Greenwood found the end zone through the air and on the ground Tuesday night as the Bulldogs pulled away from Fayetteville for a 37-21 victory in the annual benefit game.
The Bulldogs’ defense made its presence known early. Fayetteville’s opening possession ended on downs after Senior Terry McGinster came up with a sack to help turn the Purple Bulldogs away. Neither offense found much room over the next several possessions, with Greenwood punting before Fayetteville answered with a punt of its own. Greenwood began to find some rhythm when Senior Cruz Coatney connected with classmate Rhett Holloway for a reception that moved the Bulldogs into Fayetteville territory, but the drive eventually ended on downs. After another Greenwood defensive stop forced a Fayetteville punt, Coatney and the offense went back to work. This time, Coatney found a wide-open Ty Holt for the game’s first touchdown. The score and Senior Landon Franklin’s extra point gave Greenwood a 7-0 advantage with 56 seconds remaining in the opening quarter. Senior Charlie Hudnall made sure Fayetteville wouldn’t answer before the quarter ended, dropping the Purple Bulldogs for a loss as Greenwood carried its 7-0 lead into the second.
The Bulldogs doubled their advantage early in the second quarter when Holloway punched his way into the end zone with 10:19 remaining. Franklin’s kick was good, pushing Greenwood’s lead to 14-0. Fayetteville responded. The Purple Bulldogs scored through the air with 7:37 remaining in the half to cut the Greenwood advantage to 14-7. Less than a minute later, Fayetteville completely erased the deficit. Coatney’s pass intended for Braxton Canada was intercepted by C.J. Bailey, who returned it for a touchdown. The extra point tied the game at 14-14 with 7:01 remaining in the second quarter. Greenwood didn’t allow the sudden momentum swing to last long. Coatney went right back to Canada on the Bulldogs’ next possession, connecting on a pass that moved Greenwood into Fayetteville territory. Holloway followed with a pair of hard runs to move the Bulldogs near the goal line before Mario Dunbar finished the drive with a touchdown. Franklin’s extra point put Greenwood back in front 21-14 with 4:39 remaining in the half. Fayetteville nearly gave the ball right back when Thomas Newcity got his hands on a long pass but couldn’t quite secure the interception. The Purple Bulldogs took advantage of the second chance as Remington Thomas connected with Javion Walker for a 64-yard touchdown. The score tied things again at 21-21 with 3:19 remaining. Greenwood was stopped just short on fourth down on its next possession, but the Bulldog defense responded by forcing another Fayetteville turnover on downs. That gave Coatney one more opportunity before the varsity portion of the benefit game came to an end. He made it count. Passes to Senior Brayden Brewer and Holt moved the Bulldogs downfield before Coatney went deep to Canada for the touchdown. With just 32 seconds remaining in the varsity portion, Greenwood had regained the lead at 28-21. Fayetteville tried to answer before the break. Junior Drew Dickinson broke up a pass for the Greenwood defense, although a pass interference call on the following play kept the Purple Bulldogs moving before the half came to an end.
With the junior varsity squads taking over in the second half, Greenwood continued to control the game. Drake Little became the workhorse for the Bulldogs in the third quarter, carrying the load as Greenwood marched down the field. Little finished the drive with a touchdown with 5:30 remaining in the third, extending the Bulldog advantage to 35-21.Fayetteville possessed the ball as the third quarter expired, sending Greenwood into the final period with a two-touchdown lead. The Greenwood defense quickly forced a punt to begin the fourth quarter. Greenwood then drove all the way to the Fayetteville 9-yard line before the possession stalled. The Bulldogs didn’t have to wait long to add to their lead, however, as the defense came up with a safety. The two points pushed Greenwood’s advantage to 37-21 with 5:40 remaining. Greenwood punted the ball away with 33 seconds left, and Fayetteville ran out the remaining time to bring the JV portion of the benefit game to a close. When the night was finished, Greenwood had returned to form, with the varsity building a 28-21 lead before the JV added nine unanswered points in the second half to secure the 37-21 final.
“Just kind of the first game, Cruz settled in there at the end.” Head Coach Jason Gill said following the game. “Little high on few passes, but they settled in and finished the job.”
Defensively, there were some new guys that rose to the occasion Tuesday night. “We’re going to be able to go back and watch film and show just better angles that we just don’t get in practice.” Coach Gill said. “It’s going to be a good tape to go watch and just show them some things that we can improve.”
The Bulldogs are on the road for two weeks to start the season. They travel to Centerton, Arkansas, on Friday, October 28th, to face off against Bentonville West in Week 0. Then travel to Pulaski Academy in Week 1 before returning home against the Rogers Mounties in Week 2.
