Garnes guides Greenwood to 48th victory in a row
GREENWOOD — It didn’t take a last-second field goal to win this time, and Greenwood Coach Rick Jones was just fine with that.
The Bulldogs wrapped up a perfect regular season Friday night with a 42-7 victory against Russellville at Smith-Robinson Stadium that clinched the 7A/6A-Central Conference title outright and extended their consecutive victories streak to 48 games.
“Tonight was the most nervous I have been all year long because we are coming off two emotional wins,” said Jones, whose team slipped past Fort Smith Southside and Conway on last-second field goals the previous two weeks. “We didn’t want to have a letdown.”
The Bulldogs will take a No. 1 seed into the Class 6A playoffs next week.
Greenwood started a little slow on offense but picked up the pace after recovering a fumble in the first quarter.
The Bulldogs (10-0, 7-0 7A/6A-Central) took a 7-0 lead on their second drive of the game when Austin Garnes capped a 55-yard drive with a 4-yard touchdown run with 7:16 left in the first quarter.
Russellville (5-5, 2-5) answered on its next possession when Hunter Standridge ran for a 4-yard touchdown with 3:14 left in the first quarter, and the Cyclones forced a turnover on downs when the Bulldogs couldn’t covert a fourth-and-2 at the Russellville 31.
It didn’t take long for the Bulldogs to make up for the missed opportunity.
Greenwood’s defense forced a fumble after its own turnover and turned that into a 14-7 lead when Cameron Palmer rushed for a 1-yard score just before the second quarter, and the Bulldogs’ offense opened up its lead in the second quarter with two more touchdowns and never looked back.
“I knew we would struggle to slow them down but thought we could keep up with them, but we had that series with a turnover and drives put us behind,” Russellville Coach Jeff Holt said. “When you give them that much, it’s tough.”
Garnes led the way for Greenwood with 17 carries for 107 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Jones said he also was proud of senior quarterback Jabe Burgess, who has missed time off and on this season because of injuries. Burgess finished 17 of 18 for 168 yards with 1 touchdown Friday.
“He was so smart with the ball,” Jones said. “We called several deep balls, but he took what they gave us. I think in the last three weeks he is back. He played his best game by far tonight.”
Greenwood led 28-7 at halftime and used a 13-play, 68-yard drive coming out of halftime that was capped by a 1-yard score by Garnes to keep Russellville well out of the game.
“That’s a great group of kids who have been consistent with the way they prepare and play,” Jones said. “We haven’t had a whole lot of peaks and valleys.”
Russellville quarterback Cody Jones completed 21 of 32 passes for 205 passing yards with 1 interception.
FORT SMITH — Senior quarterback Isaac Jackson threw a 54-yard touchdown pass to Andrew Barley early in the third quarter to spark Fort Smith Southside over Fort Smith Northside at Jim Rowland Stadium.
Jackson’s touchdown pass, which capped an 89-yard drive, gave the Rebels (7-3, 5-2 7A/6A-Central) a 14-2 lead.
The Grizzlies, who were eliminated from playoff consideration with the loss, drew within 14-10 following a 5-yard run by junior quarterback Grant Hood in the final two minutes.
Northside (3-6-1, 3-4) outgained Southside 160-28 in total yardage in the first half but trailed 7-2.
Following a scoreless first quarter, Southside’s Payton Efurd recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for a touchdown with 11:50 left in the first half.
Northside’s only first-half points came on a safety when Jackson was called for intentional grounding in the end zone with 2:05 left in the second quarter.