GREENBRIER — There is only one undefeated team remaining in Class 5A, and it is the Greenwood Bulldogs.
Greenwood (9-0, 6-0) took the 5A West Conference lead, knocking off Greenbrier (8-1, 5-1), winning 59-35 at John Hawks Memorial Field.
The teams combined for 1,161 yards, with Greenwood outgaining Greenbrier 614-547, but it was turnovers that turned the game in Greenwood’s favor.
“If they didn’t stop themselves, we just had a hard time stopping them,” Greenwood Coach Rick Jones said. “They execute so well in the passing game. Turnovers were huge, no doubt about it.”
Greenwood intercepted Greenbrier’s Neal Burcham four times and turned a Burcham fumble into a touchdown just before halftime.
Burcham entered the game as the state’s No. 3 passer, and he completed 40 of 59 passes for 450 yards, but the yards did not come easily against the Bulldogs.
“I tell you, Burcham played really, really well,” Jones said.“He had some mistakes, but he threw a ton of passes. I was pleased with our defense. They played fast. They played physical. They ran to the ball well, just like they have all year.”
Greenwood quarterback Hayden Smith completed 23 of 30 passes for 381 yards, finishing with 484 total yards and accounting for 6 touchdowns. The Bulldogs had only one turnover.
“I thought Hayden played a tremendous football game,” Jones said. “He was really in control of his emotions. He read the right progressions and he made the great decisions. I thought he played with his feet, with his arm and with his brain as well as I’ve ever seen him play.”
Greenwood led 28-14 at halftime, but the Bulldogs had to rally. Greenbrier scored first as Burcham found receiver Reid Cone for an 80-yard touchdown, giving the Panthers a 7-0 lead at the 11:01 mark.
Greenbrier stopped Greenwood at the goal line on fourth-and-1, but two plays later, Burcham was intercepted by Greenwood safety Drew Morgan, who he returned it 15 yards for the score, to tie the game at 7-7 with 6:06 remaining in the first quarter.
Morgan intercepted Burcham again at the Greenwood 32, returning it to the Greenbrier 45. A 3-yard run by Smith made 14-7 Greenwood with 1:39 left in the first quarter.
Greenbrier tied the game as Burcham found Seth Peters on a short screen pass that broke for a 27-yard touchdown, making it 14-14 with 8:52 left in the half.
Morgan scored his second touchdown, on a 37-yard touchdown pass from Smith, to make it 21-14 with four minutes to go in the first half.
Smith found Cole McAlister on an off-balance throw for a 12-yard score with 32 seconds left in the half after Greenwood recovered a Burcham fumble.
Greenbrier made it 28-21 as a fourth-and-9 completion from Burcham to Peters highlighted a scoring drive that Burcham finished off with an 18-yard pass to Scott Cavin at the 8:32 mark in the third.
Morgan scored his third touchdown, catching a 10-yard pass from Smith tomake 35-21 with 7:04 to play in the third quarter.
Greenwood made it 42-21 as Smith found a wide open McAlister down the right sideline for a 25-yard touchdownpass with 3:21 left in the third. McAlister led Greenwood receivers with 8 catches, 151 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Smith made it 49-28 with 9:13 to play on a 7-yard run.
Greenbrier closed to 49-35 with 7:11 left on a 27-yard touchdown pass from Burchamto Peters.
Kicker Adam McFain kicked a 25-yard field goal, putting the score at 52-35 with 5:35 left. An interception by the Bulldogs led to a 58-yard touchdown run up the middle for Justin Sunde, stretching the lead to 59-35 with 3:54 left.
MORRILTON 42, HUNTSVILLE 20
MORRILTON - Paris Avery ran for 169 yards on 18 carries and three touchdowns to lead Morrilton (5-4, 3-3 5A-West) past Huntsville (1-8, 0-6).
Avery scored on runs of 4, 17 and 24 yards.
Warren Leaphart had 5 catches for 162 yards and 2 touchdowns.
ALMA 27, SILOAM SPRINGS 14
SILOAM SPRINGS - Alma secured a spot in the Class 5A state playoffs with a victory over Siloam Springs.
The Airedales (7-2, 5-1) guaranteed at least third place in the 5A-West and eliminated the chance of a three-way tie in the conference with Siloam Springs and Morrilton.
Brady Bradley finished 21 of 37 passing for 261 yards. Ethan Brewer had a game-high 11 catches for 178 yards.
Sports, Pages 29 on 10/29/2011