GREENWOOD -- Most think Greenwood's high-octane offense is the key to its success, but its defense and special teams have given the offense opportunities to score.
The Bulldogs' defense was stingy again Friday night against Marion, allowing just 140 total yards as Greenwood rolled to a 42-3 Class 6A quarterfinal victory at Smith-Robinson Stadium.
The Bulldogs (11-0) will host Benton next week in the semifinals.
Marion (5-7) had only 12 first downs (6 rushing, 3 passing, 3 by penalty) while gaining just 64 rushing yards and 76 passing yards.
" We didn't give them much," Greenwood Coach Rick Jones said. "They had one possession in the second quarter when they had three first downs, but after that they never had two first downs in a drive again."
The Bulldogs defense was helped in part by their special teams, which gave the Patriots poor field possession, including five possessions inside its 10 yard line.
"They had some kickoffs that should have went out of bounds and they just died at the 2," Marion Coach Jed Davis said. "It was tough, and when you face a great defense like that you do not want to start inside the 10. You can't throw it there because a hold in the end zone is a safety. We went for it [on fourth downs in their own end of the field] because we had to try to score."
Jones said the special teams complemented what the defense did.
"[Marion] had the long field over and over," Jones said. "Even against an average defense, it is hard to drive the ball 80, 85 or 90 yards."
The Bulldogs finished with 305 total yards, 178 on the ground. Running backs Caden Martin and Jordan Green each had two touchdowns.
Greenwood built a 21-3 lead going into halftime thanks to a defense that allowed the Patriots 73 total yards.
Marion's defense wasn't bad either as it surrendered just 186 yards in the first half.
The Bulldogs had great field positions on its first two scoring possessions.
A short punt led to a 37-yard drive, capped by Luke Hales' 1-yard keeper midway through the first quarter for a 7-0 lead.
After the Patriots defense stopped the Bulldogs on back-to-back possessions -- an interception and a fourth-down stop -- Marion's offense took a chance that didn't pay off and gave the Bulldogs an easy scoring opportunity. The Patriots failed to convert on a fourth-and-3 play at their 29, but running back Tom You was stopped for no gain.
Greenwood drove 29 yards in four plays, capped by Caden Martin's 5-yard run for a 14-0 lead with 8 minutes left in the first half.
Marion's only successful drive of the half ended with a 29-yard field goal by Denver Burton with 2:48 left in the second quarter that pulled the Patriots to within 14-3.
The Bulldogs wasted little time in driving 64 yards in four plays to extend their lead. Quarterback Connor Noland hit a wide-open Jordan Green inside the 10 for a 36-yard touchdown pass with 1:40 left in the quarter.
Greenwood put away the game in the second half with touchdowns on three consecutive possession to invoke the sportsmanship rule and a running clock.
BENTON 20, EL DORADO 12
BENTON — Benton (9-2) came up with two goal-line stands in the fourth quarter to turn back El Dorado (6-6) and advance to the semifinals of the Class 6A playoffs. Cason Maertens threw two touchdown passes for Benton, a 6-yarder to Drew Dyer and a 10-yarder to Colton Nix. Matt Warrick also kicked field goals of 28 and 37 yards. El Dorado’s Kawon Love had 35 carries for 204 yards.
Sports on 11/21/2015