Greenwood High School had no answer to Clarksdale High School on the Bulldogs’ homecoming night, falling short 42-6.
“We laid down. We didn’t come with any effort,” Greenwood head coach Clinton Gatewood said. “Homecoming is a big distraction, and everybody is worried about homecoming. I’m worried about a district game.”
Clarksdale received the ball first to start the game and eight plays later, the Wildcats scored off a quarterback scramble. Greenwood got the ball after the Wildcats went up 6-0, and started its first drive on Clarksdale’s own 46-yard line. The Bulldogs put together a solid drive all the way down to the 5-yard line, but an untimely fumble recovered by the Wildcats shifted the momentum Clarksdale’s way.
Wildcat quarterback Kelley Jones kept the ball on third down for a 90-yard touchdown run, improving their lead to 14-0 late in the first half.
Greenwood’s offense couldn’t find an answer to Clarksdale’s rushing attack. The Wildcats stacked on two more rushing touchdowns in the second quarter.
With 14 seconds left in the second quarter, Greenwood scored its only touchdown of the night off a kick return by sophomore Ramone Tate. The Bulldogs got the ball first to start the third quarter, but went three and out, and were forced to punt.
Clarksdale scored two more rushing touchdowns in the third quarter, and the Bulldogs couldn’t find any rhythm offensively or defensively.
The Bulldogs’ loss on Friday night pushes their overall record to 4-2 and 0-1 in district play.
Clarksdale’s win brings its overall record to 5-1. The Wildcats came into Friday night’s game ranked 49th in the state.
The Bulldogs next game is at Senatobia High School on Friday.
“We just have to bounce back. We have Senatobia next week, but we have to continue to play hard,” Gatewood said. “We have a team that can make the playoffs and do some damage in the playoffs. We just have to focus on the next three weeks.”
-Contact Jared Conerly at 662-581-7237 or jconerly@gwcommonwealth.com.
