Greenwood wins Football 6A West Conference Championship on the within the same week of Volleyball’s State Runner-Up and Girls Cross Country State Championship.
Hype (N): “Extravagant or intensive publicity or promotion”. The game lived up to its billing as the Greenwood Bulldogs welcomed the Little Rock Christian Warriors into Smith-Robinson Stadium. Both teams undefeated in conference play, the Warriors only blemish on their record a loss to Shiloh Christian. Two Quarterbacks with Division 1 offers. Two defenses that have been shutting out teams all season. Winner takes the Conference Championship and the #1 seed in the Playoffs. It was everything you could want in a Week 10 match-up.
LR Christian would get the opening kickoff and stall out on their own 42 yard line. On 4th down the Warriors punted, but the Bulldogs would fumble the reception giving the ball back to the Warriors. A double forward pass penalty had Christian facing 4th down, they went with the safe bet and kicked the field goal, 3-0. On the ensuing kickoff Junior Grant Karnes took it down the home for 90 yards for the Touchdown, Bodey Steinfeldt’s kick was good making it 7-3 in the opening quarter. The Warriors drove down the field to the Bulldog 25-yard line, where Auburn commit Walker White scrambled to the Visitor sideline and in for the LR Christian touchdown. Point after was good, 10-7. Greenwood would run out the clock with hard running from Senior Brayedan Davis.
Greenwood opened the 2nd quarter with a 2 yard run from Sophomore Kane Archer, point after was good 14-10 capping off a 13 play 75 yard drive. Warriors got down to the Bulldog 30-yard line on their next drive, when under pressure Walker White throws an interception to Senior Brady Mackey in the end zone. Greenwood would trade the interception back to the Warriors, who took it into the end zone for a touchdown. Point after was good 14-17 in the 2nd Quarter. Greenwood’s next drive had Kane Archer connecting with Junior Isaiah Arrington for a 68 yard pass, the ball was fumbled at the one rolling into the end zone and recovered by Grant Karnes for the touchdown. Kick was good 21-17. LR Christian answered back with a 78-yard drive of their own to out them up 24-21 over the Bulldogs. On Greenwood’s next possession Kane Archer found Isaiah Arrington again this time with three defenders for the 46 yard touchdown, point after good 28-24. The Warriors drive would be stopped again, this time on a Senior Caden Nelms interception. Greenwood starting from the Warrior 34-yard line needed 3 plays and less than 30 seconds of game clock to find the end zone. With 1 second remaining in the half, Archer rolls to his right and throws it up to Senior L.J. Robins in the end zone for the touchdown. Point after was good to make it 35-24 at the half.
A penalty from the last touchdown was assessed on the kickoff for the 2nd half and had Little Rock Christian kicking from the Greenwood 45 yard line. With a bulk of the running coming from Brayedan Davis, 15 plays and 80 yards later, Kane Archer rumbles into the the end zone from 8 yards out. The Bodey Steinfeldt point after was good pushing the Greenwood lead to 42-24. The Warriors refused to go quietly into the night, a kick off return brought the ball out to their 40-yard line and from there they put together a drive that was capped by a 1-yard run from Walker White. A penalty on the point after attempt moved the ball closer to the goal line, the Warriors would go for a 2-point conversion and get it making the score 42-32. The Bulldogs got into the Red Zone, in their next drive, from pass and catch to L.J. Robins and a Kane Archer 21 yard run. The drive would be capped by another Archer scramble for 6 yards. Point after was good 49-32. The 3rd quarter clock ran out on the Warriors drive.
Starting the 4th quarter Walker White would find an open receiver for the 46-yard touchdown pulling them within 10 points. Greenwood would stall out for the first time in the game on their own 21 punting the ball away to Little Rock Christian. The Greenwood defense held on a fourth down after a Eli Whittaker sack on 3rd down. The pressure from Junior Cash Archer, flushed the QB out of the pocket where the Senior Whittaker was able to tackle Walker White. Once again Brayedan Davis would take a bulk of the drive running down to the Warrior 13-yard line, setting up a Archer to Robins touchdown. The Jack Edwards snap, Blaze McDaniel hold, and Steinfeldt kick was good making the score 56-39. Little Rock Christian would get to the Greenwood 30-yard line and an uncharacteristic mis-communication from the Warriors sent the Walker White pass deep into the end zone with no Warrior receivers. It would be intercepted by Senior Brady Mackey. Greenwood ran the rest of the clock out taking a knee.
“I’m really really proud.” Head Coach Chris Young said after the game. “That’s a heck of a football team we just beat.”
“Really good win for our kids, they didn’t give up, they competed.” Coach Young went to say, “Good night to be a Bulldog.”
When asked about the play of both Quarterbacks Head Coach Chris Young said “They both played great. Their kid (Walker White) is unbelievable. I’ll cheer for that kid down the road, because he’s going to be a heck of college football player. But, Kane was great tonight.”
The Bulldogs have a first round bye and will face the winner of the Mountain Home – Little Rock Catholic game. The Bulldogs have home field advantage for the Quarterfinals and the Semi-Finals with hopes of playing at 6:30 on December 1st in War Memorial. This marks the 28th consecutive season the Bulldogs are making a run for a State Championship dating back to 1996. With a mind boggling 17th State Championship appearance, in that same time, on the horizon.
