Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
GREENWOOD BULLDOGS
2017 RECORD 13-0, 7-0 6A-West COACH Rick Jones
RETURNING STARTERS 5 offense, 4 defense
KEY PLAYERS QB/WR Peyton Holt (Sr., 5-9, 176), WR Josh Barlow (Sr., 6-2, 197), DL Josh Maze (Sr., 6-2, 264), DL Morgan Hanna (Sr., 6-3, 214), DL Austin Archer (Sr., 6-1, 182), LB Travis Cox (Sr., 5-10, 182), DB Aaron Ohl (Sr., 5-11, 167), DB Trey Woods (Sr., 5-11, 147), K Grant Ennis (Sr., 6-0, 155).
THE SKINNY The Bulldogs won their seventh state championship under Rick Jones in 2017, joining titles in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2010, 2011 and 2012. … Greenwood won its first state title under Ronnie Peacock in 2000. … Greenwood is picked to win the 6A-West Conference by the league coaches and ranked No. 2 in the state. … For the first time since 1973, Greenwood will not be playing its River Valley rival Alma. … The Bulldogs play at Fort Smith Northside and Southside in Weeks 1 and 2, respectively, and host Sand Springs, Okla., in Week 3. … Holt led the Bulldogs with 101 catches for 1,354 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2017, including 14 catches for 200 yards and two TDs against Pine Bluff in the 6A finals. … Senior kicker Grant Ennis connected on 74 of 76 extra points and hit 11 of 13 field goal attempts. … Senior defensive end Morgan Hanna led the team with 25 tackles for loss and had 74 tackles overall. … Senior linebacker Travis Cox also had a big year last year with 75 tackles and 1.5 sacks. … Greenwood has won three consecutive conference championships — one 7A/6A-Central title in 2015 and two 6A-West titles.
COACH SPEAK “Every group has considered getting complacent. We’ve won because we work. We don’t win because we have great talent. If they start believing they’re winning because of talent, then we’re in trouble. We win because we work. I think our kids are more committed than a lot of other kids are. They work like crazy guys. As long as they do that we have a chance.” — Graham Thomas • @NWAGraham