Atwood guides Pioneers past Greenland Pirates

Brandon Atwood sat out with an injury when Gentry lost 76-71 in a wild game at Greenland two years ago.

On Friday, Atwood made up for his absence in that game by leading Gentry to a 35-27 victory over the Pirates. Gentry took control early and held on behind senior quarterback Atwood, who completed 10 of 15 passes for 182 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 111 yards and one touchdown.

For his effort, Atwood is the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Player of the Week.

“We’re a quarterback-centered team and Brandon is our main ball-carrier as well,” Gentry coach Paul Ernest said. “He’s very intelligent and he throws with pretty good accuracy. He knows what he’s doing out there. I trust him.”

Atwood missed the game two years ago with an acromioclavicular

joint separation in his shoulder. But he’s healed and much improved from last season when he threw for over 1,500 yards with 12 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

The win improves Gentry to 2-1 on the season heading into Friday’s 4A-1 Conference opener against Pea Ridge. It’s a significant achievement for a team that won only three games last season.

“We have a whole different offensive mindset this year,” Atwood said. “I’m a senior and coach Ernest says the seniors need to leave program better than when they started. That’s our focus. We’ve taken it to heart.”

Atwood has emerged as a dual threat this season with 430 yards passing and at least 100 yards rushing in all three games. He was able to connect for most of his throws Friday with junior Zach Jarnagan, who caught touchdown passes of 27, 5, and 10 yards. Jarnagan finished with eight catches for 171 yards.

“Brandon is phenomenal, a great quarterback and a great guy,” Jarnagan said. “We’ve just got a good connection. Well, this whole team has a connection, really.”

Gentry’s only loss came in the season-opener, 17-14 to Dardanelle. But the Pioneers clearly have the momentum heading into conference play after beating a Greenland team that was 2-0 with wins over Elkins and Mountainburg.

Gentry’s next test comes Friday at Pea Ridge. Gentry lost that game last year 27-7 when the Pioneers finished 3-8 overall.

“It’s an important game,” Atwood said, “and a good way to gauge how we’re going to do this year.”