Fifty years and one day after the Greenwood Bulldogs last traveled to Dardanelle, history had a familiar ending Friday night. On Oct. 8, 1976, Greenwood made the trip to face the Dardanelle Sand Lizards and returned home with a 35-0 victory. Five decades later, the Bulldogs returned to the same field and once again left with a convincing win, defeating Dardanelle 49-7 in 5A West conference action.
While the final score suggested another dominating performance by Greenwood, the Sand Lizards had a different approach to slowing down the Bulldogs’ high-powered offense. Dardanelle looked to control the clock, extending possessions and keeping Greenwood’s offense on the sidelines. The Sand Lizards opened the game with a time-consuming drive, electing to go for it on fourth down before turning the ball over on downs. Greenwood wasted little time taking advantage of the opportunity. Bulldogs quarterback Cruz Coatney went to work through the air, connecting with Ty Karnes, Braxton Canada and Ty Holt to move Greenwood deep into Dardanelle territory. Rhett Holloway finished the drive with a touchdown run, putting the Bulldogs ahead 7-0 with 6:16 remaining in the first quarter. Dardanelle’s next possession ended after a defensive stop by Elijah Ramos helped force a fourth-down punt. Coatney again went to the air, this time finding a wide-open Karnes for a touchdown. Landon Franklin added the extra point, extending Greenwood’s lead to 14-0 with 3:27 left in the opening quarter. The Sand Lizards continued their clock-controlling approach on the ensuing possession. An injury stoppage briefly interrupted play, but Dardanelle maintained possession and ran out the remainder of the first-quarter clock with Greenwood holding a 14-0 advantage.
The lengthy drive finally paid off for the Sand Lizards just 18 seconds into the second quarter, as Dardanelle punched the ball into the end zone to cut Greenwood’s lead to 14-7 with 11:42 remaining in the half. But any momentum gained by the Sand Lizards was short-lived. Coatney answered by finding Brayden Renick across the middle for a touchdown, restoring Greenwood’s two-score advantage at 21-7 with 10:26 remaining before halftime. Dardanelle again attempted to slow the pace of the game, methodically working its way downfield. However, the Bulldogs’ defense came up with another fourth-down stop, turning the ball back over to Greenwood. With less than two minutes remaining in the half, Coatney and the Bulldogs went to work. Passes to Brayden Brewer and Canada quickly moved Greenwood into the Dardanelle red zone. Coatney then found Canada over the top of a Sand Lizards defender for the touchdown, giving the Bulldogs a 28-7 lead with just 31 seconds remaining in the half. Dardanelle ran out the remaining seconds, sending both teams to the locker room with Greenwood holding a three-touchdown advantage.I
f the Sand Lizards hoped to make a second-half comeback, Greenwood had other plans. The Bulldogs received the second-half kickoff and immediately went back to work. Coatney connected with Renick and Canada to move Greenwood into scoring position before Holloway found the end zone for his second touchdown of the night. The score pushed Greenwood’s lead to 35-7 with 11:06 remaining in the third quarter. After forcing a Dardanelle punt, the Bulldogs’ offense suffered a rare miscue when Coatney was intercepted, giving the Sand Lizards another opportunity. But Greenwood’s defense held firm, forcing another Dardanelle punt and putting the ball back into the hands of the Bulldogs’ offense. Coatney continued finding success through the air with completions to Canada, while Holloway added to the ground attack. This time, Coatney called his own number, carrying the ball into the end zone with 4:55 remaining in the third quarter. The touchdown extended Greenwood’s lead to 42-7 and put the Arkansas Activities Association’s sportsmanship rule into effect, bringing a running clock for the remainder of the contest. Things continued to unravel for Dardanelle on its next possession. An option pitch went awry, and Greenwood’s Terry McGinster recovered the loose ball, giving the Bulldogs another opportunity deep in the second half.
Greenwood continued moving the ball with a completion to Cooper Webb and runs by Mario Dunbar and Holloway, carrying the drive into the fourth quarter. Ty Holt finished the possession, finding the end zone on his second attempt to extend the Bulldogs’ lead to 49-7 with 11:08 remaining in the game. Even with the outcome well in hand, Greenwood’s defense continued to make plays. Colton Lacy delivered a tackle for loss on third down during Dardanelle’s next possession, forcing another Sand Lizards punt. With Joey Young now directing the Bulldogs’ offense, Greenwood continued moving the ball through the air with completions to Karnes. The drive eventually stalled, forcing Greenwood to punt. Dardanelle was unable to generate another scoring opportunity, punting the ball back to Greenwood. The Bulldogs took over and ran out the remaining clock, putting the finishing touches on a 49-7 victory.
“I thought their coaches came out and had a great game plan for us.” Head Coach Jason Gill speaking on the long drives by the Dardanelle offense. “Get first downs, keep them all away from us.”
“I like to see our offense moving the ball, and they were, we just weren’t getting it to them quick enough.” Coach Gill said.
Greenwood is at home this upcoming Friday against Farmington. The Cardinals are sitting at 6-0 after a 51-20 win over Morrilton.
