Greenwood sets its sights on 48th victory

Greenwood (9-0, 6-0 7A/6A-Central) can push its winning streak to 48 games — third-longest in Arkansas history — with a victory tonight at home against Russellville.

Greenwood, No. 1 in Class 6A, is coming off a 23-21 victory at Conway, winning on junior Kevin Jones’ 23-yard field goal with 2.3 seconds left to play.

The Bulldogs trailed 14-7 at halftime and 21-14 entering the fourth quarter before Jones kicked a 41-yard field goal at 11:06, a 35-yard field goal at 7:40 and the game-winner, which capped a 17-play, 73-yard drive.

Greenwood’s only two touchdowns were set up by senior Taylor Hasley, who returned the game’s opening kickoff 64 yards to the Conway 28 and the second-half kickoff 46 yards to the Greenwood 47.

“We did a great job in the kicking game,” Greenwood Coach Rick Jones said. “I thought we were really solid in all phases.”

Greenwood was limited to 291 total yards — approximately 150 less than its season average — and managed only 56 rushing yards, but the Bulldogs allowed only one second-half score.

“Frankly, offensively, we were struggling,” Jones said. “They gave us fits. That’s a really fast defense, and we had trouble getting open and we had trouble blocking the guys up front. It was a challenge.”

Jones said his defense did “an awesome job” after Conway opened the game with an eight-play, 74-yard touchdown drive. Conway’s only second-half touchdown came on a 12-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Breylin Smith to senior tight end Arbnor Prevulkaj with 6:17 left in the third quarter.

The touchdown, which gave Conway a 21-14 lead, came five players after Greenwood lost a fumble at its 38.

“Usually kicking field goals gets you beat, but our defense just held in there,” Jones said. “They just kept holding on and hanging on, and they gave us a chance to win the game at the end and that’s all you can ask of your defense.”

Greenwood played without leading rusher Hoyt Smith (injury to the back side of his anatomy, Jones said) and senior linebacker Brett Calhoun (out for the season with a shoulder injury). Colton Sims, the starting center, missed the fourth quarter after aggravating a shoulder problem.

Jones said Smith is a “game-time decision” and the hope is Sims can return for the second round of the playoffs. Jacob McOlvin replaced Sims in the second half against Conway and will start tonight, Jones said.

If Greenwood finishes 14-0, its winning streak would reach 52, one game better than Pine Bluff Dollarway, which won 51 consecutive in 1988-1991. Barton won a state-record 63 consecutive games in 1986-1990.