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PREP RALLY PLAYOFF: 11 CLASS 6A the block." ere was no argument from the coach. "You know all three of them have been different in their own ways," Dwain Pippin said. "What I admire about all of them, especially Spenser having watched him all these years, is I'm proud they've been so coachable. at means a lot. Most people may not completely understand that, but from a coaching standpoint, having a kid that is open to being coached is a big thing. It really is. at's the message I have heard from our whole staff over the years is that Spenser is very coachable and he'll do whatever and pays attention in practice and tries his best. at's just something that means a lot." Another thing Dwain Pippin admires about his younger son is that he hasn't tried to be his older siblings. "e thing that sticks out to me about Spenser is he is his own guy," Dwain Pippin said. "He's his own person. He admires his brother and sister and what they did. He's got his own personality. He always has, and it's unique to him. I never thought he has ever tried to be his brother. He just tried to do what he can do to be a great team player. I admire him, and I've told him this, I admire him for being his own person on the field and off the field." Dwain Pippin has enjoyed watching his kids come through and play for the Panthers and Spenser Pippin is no different. "It's exciting when I do get an opportunity to see a few snaps of offense," said Dwain Pippin, who coaches the Panthers' defensive line. "I'm cheering him on, but I'm a coach too. When he misses a block I kinda get on to him like I would anybody else, but I'll back away and let the other coaches do their thing." Craig said it's not hard to see that Spenser Pippin is a coach's kid. "He has a passion for the game," Craig said. "Obviously you can see that through his relationship with his father. ey enjoy each other and it's special to have your son playing for you and it's just one of those things where he doesn't actually coach him on a day-to-day basis but he's around him. He gets to see him play every Friday night, so that's special as well." GREENWOOD Bulldogs hope to rest, repeat Defending Class 6A state champion Greenwood earned a first-round bye heading into postseason play, but the Bulldogs are eager to attempt another lengthy run in the state playoffs. Aer the team graduated many impact seniors a season ago, a new core of Bulldogs are ready to make an impact in the playoffs aer finishing 9-1 and not losing a game in 6A-West Conference play. "I think what has been fun with this group is over the years there has maybe been a mentality of we have already done this," Greenwood coach Rick Jones said. "ese guys haven't. ey were put down so much and so oen from the outside with talk about how good last year's team was. ey have taken it as a challenge. ey want to show the naysayers." is core of Bulldogs advanced the unbeaten conference streak to 31 consecutive games dating back to 2014 with a 40-0 victory against Lake Hamilton last week. It was the first shutout of the season for the Greenwood defense. "I appreciate the way these guys come out and practice," Jones said. "e guys on defense get aer it. We scream at them for going too hard at times. And they sometimes scream at their counterparts for not going hard enough. It's funny how that works. I love the way the defense plays." Greenwood has home-field advantage throughout the playoffs aer earning the top seed from the 6A-West Conference. e Bulldogs will host the winner of the Siloam Springs-Searcy game in the second round. "ere is no doubt there are some good teams in the 6A," Jones said. "e thing is you don't know. We might be the fih best team on the other side of the 6A because we don't do a lot of crossover games. All we have to do is be as good as we can be." Despite many Bulldogs making a transition from role player to starter this season, the players have seen from the past what it takes to win a state championship. "e big part of it is the mentality you approach the season with," Jones said. "To a lot of people, the football season is so long and they think if they lose well at least it is over. at's never been these kid's mentality since we got here. ey want to make it a 14 week season." Senior quarterback Peyton Holt has been a big part of the success this season for Greenwood transitioning from playing the wide receiver position a season ago. He has completed 184 of 260 passes for 2,352 yards with 18 touchdowns and has just one interception. Holt also leads the team with 602 yards rushing with 15 touchdowns on 104 carries. Treyton Dawson and Luke Leonard have been Holt's go- to targets. Dawson has 752 yards and six touchdowns on 49 catches, while Leonard has 703 yards and six touchdowns on 63 catches. Logan Workman and Travis Cox each have a team-high 75 tackles to help lead the Bulldog defense that has allowed just 17 points per game. — Harold McIlvain • Special to the NWA Democrat- Gazette NWA DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE FILE PHOTO Peyton Holt led Greenwood to the 6A-West championship in his first year as the starting quarterback. Greenwood drew a first-round bye in the playoffs. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2018