On a cold cold Friday night the Varsity Bulldogs, looked to the scoreboard in the South Endzone and saw who their next Playoff opponent would be, former 6A West Conference team the Benton Panthers.
Benton the 2nd seed out of the 6A East, boasts a similar record to the Bulldogs at 9-2. Their only losses coming coming from Saline County rival and 7A Powerhouse Bryant in the Salt Bowl and Conference Champ Little Rock Catholic. Benton also found themselves in nearly similar territory facing Lake Hamilton last week, preceding up to the game it was claimed that Benton did not have a defense capable of making a run in the playoffs. Much like the Bulldogs, the Panthers shut out the Wolves 31-0.
“Our guys want to play Greenwood at Greenwood” Benton Head Coach Brad Harris told the Saline Courier. “We haven’t beat them [Greenwood] there – they’re really good at home and we know that..”
Benton has a Junior QB in Cline Hooten that has risen up for the Panthers as well as former Arkansas commit Braylen Russell at running back.
“We’re familiar with them, obviously they’ve got a running back that everyone in the country has offered and it starts with him. We’ve got to figure out a way to stop that guy, but our defensive guys will get to work and we’ll figure it out.” Head Coach Chris Young.
Greenwood has one of the most versatile Offenses and a hard hitting defense that is healed and ready to go for Friday nights match up.
With last weeks game against Russellville, Hunter Houston became just the second QB to throw for 3,000 yards in consecutive seasons at Greenwood since 1994. The other being Tyler Wilson. 96-98 QB Brooks Coatney threw for 3,000 yards twice but they were his Sophomore and Senior seasons. Seven QB’s have thrown for 3,000 yards in season since 1994, the two mentioned above, Anthony Hancock, Hayden Smith, Jabe Burgess, Peyton Holt, and Jace Pressley.
Greenwood is currently on it’s 27th consecutive trip to the Playoffs. This will be the 22nd time they have played in a Semi-Final game, a win on Friday will give the Bulldogs their 16th trip to the State Championship.
The perk to playing in November, practicing on Thanksgiving. “9 a.m. we hope to see all of our fans. It’s a tradition in Greenwood that was started a long time before I got here. I’m excited to be a part of it. We hope to see all of our Bulldogs fans at 9 o’clock Thursday morning for our practice, we’ll buy you Coffee and doughnuts.” Head Coach Chris Young said following the Russellville win.
Who awaits Greenwood or Benton on the other side of the bracket? The winner of Little Rock Catholic versus Pulaski Academy. Catholic won a thriller against Little Rock Christian, with a Touchdown to win the game with 0:04 seconds left. Pulaski Academy absolutely steam-rolled Mountain Home. Catholic hosts Pulaski Academy at War Memorial on Friday at 7. Greenwood hosts Benton at Smith-Robinson Stadium in Greenwood on Friday at 7.
