With head coach Clinton Gatewood watching from up above in the press box, the Greenwood Bulldogs had no problem dispatching off undermanned Leflore County.
The Bulldogs led 34-6 at the half and eased their way into a 48-12 rout of the Tigers Friday at Bulldog Stadium in the season opener for both teams.
Gatewood, in his 10th year at GHS, had coached in 121 straight games for Greenwood, but he went to the press box for this one in an effort to negate what many felt was a conflict of interest since he also serves as the chief of athletics for the Greenwood Leflore Consolidated School District.
This was the seventh straight win in the series for Greenwood, which holds an 8-2 advantage against the Tigers, also a member of the same school district for the first time ever.
Jamarion Addison put GHS on the board first early on, rippng off a 25-yard scoring scamper. Quarterback DeAndre Smith had a 44-yard TD toss to Kobe Chambers. The two also hooked up for a 46-yard scoring strike to make it 19-6.
Travor Randle had a 68-yard interception for a touchdown in the second to make it 27-6.
GHS led 34-6 at the half after its second defensive touchdown of the first half on a 50-yard interception retun by Jaterrious Elam.
Emanuel Stanley scored both touchdowns for Leflore. He had an interception return of 15 yards in the first half and scored from three yards out in the fourth period.
He had 52 yards rushing on six carries. he also had eight tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery on defense.
Javorius Sherrod had 10 tackles and a fumble recovery, and Masunte Haggie had eight tackles.
Derrick Singleton had one catch for 45 yards, and Kerric Ross had three grabs for 29 yards.
Leflore quarterback Maurice Edwards was 5 of 11 for 86 yards with three interceptions.
Greenwood looks to start 2-0 next week against Holmes County Central. The game has been moved to Saturday rather than the origial date of Friday.
Leflore will play Elzy at 7 p.m. Friday in a game that has been moved to Greenwood’s stadium.
• Contact Bill Burrus at 581-7237 or bburrus@gwcommonwealth.com.
