NWADG Prep Rally Football Preview

2018 Edition

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Walmart Store 3231 551 Liberty Drive | Greenwood, AR 72936 479-996-8500 Proud Supporter of the Greenwood Athletic Department Department Good Luck Bulldogs! PREP RALLY: Class 6A THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2018 20 across the state. "We're sort of used to having a target," Jones said. The Bulldogs were picked by the 6A-West Conference coaches to win the league, and Greenwood opens the season ranked No. 2 in the state in 6A behind Pine Bluff. Many expect Greenwood to be quite good again in 2018, but the Bulldogs won't have the same look of the 2017 team that steamrolled their opponents by an average of 32.5 points. Specifically, the Bulldogs will not have gunslinging quarterback Connor Noland, who's now a freshman at the Universi- ty of Arkansas. Nor will they have Jon Womack on the defensive line, whose presence and monster strength fueled one of the best defenses Greenwood has ever had. "It's just going to be different," Jones said. "We're not going to have that dom- inating presence up front defensively with Womack. He was a true difference maker." Figuring out who will play quarter- back is one of Greenwood's first tasks to start 2018. Going into fall practice, senior Peyton Holt and junior Jace Presley were battling for the position. The problem with moving Holt to play quarterback is it takes him out of the Bulldogs' wide receiver corps, where he caught 101 passes for 1,354 yards and 17 touchdowns. "We're just going to figure it out," Jones said. "I'm not sure that we won't do a little of both. I can promise you this Peyton will be on the field." Greenwood returns three starters on its offensive line in Noah Fox, Colton Simpson and Cole Ceniceros. "We've got to find some other guys that are trustworthy when it really counts," Jones said. Defensively with lineman Morgan Hanna, linebacker Travis Cox and sec- ondary stalwarts Trey Woods and Aaron Ohl, Jones feels like the Bulldogs have a chance to be solid again. "We're pretty hungry," Jones said. "We're going to have some new guys that want to prove themselves." Up north in Siloam Springs, the Pan- thers are beginning the Brandon Craig coaching era. Craig — a successful vet- eran out of Oologah, Okla. — was hired in February to replace Bryan Ross, who resigned after Siloam Springs went 2-8 overall and 1-6 in the 6A-West. Siloam Springs has missed the playoffs the last three seasons, but the Panthers are picked by the league coaches to finish sixth and earn the last postseason spot. 6A v Continued from Page 18 NWA Democrat-Gazette File Photo Greenwood defensive back Trey Woods (right) intercepts a pass intended for Pine Bluff wide receiver Jyrimee Thompson (left) during the Class 6A state championship game Dec. 1 at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. Woods is back for the Bulldogs this season.

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