For the third time in four seasons the Greenwood Bulldogs faced the Mountain Home Bombers in the 6A Quarterfinals. For the third time in four seasons, the Bulldogs ended the Bombers run in the Playoffs.
Coming off the Playoff Bye Week the Bulldogs were able to add Peyton Presson. Presson went down for a shoulder injury last season against Little Rock Christian. The Bombers received the opening kick, but their drive ended with a punt. Two passes to Grant Karnes got the Bulldogs down to the 2 yard line, where Brayedan Davis rushed it in from 2 yards out for the Touchdown. The Bodey Steinfeldt kick was good, 7-0. Mountain Home’s next drive ended on a punt as well. The Bulldogs worked their way into Bomber territory where Kane Archer found Peyton Presson for the Touchdown, kick after was good, 14-0. The Bombers made it to their own 35-yard line and stalled out punting the ball away again. The first quarter clock would go to zero on the Greenwood drive.
The Bulldogs marched down the field with Kane Archer on a 27 yard run, that looked to be a Touchdown. It was called out at the half-foot line, where Brayedan Davis punched it in for the score. Point after was good 21-0 in the 2nd quarter. The Bombers would punt it away on their next drive but a fumbled reception gave Mountain Home the ball at the 10-yard line. After a 9-yard run all the Bombers needed was a 1-yard run to get in the end zone. Point after kick was good making it 21-7 in the 2nd quarter. The Bulldogs stalled on their next drive punting the ball back to Mountain Home. A 51-yard run by Brayedan Davis put Greenwood in position to score before the end of the half. a sack and 3 incomplete passes end the opportunity as the clock expired.
To open the 2nd half the Bulldogs used runs from Brayedan Davis and Kane Archer to setup a Grant Karnes touchdown. Point after was good Greenwood 28, Mountain Home 7. A pass interference penalty on the Karnes touchdown had Greenwood kicking a short field from the Bomber 45-yard line. The onside kick would be recovered by Mountain Home. To Bomber passes had them on the Greenwood 5 yard line, where they would run it in around the right side. Point after was good 28-14. The Bulldogs responded back quickly with a 66-yard run from Brayedan Davis, point after good 35-14 Bulldogs. Mountain Home QB Cade Yates would be sacked by Brenden Chick on the next drive setting up another Bomber punt. On Greenwood’s possession, Kane Archer found Isaiah Arrington for a 42-yard pass to put the Bulldogs again in scoring position. Brayden Davis again got the call and gave the Bulldogs another touchdown. Point after was good, 42-14. Another punt capped Mountain Home’s drive. A 48-yard pass to L.J. Robins and 18-yard run from Davis, once again put the Bulldogs deep into Bomber territory. A pass to L.J. Robins for was good for a touchdown, point after was good, making it 49-14 and putting the game into Sportsmanship Rule. Mountain Home would run out the remainder of the 3rd quarter clock.
Facing 4th down on the Greenwood side of the 50-yard line, Mountain Home threw a Hail Mary into heavy coverage, it was incomplete turning the ball over to Greenwood. With the game in hand there was a change of personnel in the skill positions with Cooper Goodwin and Wesley Raggio taking most of the running clock work. Goodwin scampered in from 26-yards out for the touchdown. The point after was good making it 56-14. Mountain Home would start to drive down the field as time expired.
“We challenged them at halftime. I thought we were sloppy in the first half. Got off to a good start, up twenty-one to nothing and make a mistake on punt return and give up the touchdown. And disappointed in how we finished the half offensively.” Head Coach Chris Young said after the win put the Bulldogs in the Semi-Finals for the 8th consecutive season.
“Brayedan Davis had a big night, ya know. It was my fault, Coach Hogan and I talked that we should have ran him more in the first half.” Coach Young said, “Peyton Presson, having him back out there was huge.”
Greenwood will face Pulaski Academy in the Semi-Finals at Smith-Robinson Stadium, the day after Thanksgiving. This will be the Bulldogs 23rd Semi-Final appearance since 1996, with mind boggling 17th trip to the State Championship on the line. Tickets for the game can be purchased online when the link becomes available. The game will be livestreamed on Youtube for those out of town for the Holiday. If you are in town… show up, buy some concession stand food and support either the football or band booster club.
