With its chance of making the playoffs on the line, Greenwood High School responded in a big way, beating Yazoo City 38-26 on Thursday at Bulldog Stadium.
Greenwood moves to 5-4 overall and 1-3 in Region 3-4A play after Thursday’s win, and Greenwood head coach Clinton Gatewood was very pleased with his team’s efforts.
“We had a bunch of young kids come in and play well tonight,” Gatewood said. “They were excited coming into the game, it was win or go home, and they came into the game with the attitude to win.”
Greenwood scored first in the game, but Yazoo stormed back and took a 12-6 lead. In the middle of the second quarter, the Bulldogs answered. Bradley O’ Bryant punched into the end zone for six, and Xavier Hoover ran in after for two.
With two minutes left in the second quarter, Greenwood quarterback Javeon Smith found Ramone Tate open for a pass. Tate scrambled into the end zone, almost breaking defenders’ ankles on the way.
Halfway through the third quarter, Dequavian Gillespie got himself a rushing touchdown, improving the Bulldogs’ lead as well.
Greenwood’s defense helped score, too. Senior Antonio Williams picked off the Yazoo City quarterback in the middle of the fourth quarter, and took it to the house for six.
After the game, Gatewood gave some props to his fellow coaches.
“Great job assignments by the coaches, we did a good job planning for this game,” Gatewood said. “We are in the playoffs now, we have to do something with it.”
After Thursday night’s win over Yazoo City, Greenwood will face the first seed from Region 4 next Friday night on the road.
-Contact Jared Conerly at 662-581-7237 or jconerly@gwcommonwealth.com.
