Round 2 of the Class 6A Playoffs is Friday November 18th with Greenwood taking on Russellville.
October 21st Greenwood traveled to Russellville to take on the Cyclones in what ended up being a 42-21 win for the Bulldogs. Less than a month later those same Cyclones make the trip to Smith-Robinson Stadium for the 2nd round of the Playoffs. Greenwood is coming off a Bye Week in the first round as the #1 Seed out of the 6A West. Russellville was the 6A West 5th Seed just ahead of Mountain Home. In the first round Russellville defeated West Memphis 30-26.
Greenwood’s potent offense saw Receiver Peyton Presson go down in the Week 10 matchup against Little Rock Christian. A game that saw Greenwood take its second loss to bookend the regular season at 8-2. In Presson’s place several receivers filled the void, Sophomore Hudson Meeker, son of former Greenwood standout receiver Terrell Meeker, came into the game and carried some of the workload. What combination of receivers will we see this Friday will be decision we will see in warm-ups.
Defensive Coordinator Jason Gill, will have a scheme ready for the multiple looks the Cyclones will throw at the Bulldogs defense. Linebacker Evan Williams was recently featured in an article on the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette as an Under the radar player. Rightfully so as the Senior Linebacker has amassed 127 tackles this season. The defense was tested early in the October 21st game against Russellville between the running of Junior RB Tracey Daniels and Senior TE Ben Haulmark.
Other games in the Class 6A Playoffs. On the top side, left side, Greenwood’s side, however you want to look at, West 3 seed Lake Hamilton travels to central Arkansas to take on Benton the 2 seed out of the East. Benton a former member of the 6A West until this years Conference re-alignment is very familiar with the Wolves from Lake Hamilton. The winners of Lake Hamilton vs Benton and Greenwood vs Russellville, will meet in the Semi-Finals the day after Thanksgiving. A Greenwood win would have either the Wolves or Benton Panthers traveling to Greenwood. A Russellville win will have the Cyclones traveling to either Lake Hamilton or Benton, as the higher seed gets home field advantage.
On the other side of the bracket, three of the remaining 4 teams are Private Schools out of the Little Rock area. The number one seed out of the 6A East Little Rock Catholic hosts Little Rock Christian, which maybe the first time this season the undefeated Rockets are tested. The other game on that side is Mountain Home traveling to Pulaski Academy. The “What if’s” on this side are a bit more interesting. If Catholic wins and Pulaski wins, Pulaski travels to War Memorial a week early as that is Catholic’s field. If the Warriors beat Catholic, and a Pulaski win, Pulaski hosts Little Rock Christian. The long shot is a Mountain Home win and they would travel back to Little Rock either way.
The Class 6A season is down to its final three weeks and currently teams look primed to make run to earn a trip to the Rock.
