The Greenwood Junior High Bulldogs continue to plow full steam ahead through their 2020 schedule, notching yet another River Valley Conference victory last Thursday against the Fort Smith Darby Rangers. The game was played at Mayo-Thompson Stadium at Northside High School. With the win, Greenwood improved to 8-0.
With only two games left this season, the freshmen ‘Dogs have positioned themselves well to win the RVC title, needing victories on the road at Alma next week and at home against Harrison on November 5th to wrap up the league championship with an unbeaten record. Greenwood and Harrison are both undefeated in conference play.
Thursday’s contest got off to a slow start, with both teams turning the ball over on downs after their opening offensive series. But on Greenwood’s second possession, defensive pressure interrupted a planned swing pass from quarterback Slade Dean to running back L.J. Robins. The Darby defender stepped in-between the two and picked off the dump pass, taking it back 24 yards for the game’s first touchdown – the only one the Rangers would get. The extra point made it 7-0 in the opening minutes.
Unaccustomed to being behind this season, the Jr. ‘Dogs made quick work of tying the game, needing just one play to score after getting a break on the Rangers’ kickoff. The attempted onside kick failed to go the mandatory 10 yards, giving the visitors the football at the Darby 49.
On the first snap, Dean handed the ball to Robins, who found plenty of running room through the left side of the Rangers’ line, cutting back to the middle of the field all the way to the end zone. Kicker Bodie Steinfeldt booted the extra point to knot the score at 7-all.
But moments later the ‘Dogs were back in possession of the football and back in business offensively after an interception by Greenwood’s Braden Skaggs, who has been coming up big all season for the freshman ‘Dogs. The pick took place near midfield, giving the visitors the ball at their own 45.
A short pitch-pass from Dean to Austin Mitchell was good for nice yardage on first down, moving the ball to the Darby 36. After a pair of incomplete passes, Dean hooked up with Mitchell again over the middle near the 15. Mitchell was well-covered, but made a nice leaping two-handed catch, his momentum carrying him on into the end zone for the touchdown. The extra point made it 14-7 in favor of the Bulldogs.
But Greenwood was just getting warmed up, both offensively and defensively. Two more interceptions and a fumble recovery quickly followed as the Jr. ‘Dogs built a 42-7 halftime lead, invoking the mercy rule for the second half. They would add one additional score in the third quarter.
Defensive back Josh Allen snagged the next errant Darby missile, a deep throw picked off at the Greenwood 20. From there the GHS freshmen marched 80 yards in eight plays for their next score. On second down, Dean connected with twin brother Stone Dean for a first down at the 43. Receiver Peyton Presson then caught a pass that resulted in a touchdown after a long run, but the play was nullified by a penalty.
Back at their own 38, the ‘Dogs turned to L.J. Robins for a trio of nice runs to the Darby 32, setting up the scoring play by Austin Mitchell. Dean pitched the ball forward and Mitchell did the rest with his legs, finding ample running room down the Greenwood sideline, getting a key block from teammate Stone Dean. The kick made it 21-7, still in the opening period.
Losing their focus, the Rangers fumbled the ensuing kickoff. A pileup followed with Greenwood making the recovery at the Darby 27 on the last play of the first quarter. On the first snap of the second quarter, Dean rolled to his right and threw to a wide-open Peyton Presson in the end zone for the touchdown. Steinfeldt added the extra point for a 28-7 Greenwood advantage.
But the Rangers weren’t finished giving it up, throwing another interception just seconds later, this one picked off by Greenwood’s Josh Ligon, who flipped the field with a long return of 43 yards to the Darby 17. After a failed pass, Dean rolled out and found his brother Stone once again for the score. The PAT made it 35-7.
After forcing a Darby punt, the Greenwood offense returned to the field for one more score before the half. A six-play drive ended with a screen pass to Robins, who used his blockers efficiently then broke into the open to dash for the end zone. The play covered 50 yards and the subsequent kick made the score 42-7 at the half.
Under the mercy rule, the second half flew by, but not before the Jr. ‘Dogs padded their lead with their second offensive unit. Led by quarterback Cole Kindle, Greenwood needed eight plays to score, overcoming a big loss on a bad snap along the way. A 31-yard screen pass from Kindle to running back Carson Hobbs kept the drive alive and moved the sticks for a first down.
From the Darby 41, Kindle passed to Braden Skaggs at the 28, then hit Stone Dean at the 19. After a run to the 13, Kindle found Skaggs again across the field in the end zone for the score. Steinfeldt added the game’s final point to punctuate the 49-7 victory.
Greenwood Head Coach Shannon Rhea talked about the win, specifically commenting on his team’s slow start. “Darby did a good job at first with pressure, and created a pick six,” said Rhea. “[But] we did a better job with it as the game went on.”
As for the home stretch of the 2020 schedule, the coach said, “We have two big games left with Alma and Harrison. The conference title will come down to us and Harrison I believe, even though Harrison has to play at [Ft. Smith] Ramsey next week. We are at Alma next week, and that will always be a big game for us. Our players know what’s at stake, and I believe we will play well these last [two] weeks.”