A fourth-quarter rally fell short for Greenwood High against rival Greenville in the Bulldogs’ first home game in nearly two years.
The Hornets jumped out to a 20-0 lead after returning the opening kickoff of the second half for a touchdown, then held off two GHS touchdowns in the final 10 minutes to seal a 26-16 victory in their season opener.
Greenville was forced to forfeit its first two games due to COVID-19 issues.
The Bulldogs allowed their first score of the evening late in the opening quarter when a pass interference penalty erased an interception in their own end zone. On the next play, the Hornets capitalized with a 25-yard rushing touchdown. After a missed extra point, they led 6-0 entering the second quarter.
The GHS defense did its job by forcing a turnover on downs just outside its own red zone, but the Bulldogs’ offense continued to struggle moving the chains. With 21 seconds left in the first half, Greenville added to its lead on a 25-yard touchdown pass behind the GHS secondary. A successful 2-point try dealt the Bulldogs a 14-point deficit at the break.
It didn’t get any better in the third quarter as GHS conceded a kickoff return touchdown to open the third quarter for the second time in three games this season.
Finally in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs found a spark on offense. Xavier Hoover kept the sticks moving to start the fourth quarter, building momentum for Ramone Tate to make the play of the night for GHS. Senior quarterback Davin Anderson found Tate in the flat, and the freshman made two Greenville tacklers miss on his way to a 35-yard touchdown. After junior tight end Kizear Little converted a 2-point conversion, the Bulldogs trailed 20-8 with 10 minutes remaining.
GHS couldn’t get a stop when it mattered most, though. The Hornets marched down the field on their next possession to seal the victory with a touchdown run. By the time Anderson bulldozed into the end zone a few minutes later to make it 26-16, it was too little, too late for the Bulldogs.
11th-year GHS head coach Clinton Gatewood is still one win away from Hollis Rutter’s all-time program record of 96 victories. Gatewood will look to tie that mark next week against crosstown rival Amanda Elzy.
The Bulldogs have won the last 10 meetings and lead the Panthers in their all-time series, 27-6. In their last matchup, GHS beat Elzy 41-20 back in 2019.
- Contact Riley Overend at 662-581-7237 or roverend@gwcommonwealth.com. Follow @OverendOut on Twitter.
