Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
GREENWOOD BULLDOGS
2018 RECORD 12-1, 7-0 6A-West COACH Rick Jones
RETURNING STARTERS 5 offense, 4 defense
KEY PLAYERS QB Jace Presley (Sr., 6-3, 182), RB Hunter Wilkinson (Jr., 5-10, 190), WR Treyton Dawson (Sr., 6-0, 178), OL Nathan Nethers (Sr., 6-1, 217), OL Kevin Douglas (Sr., 6-2, 271), OL Halen Carter (Sr., 6-0, 218), OL Michael Emberson (Sr., 5-8, 264), OL Traven Nichols (5-10, 271), DT Aniken Lewis (Sr., 5-8, 249), LB Eli Martin (Sr., 5-11, 192) S Logan Workman (Sr., 5-7, 140).
THE SKINNY Greenwood is in search of its 10th state championship in program history and third straight 6A title after winning back-to-back titles in 2017 and 2018. … The Bulldogs won three straight 5A titles from 2005 to 2007 and again in 2010 to 2012, all under Rick Jones, who is 175-24 at the school. … Greenwood’s first state title came in 2000 under Ronnie Peacock. … Greenwood will break in a new quarterback in senior Jace Presley after losing Peyton Holt to graduation. … The Bulldogs return junior running back Hunter Wilkinson, who had 750 rushing yards and 359 receiving yards. … Wide receivers Treyton Dawson (58-855) and Lazaro Angel (44-509) also return. … An offensive line led by seniors Nathan Nethers, Kevin Douglas, Halen Carter and Traven Nichols and Michael Emberson are being challenged by their coach to help keep the new QB upright. … Defensively Greenwood must replace seven starters from a defense that gave up only 13.4 points a year ago.
COACH SPEAK “Our offensive lineman have a huge responsibility, even more so this year than in the past,” Jones said. “We’ve got to keep that quarterback upright and we’ve got to keep him healthy. … Defensively we’ve got to replace a lot of really good football players. I think a big part of that is having guys that will focus and concentrate, be aggressive and be willing to chase the ball. That’s the great thing about our defense the last four years, is we haven’t had to beg them to chase the ball. They go out there and they’re ready to go. That’s the kind of mentality we need to make sure we keep.”