Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Greenwood defense stifles FS Northside
GREENWOOD 38, FORT SMITH NORTHSIDE 10
GREENWOOD — The Greenwood defense forced three turnovers and that was all that the Bulldog offense needed.
Jace Presley passed for four touchdowns in his first-ever start to lead Greenwood to a 38-10 win over Fort Smith Northside on Friday at Smith-Robinson Stadium.
The Bulldogs (1-0) converted all three Grizzly turnovers into touchdowns and shut out Northside (1-1) in the second half. Greenwood led 13-10 at halftime, but then pulled away in the third quarter.
“It was good to be in that situation (a close game) to see what you are made of,” Bulldog coach Rick Jones said. “I was proud of how our kids played in the second half. I was pleased with the
way our defense created turnovers and the offense capitalized.”
Presley was a solid 21 of 33 passing for 274 yards. The Bulldog offense gained 413 yards and had no turnovers.
“I thought Jace played awesome for his first rodeo,” Jones said. “He made good decisions with the football. They call it ‘playing within yourself’ and so he did what he was supposed to do. He didn’t take many chances.”
The game changed on Northside’s two third-quarter turnovers that turned a 13-10 game into a 31-10 game.
After a muffed Grizzly punt placed the ball at the Northside 2, a bad snap fell into the end zone and Greenwood’s Logan Workman recovered for the touchdown. Suddenly, it was 20-10 Bulldogs three minutes into the third quarter.
Jackson Stewart kicked a 41-yard field goal for a 23-10 lead with 2 minutes, 46 seconds left in the third quarter.
One play after the ensuing kickoff, Northside fumbled again, and Jordan Hanna recovered at the Grizzly 38. Presley hit Aaron Ligon for a 14-yard touchdown, then hit Michael Hurt on the 2-point conversion for a 31-10 Bulldog lead with 19 seconds left in the third.
Northside would not recover.
Greenwood led 13-10 at halftime. Presley was 10-of-16 for 158 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Greenwood attack, which gained 195 yards in the first half.
The Bulldogs scored on their first two possessions of the game to take an early 130 lead.
Presley was 5-of-7 in the opening drive for 59 yards, capped by a 28-yard pass to Hunter Wilkinson for a 7-0 lead with 8:57 left in the first quarter.
After Jayden Jasna interception gave Greenwood possession at its 43, the Bulldogs faced a third down at the 45. Presley avoided a sack and hit Caden Brown on the left
sideline. Brown broke a tackle that would have forced a fourth down and raced down the sideline for a 55-yard touchdown.
The Grizzly offense finally awakened on its fourth possession, marching to the Greenwood 2 until an intentional grounding call on third down moved the ball back to the Bulldog 25. Dagon Moore booted a 42-yard field goal with 11:44 left in the first half to get Northside on the board, though still trailing 13-3.
After the Northside defense stiffened, the Grizzlies marched 86 yards in 7 rushing plays, capped by Dreyden Norwood’s 7-yard keeper. Moore’s kick got Northside to within 13-10 with 6:26 left in the half.
FOUR DOWNS
• With the win, Greenwood evens the series against Northside at 5-5. The two teams have played off and on since 2000.
• Presley is the grandson of former Northside head coach Joe Fred Young, who coached the Grizzlies from 1981-98, winning the 1987 Class AAAA state title.
• Greenwood had 22 first downs — 11 rushing and 11 passing and gained 413 total yards.
• Greenwood hosts Fort Smith Southside next week, while Northside hosts Van Buren.