Greenwood Coach Rick Jones doesn't have time to look back.
The Bulldogs won their first 12 games of the 2015 season, but they fell short in the Class 6A state championship game, losing to Pine Bluff 28-21 in the program's first appearance in the title game since 2012.
Class 6A Super Six
RK., TEAM;CONF.;2015 REC.
- Greenwood;6A-West;12-1
- Benton;6A-West;9-3
- Pine Bluff;6A-East;13-0
- Jonesboro;6A-East;8-4
- El Dorado;6A-West;6-6
- Russellville;6A-West;5-7
Bulldogs at a glance
COACH Rick Jones
CONFERENCE 6A-West (first year in conference)
2015 RECORD 12-1, 7-0 7A/6A-Central (lost in Class 6A state championship)
KEY RETURNERS QB Luke Hales (Sr., 6-2, 200); QB Connor Noland (Jr., 6-2, 185); WR Devin Gilbert (Sr., 6-2, 185); DT Jon Womack (Jr., 6-1, 280); LB Austin Collins (Sr., 5-9, 212); S Drew Dundee (Sr., 6-0, 195)
SCHEDULE
DATE;OPPONENT
Sept. 2;at Fort Smith Northside
Sept. 9;at Fort Smith Southside
Sept. 16;Alma
Sept. 23:Texarkana*
Sept. 30;at El Dorado*
Oct. 7;at Siloam Springs*
Oct. 14;Russellville*
Oct. 21;Benton*
Oct. 28;at Sheridan*
Nov. 4;Lake Hamilton*
*6A-West game
Greenwood's only loss of the 2015 season is not on the minds of the Bulldogs coaches or players. They've moved on.
"We don't try to use negatives for motivation," Jones said. "Deep down inside, they remember it. They know what it's like to have such a great season. We played awesome football. Our kids worked hard. They did everything they could possibly do except to play their best game that week.
"We want to make sure we finish the job."
This season, Greenwood returns nine starters from its 7A/6A-Central Conference championship team and is the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's preseason No. 1 team in Class 6A.
The quarterback position at Greenwood has been a two-player affair since the start of last season. The Bulldogs are in good hands with senior Luke Hales and junior Connor Noland.
Hales, 6-2, 200 pounds, passed for 1,982 yards with 18 touchdowns and 3 interceptions last season. Arkansas State, Memphis, Louisiana-Monroe, Central Arkansas, Missouri State and Southeast Missouri State have shown interest in him.
Noland, 6-2, 185, backed up Hales, but he passed for 844 yards with 8 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. He orally committed in July to play football and baseball at Arkansas.
"Both of them are a lot better than they were last year. Both were doggone good last year," Jones said. "Luke is in the best shape of his life. Connor has always been a player that can move. His arm strength has gotten better."
As experienced as Greenwood is at quarterback, it will have to find a way to replace the graduated Jordan Green (929 yards, 14 touchdowns) at running back.
Junior Kenny Wood, 5-11, 180, is expected to be the Bulldogs' starter. He rushed for 228 yards in 10 games last season.
Greenwood returns five starters on defense, including junior defensive tackle Jon Womack and senior safety Drew Dundee.
Womack, 6-1, 280, started as a sophomore, recording 47 tackles and four sacks. Dundee, 6-0, 195, had 52 tackles and one interception.
Jones said his veteran defense will need to be on point early for the Bulldogs.
"They need to be good, before our offense gets their feet off the ground," Jones said.
On Monday, Greenwood scrimmaged at defending Class 7A state champion Fayetteville. Fayetteville outscored Greenwood 28-21 in the scrimmage, but Jones came away encouraged by his team's effort against one of the state's top teams.
"You hang in there with them, it gives you a sense of confidence," Jones said. "They're usually one of the best teams in the state. They show your warts. They show your weaknesses. If your kids can make plays against Fayetteville, then they're confident they can make those plays against everyone else."
Greenwood faces another tough nonconference schedule.
The Bulldogs will travel to Fort Smith Northside on Sept. 2 and Fort Smith Southside on Sept. 9. They won't play their first home game until Sept. 16 against Alma.
Playing against two Class 7A teams in Northside and Southside the first two weeks could be a boost for Greenwood should it win.
"They can set you up to be confident or just the opposite can happen," Jones said. "If you don't play well and you're struggling, you don't feel very good about yourself."
Greenwood is in the 6A-West with Benton, El Dorado, Lake Hamilton, Russellville, Sheridan, Siloam Springs and Texarkana after playing in the 7A/6A-Central the past two seasons. Jones said he knows the 6A-West won't be easy for his team, which went 7-0 last season in the 7A/6A-Central.
"I'm not so sure it's not as tough [as the 7A/6A-Central]," Jones said. "I see a lot of challenges. There are teams we have never played before. There's some unfamiliarity."
Greenwood has won six state championships since Jones arrived in 2004. Jones is 138-22 in his tenure in Sebastian County, but he has kept his program at an even-keel despite the success over the past 12 seasons.
"You focus on the process, not the destination," Jones said. "Today, we have to go have a good practice. You can only do something about today and not in December. What we do today can determine where we will go.
"We take a day-to-day approach. Hopefully, things will work out."
Sports on 08/27/2016