GREENWOOD — Greenwood’s run of domination in Arkansas high school football didn’t slow down any when it moved up to Class 6A in 2012 and began playing in the 7A/6A-Central Conference.
Over the last four seasons, the Bulldogs won three conference championships, captured a state title in 2012 and came up short 28-21 against Pine Bluff in the 2015 title game. Greenwood compiled a record of 45-6 during that span, with four of those losses coming in a 7-4 season in 2014.
“Our kids like playing the big boys,” said head coach Rick Jones, who is 138-22 heading into his 13th season at Greenwood. “They’re not intimidated. They like the challenge.”
A new challenge awaits the Bulldogs in 2016 as they move into the 6A-West Conference.
Two other teams in the new conference — Siloam Springs and Russellville — were both members of the 7A/6A-Central the last two seasons, but the rest of the league will be teams the Bulldogs haven’t seen a lot of in recent years. Teams like Benton, El Dorado, Lake Hamilton, Sheridan and Texarkana are also on the schedule.
“The challenge is figuring out what we have to do to beat opponents we’re not used to playing,” Jones said. “You don’t have that familiarity with these new places. It’s all sort of a guess. I think it’s fun. I’m looking forward to it.”
Siloam Springs coach Bryan Ross also is looking forward to playing in an all 6A conference.
“I think it will be a very competitive conference,” Ross said. “Greenwood is at the top obviously. They just seem to be on a different level than everybody. Every one else is going to have a dog fight every Friday night.”
The Panthers (4-6 in 2015) were the only 6A team in the 7A/6A-West in 2012 and 2013 before playing in the 7A/6A-Central in 2014 and 2015, where only their games against 6A competition counted toward playoffs.
“It’s nice knowing that we’re not playing 7A schools in games that basically don’t matter,” Ross said. “Pretty much every conference game counts.”
The rest of the league may not be looking forward to Greenwood so much. The Bulldogs return five starters on both sides of the ball from last season’s 12-1 team, including a pair of prospect quarterbacks in senior Luke Hales and junior Connor Noland.
Hales (6-foot-2, 225 pounds) was the starter last season and completed 138 of 204 passes (68 percent) for 2,175 yards and 19 touchdowns. He also ran 115 times for 715 yards and 14 touchdowns. And his numbers would have been even better if he hadn’t split time at quarterback with Noland, who completed 73 of 107 passes (68 percent) for 872 yards and nine touchdowns. Noland also ran for 431 yards on 61 carries and scored four TDs.
Hales has a scholarship offer from Southeast Missouri State, while Noland has 12 Division I offers and recently committed to play football and baseball at Arkansas.
Both will split time at the position again in 2016.
“We’ve got two guys that can play quarterback,” Jones said. “We don’t think of either of those guys as a backup. They’re both starters. Luke has been in our system forever. Connor can really run. People are in for a treat watching him this year.”
The Bulldogs have some holes to fill at key positions — particularly at running back and wide receiver — but they also have plenty of experience returning as well.
“We’re going to see who can step up and do it,” Jones said.
Jones said Class 6A — from top to bottom — might be the toughest classification in the state. Pine Bluff is twotime defending state champions and has ended Greenwood’s season in two of the last three years. In 2014, it was El Dorado that ended the Bulldogs’ run in the quarterfinals.
Jones expects Benton and Jonesboro to be contenders as well.
Graham Thomas can be reached at gthomas@nwadg.com or on Twitter @NWAGraham
“It’s nice knowing that we’re not playing 7A schools in games that basically don’t matter. Pretty much every conference game counts.”
— Siloam Springs coach Bryan Ross
7A/6A-Central Conference 2015 Final Standings
TEAM CONF. OVERALL
Greenwood .........................7-0 ................12-1 Bryant ..................................6-1 ..................9-2 Alma ....................................4-3 .................. 7-5 Conway ...............................4-3 ..................6-6 LR Catholic .........................3-4 ..................4-7 Russellville ..........................3-4 ..................5-7 Siloam Springs ...................1-6 ..................4-6 Van Buren ...........................0-7 ..................2-8
Hooten’s Conference Poll 6A-West
Greenwood
Benton
Russellville
El Dorado
Texarkana
Lake Hamilton
Siloam Springs
Sheridan