El Dorado to host Greenwood in league clash

Has El Dorado and Greenwood ever met on the gridiron in a game that didn’t have playoff implications? The answer is no and tonight’s game at Memorial Stadium is no different.

Although it’s early in the conference schedule, this match-up will give the winner a big boost in the 6A-West race.

The Bulldogs, ranked No. 1 in 6A and the defending state champions, bring a 3-1 overall record, including a 41-6 win over Little Rock Hall in the league opener last week.

The Wildcats (2-2 overall) won impressively 28-6 at Lake Hamilton a week ago.

“They’re ranked No. 1 in 6A. I think this would be a huge win for us, obviously,” said El Dorado coach Scott Reed.

“It would give our kids a ton of confidence going into the second half of the season. With this group, I don’t think they’re in awe of anybody and I don’t think they should be.

“I think there’s going to be two good teams on the field Friday. I think it’s going to be a hardfought game.”

Greenwood opened the season with a 31-16 loss to 7A Fort Smith Northside.

Since then, the Bulldogs walloped Fort Smith Southside (5227) and Sand Springs, Oklahoma 49-13 in non-conference.

Led by Arkansas football signee Connor Noland, the Bulldogs beat El Dorado 52-21 last year.

This year, Greenwood’s leader is senior QB Peyton Holt, who was the team’s star receiver a year ago.

“They’re different. Their quarterback is more of a run threat. He’s kind of their do-it-all guy,” said Reed.

“He was one of their playmakers last year. They moved him from inside receiver to quarterback and now the ball is in his hands every play,” said El Dorado defensive coordinator Justin Wylie. “Last year when he was at receiver, he was the bulk of their targets anyway. They wanted to get it in his hands. He‘s really good with the ball in his hands.

“Every time the ball is snapped, you have that threat of him running it, scrambling if it is a pass play. There‘s always that threat with the ball in his hands.”

Wylie said Greenwood’s offense is approximately 60 percent pass.

Greenwood runs a spread and distributes the ball evenly to its cadre of receivers.

After surrendering six sacks in the opener, Wylie said the Bulldogs have been sacked, “just three or four times in the rest of the games combined.”

“They’ve gotten back to a lot of hitch screens, get the all out quick. And, they’ve shuffled their offensive line.”

Greenwood’s offensive line averages 250 pounds, tackle-to-tackle with returning starters at left tackle (Colton Simpson, 5-10, 231 Sr.) and center (Noah Fox, 6-1, 260 Sr.).

The Bulldogs, traditionally, are masters of the short passing game, which forces defenses to make tackles in the open field. The rushing attack includes a lot of run-pass option, featuring the quarterback.

“He’s counting the box to see how many guys you have in there. He’s smart. He’ll raise up and quick screen you, hand the ball off, zone read, that type stuff. Stretch, they’ll try to get outside on you. They’re really good at what they do,” said Wylie, who offered the keys for his defense.

“Make sure we don’t let (Holt) run the ball and beat us. Keep him in the pocket. Don’t let ‘em nickel and dime us to death with short passes. Make them challenge us vertically over the top. That’s not something they do a whole lot of. Make them do things they don’t want to do and make their receivers uncomfortable out there.”

Defensively, Greenwood lines up in a 3-4.

“Defensively, their defensive coordinator left. They’re a little different defensively in scheme. Not a total overhaul but they’re a little different in the way they play defensively,” said Reed. “They played a lot of odd front against us last year. I expect to see a lot of it this week, too.

“We don’t see a ton of odd front. It’s different the way your angles are and what you do in run game, how you set in pass protections, who you work to. It’s a change. You have to spend a lot of time in scouts. There is a difference.”

Reed said the 3-4 often morphs into a four-man front.

“They don’t blitz a lot. What they do, though, they get to an even front by bringing down (Austin Archer). He’s down on the line a lot,” he said.

“But, they do it with your center covered head up. They slant. They probably move more up front than we do but they don’t blitz a ton.

“They play a lot of man-coverage tendencies and they really run to the ball well. I’m impressed with how hard they play.”

Greenwood’s priority is to shut down the run. Coverage wise, Reed said the Bulldogs are multiple.

“They’ll zone one side and man the other side a lot, in certain situations. And then, they’ll play just all-out man. They’re very multiple coverage-wise,” he said.

“They don’t play a lot of one high safety like we do. It’s a lot more two safeties. But, a lot of time it’ll look like two safeties and they’ll come down and play man coverage.

“We’ve had a good week of working with it and watching film. I think we have a good handle on what they do. The thing that helps us, in my opinion, is our quarterback is also a run threat, which limits some of the stuff they can do defensively. They can’t play all man coverage and run off and chase our guys and let Alex pull it down.”

Reed said special teams will be a factor. El Dorado’s Shun Levingston returned a kickoff for a touchdown last week but, Reed said the Bulldogs usually kick the ball into the end zone on kickoffs.

“We need to be able to run the ball. I think that’s going to open things up for our guys in space. We need to be really good in the kicking game. We need this game to go at our pace. We need to win in turnovers and we need to win in the kicking game. I’ll feel good about our match-ups everywhere else.”

He’s hoping playing in friendly confines will be an advantage.

“It’s a big factor down here because we have such a huge following. I think there’s a lot of excitement about this ballgame. It’s the game of the week in 6A. We have the defending state champions down here,” said Reed.

“We’re going to get tested by a really good team. But, I think our team is getting better and it’s going to be a heck of a game.”