For the 70th time since a playoff loss to El Dorado in 2014, the Greenwood Bulldogs were victorious at home. They defeated the Mountain Home Bombers in the Class 6A Semi-Finals 42-0.
The Bulldogs set the tone early, forcing the Bombers to punt on their first drive, after stops by Seniors Cash Archer, Eddy Castelo, Zach Zitsmann. Greenwood took the opportunity to take it down the field, with a run by Junior Kane Archer for the Touchdown. Long Snapper Wyatt Edwards’ snap to Blaze McDaniel was perfect for the Hudson Meeker kick. Bulldogs on top 7-0 8:48 in the first quarter. Mountain Home punted the ball on their second drive after a pass break-up by Senior Cash Owenby. Archer tried to go to Junior Champ Davis on a deep pass over the middle, but it was incomplete at the back of the end zone. He did find Grant Karnes for the first time on the night to go up 14-0 with 3:31 in the first quarter. The Bombers punted again in the first quarter after a Senior Radley O’Neal pass break up. Kane Archer finds Grant Karnes again going down the sideline for the touchdown with 1:34 left in the first quarter, ‘Dogs up 21-0. Mountain Home ran out the rest of the quarter.
The Bombers started making progress on this drive with two first down passes and Jacob Chenoweth rushing. Chenoweth set the school’s career rushing yardage record for the Bombers. The Greenwood defense would hang tough with stops from Seniors Mark Garretson and Gage Hanna. The Bombers punted to the Bulldogs. Kane Archer would find Champ Davis for the second time on the night. 28-0 with 7:25 left in the half. On the first play of the Mountain Home drive, Senior Kaylor Jasna forced a Bomber fumble but was nearly recovered by Senior Zach Edwards just out of bounds. The drive ended with a punt. A pass to Junior Cooper Bland over the middle and a penalty set-up Kane Archer finding a leaping Champ Davis putting the game into sportsmanship rule territory. 35-0 5:10 left in the half. Mountain Home punted on their next drive. After a Kane Archer run, the Bulldogs went to the air to find Grant Karnes for the touchdown with 1:15 in the half. The Bombers ran out the rest of the clock.
Runs by Wesley Raggio and Mario Dunbar opened the second half. Greenwood drove down to the Bomber eight-yard line opting to kick a field goal. The kick would go to the right. Mountain Home drove down the field running out the clock in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter the Bulldog defense held tough with a Bryar Hackler stop on fourth down. Greenwood fumbled on their possession. A stop by Charlie Hudnall and Deandre Stephens halted the Bombers’ drive, forcing them to punt. Greenwood punted for just the third time all season with a D.J. Dobbins kick. Mountain Home ran out the clock on the game.
“Excited for these guys. You don’t get to do a lot of things for the first time at Greenwood. The tradition of football is so strong here.” Head Coach Chris Young said following the game. “This group just made the fifth consecutive State Championship game and that’s the first time ever. I’m so proud of those kids, the coaches, and just our community. They’ve worked so hard to get this.”
This was the third straight shutout for the Bulldogs with a tough test against a talented Shiloh Christian team for the State Championship. With the Bulldogs extending their home game winning streak to 70, they are now 141-7 at home since 2004.
The Class 6A State Championship game will be at noon on Saturday at War Memorial in Little Rock. Presumably, as they have in the last noon kickoff State Championship games, the Bulldogs will be heading out early from the High School Saturday morning. Other State Championship week activities will be shared as soon as they are available.
