There are many reasons for the uncanny success of the GHS varsity football program, not the least of which is the strength and continuity of the junior high program that trains players in the same system starting in the seventh grade. Many of those same players begin their gridiron careers as elementary students and members of the Pit Bulls. Luke Hales was one of those players just a few years ago before starring at quarterback for the Bulldogs and later the University of Central Arkansas Bears. Hales has since returned to Greenwood and is now head coach of the Jr. Bulldogs.
The 2024 campaign will be Hales’ third season as head coach after posting an impressive record of 17-3 over the past two seasons. But the young head coach believes this year’s squad of Junior Bulldogs may be his best so far, and that’s saying something. What’s the evidence? First of all, their numbers are up, with over 50 players on this year’s squad. But more importantly, this particular group of young men have never lost a game – not in seventh grade and not in eighth grade. They would love to make that same claim at the end of their ninth-grade season. But it won’t be easy with a revamped conference schedule.
There are several new teams this season on Greenwood’s freshmen schedule, both in conference and non-conference play, and none of them are pushovers. They are playing just two non-conference games against Nashville in week one and Lake Hamilton in week eight. They start next Thursday, August 29th, on the road at Nashville, a perennial football power among small schools in Arkansas. They open conference play at home the next week against Alma before traveling to Pea Ridge the next week, September 12th. After that comes Van Buren at home on the 19th.
Then begins a gauntlet of conference games as tough as anything the Jr. ‘Dogs have ever faced. After Van Buren, Greenwood will travel to Farmington on September 26, then host Harrison on October 3rd. Up next the GHS freshmen travel to Shiloh Christian on the 10th then to Lake Hamilton on the 17th. Back to conference play, their final home game will be October 24th against Siloam Springs before closing out the season on the road at Clarksville on Halloween night. The Junior Bulldogs won’t really have an open date, allowing Hales and his staff to join the varsity coaches in time for their regular season finale and the playoffs in November.
The Junior Bulldogs traveled with the varsity team to Fayetteville last Tuesday for their annual scrimmage and the GHS freshmen won their game 21-19. The contest ended with both teams playing their third string lineups and the Greenwood defense tagged the Fayetteville quarterback just before he threw what would have been a tying two-point conversion pass, preserving the win for the visitors. “It came down to a two-point conversion at the end of the game, so it was kind of fun and exciting for the kids. It was pretty cool,” said Coach Hales.
Asked to give an overall assessment of his team’s potential this season, Hales said, “We have a great group of young men this year. They are a really talented group of big boys and skill guys. We think we really have the total package this year, similar to the kids who are seniors now when they were ninth graders. We’re talented. We’re fast. We’re strong. We’re going to be one of the better teams in our conference, and we’re hoping to finish the season with a conference championship.”
Not to slight his previous junior high squads, but Coach Hales agreed that this is probably his most talented group of players so far. “I think so,” he said. “Every group is a little different. Last year’s team got better and better, and I don’t think there was anybody in the conference that wanted to play us at the end of the season. I think this team has more potential, but that doesn’t mean they are going to be better. Potential is just out there. They’ve got to go do it. But to this point they’ve awesome. They’ve worked really hard. They love to practice, and they love to compete.”
Asked about his numbers, Hales said, “We have 53 players on the ninth-grade team, and that’s probably more than we normally have. We usually have 40 to 45, but 53 is a good number for us.” The coach agreed that success and winning on both the junior high and varsity levels tends to generate more interest in football and encourages kids to want to be a part of it.
The freshmen head coach also reiterated that his goal is to start 22 different kids, 11 on offense and 11 on defense, giving as many kids as possible the chance to start, with many others playing part-time in a reserve role. “We are going to play some guys both ways, but rotate them both ways,” said Hales, whose ultimate goal is to prepare players for the varsity level, something the freshmen program at Greenwood has done very well for a long time.
As for his starting lineup this coming Thursday at Nashville, beginning with the offense, Coach Hales said, “We’re going to have three quarterbacks. We’ve got two who are kind of fast, speed guys, and one that’s more of a thrower. They are Braxton Canada, Dabin Gaines, and Jubal Parks. Braxton is really fast. He played receiver for us last year [as an 8th grader]. He’s a dynamic player who can throw or run. He can do it all. Jubal plays on defense. He’s played receiver. Both of those kids we count on a lot on special teams as well. Gaines is a developmental kid who’s been doing a good job for us. He has some ability and talent and should have a good year too.
“It’s challenging when you have three guys, to figure out how everybody fits and get everybody the ball, but its rewarding when you have a group of kids that do it the right way, and do it for each other, and really want to win. We want our quarterbacks to be football players, to be aggressive and play with their hair on fire and inspire other players. We want them all to get as many reps as possible to get them ready for the varsity and a chance to win a state championship,” said the coach.
Likewise, the freshmen ‘Dogs will have several running backs, starting with Drake Little. “He’s a quick, fast kid who can get around the end and does everything right. He’s the leader of our team. We ask him to do a lot off the field and in the locker room to set the tone for us. Drew Dickinson will also carry the ball for us. Gunner Flanary will carry the ball for us, and Luke Wilson will carry the ball a little as well.”
When his team throws the ball, Hales has a wealth of receivers eager to catch it as well. “We’ll have a bunch of receivers. Canada will play some receiver and will be a big target for us. Jevin Tilson will be a receiver.” Lawson Leath, William Rye, Jayden Campbell, and J.C. McMillen will also play receiver, said their coach. Rye played on the freshmen squad last season as an eighth grader.
Up front the offensive line is big and talented, led by Jaxen Cepeda, according to Hales. “He’s a big, strong kid that plays right tackle for us. He’ll play some on the defensive line as well. We’ll have Walker Fink at left tackle. Aden Brazel and Daxon Cameron will rotate at center, and Bryce Davis and Thomas Ball will be our guards.” Asher Freeman, Robert Wirth, Bentley Netherton, and Matthew Craven will also rotate in along the O-line to provide depth.
Switching gears, Hales talked with equal enthusiasm about his defense, starting with the line. “Our defensive line is going to be awesome this year,” he said. “They are super-fast. At nose guard we have Gunnar Flanery, and teams are going to have a really hard time blocking him. He’s fast and strong. He’s the strongest kid in the weight room. He will also play some running back for us. Hunter Crawford will play an end for us and also play some at receiver. Keagan Rice will be the other end. Those three guys will be the anchors up front.
“At linebacker we have Bryan Hackler, a move-in [from Oklahoma] who has impressed us. He’s super strong, super-fast, and super physical. Jacob Pugh is a linebacker/defensive end. He kind of moves around. Landon Cooper and Seth Wood will see some time at linebacker, as will Coltin Lacy and Cameron Jones. In the secondary our corners will be a rotation with William Rye, Brooks Belcher, and J.C. McMillen. At safety we’ll have Drew Dickinson, Luke Wilson, and Will Houston, Hunter Houston’s little brother, will play some safety for us.”
Coach Hales’ rundown of his starters and backups make it abundantly clear that this team has plenty of depth on both sides of the ball. “We do,” he said. “We have guys that have trained on both sides of the ball for a while, at multiple positions, which is good. We’re going to get a bunch of kids on the field.”
The junior high staff also has a new member this season in defensive coordinator Brandon Godfrey, who replaces the departed Eric Daniel. “Coach Godfrey came to us from Rison. He was the defensive coordinator there and he has been awesome for our program. He’s changed the energy in the junior high program. He’s been a varsity head coach before [at McCrory, AR], and was the defensive line coach at Mountain Home. The kids love him.”
In conclusion, Hales made the point that this group of ninth graders have yet to lose a game in junior high, saying, “They have made it their goal to keep it that way. But we’re going to have some challenges. The tough part of our schedule is in the middle of our season when we play Farmington, Harrison, Shiloh Christian, and Lake Hamilton [in succession]. We’ll have some exciting games, so I encourage people to come out and watch us on Thursday nights.”