0 with six games still on the league schedule, including next week’s home game against Pea Ridge, the newest members of the RVC. The start time for all remaining ninth grade games this season is 6 p.m.
Greenwood has home contests remaining against Pea Ridge and Van Buren the next two weeks, then hits the road for two games in Fort Smith (Ramsey and Darby) before traveling to Alma. The Jr. ‘Dogs end their season at home against Harrison on November 5th, a game that will likely decide the conference championship.
Last Thursday the GHS freshmen scored early and often, building a 28-0 lead in the first quarter and a 42-0 margin by the end of the first half. A single touchdown in the second half accounted for the 49-0 final score. Kimmons coughed up the football with three first half turnovers, and never really came close to scoring in the contest against Greenwood’s defense.
The Jr. ‘Dogs started the game on offense after a short kick-off by the Raiders. From his own 44, quarterback Slade Dean completed a quick left sideline toss to receiver Austin Mitchell for a gain to the Kimmons’ 43. Dean then found Mitchell again, this time on the right side, for a completion, and the Greenwood receiver did the rest with his legs, sprinting to the end zone for the game’s first touchdown. Kicker Bodie Steinfeldt added the extra point for a 7-0 Greenwood lead.
But before the Raiders could recover, the visiting Bulldogs hit them again. Great kick coverage by Greenwood put Kimmons in poor field position at their own 9-yard-line. A penalty moved the ball to the 14, but moments later a bad pitch by the Raiders’ quarterback was scooped up by Greenwood’s Braden Skaggs and returned 16 yards for another score. The PAT was good.
Trailing 14-0, the Raiders’s QB made another fatal mistake, throwing the ball deep to near midfield where Greenwood defensive back Josh Ligon picked off the pass and returned it to the Kimmons 38. The Jr. ‘Dogs scored two plays later when running back L.J. Robins raced around right end all the way to the end zone for six more points. Steinfeldt’s kick made it 21-0.
But Greenwood wasn’t finished scoring in the opening period. After Kimmons got a good kick return and ran eight consecutive rushing plays, reaching the visitors’ 21, a penalty and two incomplete passes ended the possession. Greenwood took over at its own 26, and again needed just two snaps of the ball to score.
Dean completed a first down pass to Noah Chaser for 14 yards to the 40, setting up the touchdown on the next play. L.J. Robins then got his second touch of the game and his second TD after sprinting down the left sideline and outrunning the defensive pursuit on his way to the end zone. The kick made it 28-0 late in the first quarter.
On Kimmons’ next offensive series, the Raiders’ quarterback was sacked by Greenwood’s Kaleb Garner and Peyton Presson, causing a fumble that was recovered by their teammate, Jacob Ravey, at the home 26-yard-line.
In at running back, Carson Hobbs ran three times for 12 yards to the Kimmons 14, before quarterback Slade Dean found receiver Brady Mackey wide open in the middle of the end zone for the touchdown. Steinfeldt added the extra point for a 35-0 Greenwood advantage, still in the second quarter.
The Raiders gave the ball back to the Jr. Bulldogs moments later after failing on a fourth down try in their own territory. From the home 33-yard-line, Greenwood needed just three plays to score again as halftime approached. Replacing Dean behind center, Cole Kindle completed his first two pass attempts to Josh Ligon for 15 yards. From the seven, Hobbs then carried in for the touchdown. The extra point followed, and Greenwood led 42-0 at the half, ensuring that the mercy rule would be in play for the final two periods.
The only score of the very brief second half came in the fourth quarter after yet another Kimmons’ turnover. A low shotgun snap at the quarterback’s feet was recovered by Greenwood’s Alec Middleton at the Raiders’ 5-yard-line. Brayden Davis carried in for the touchdown on the very next play. Bodie Steinfeldt added the game’s final point to make the score 49-0.
Head Coach Shannon Rhea was not at Thursday’s game due to possible exposure to the Covid-19 virus that has sidelined the entire seventh grade program at Greenwood for two weeks, forcing the cancellation of several games. The coach and his two seventh grade teams will hopefully return healthy and ready to resume their season after the 24th of the month.
In his absence, the three remaining members of his staff are responsible for the eighth and ninth grade teams that continue to play, with assistance as needed from the varsity staff. Rhea’s assistant coaches include offensive coordinator Josh Holloway, defensive coach Eric Daniel, and line coach Brian Sims.