By CALVIN STEVENS
Sports Writer
Clinton Gatewood and his Greenwood High Bulldogs are in championship mode as they travel to Clarksdale to face the Wildcats in a Region 3-4A contest.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Friday.
With a win over the Wildcats, the Bulldogs can virtually wrap up their seventh straight region title under Gatewood, who is in his 10th season at the helm of the Greenwood program. It would also be the 29th straight win in district play.
Greenwood still has one region game remaining, a Nov. 1 contest at Bulldog Stadium against Yazoo City.
However, first things first.
“We aren’t about to overlook anybody on our schedule, and Clarksdale is the next team on our schedule. I saw them play last week against Rosa Fort. They can run the football. They didn’t play their best game, but I’m pretty sure Coach (Henry) Johnson will have his kids ready to play Greenwood Friday night,” said Gatewood. “We all know when anybody plays Greenwood, they bring their best. Right now, we are considered the cream of the crop in the Delta. We’re ranked No. 1 in three or four polls, and we’re considered a favorite to win a state championship.
“But that’s all numbers. I keep my kids grounded. We don’t want them thinking they have played the perfect game because they haven’t done that yet. I want them working harder than they have all season. We know what it’s like being the hunter and trying to take down the top team. We have stepped our program up by playing people in the summer in 7 on 7 camps and in jamborees who are considered the top-tier teams in the state. My goal is to get this program to the top and leave it in better shape than I found it when I leave here one day.”
The Bulldogs are 8-0 overall and 2-0 in district. They had an open date last week. Their last outing was a 41-7 triumph over Rosa Fort on Oct. 10 in Tunica.
Last Friday night, Rosa Fort knocked off Clarksdale 14-6 in Tunica to improve to 1-1 in league play. The Lions go to Yazoo City Friday night. The Indians are also 1-1 in district. Gentry brings up the rear at 0-3. Clarksdale is 5-4 overall and 2-1 in region play. The top four teams qualify for the 4A playoffs, which get started on Nov. 8.
Against the Lions, sophomore quarterback DeAndre Smith improved his numbers with an 11 of 15 outing for 180 yards and two TDs. On the season, Smith has completed 80 of 135 passes for 1,717 yards, 17 touchdowns and four interceptions. He was picked off twice against Rosa Fort.
Senior tailback Jamarion Addison leads the Bulldogs with 874 yards and 12 touchdowns on 103 carries. Smith has rushed for 309 yards and nine scores on 44 carries.
Senior wide receiver Kobe Chambers is the top receiver in the district. He has 34 receptions for 814 yards and nine touchdowns. His teammate, junior Daylin Metcalf, has 20 catches for 453 yards and three scores. Chambers is also a threat in the return game. He has three punt/kickoff returns for touchdowns on the season.
Sophomore linebacker Davin Anderson leads the Bulldogs in total tackles with 85, which includes 48 solo stops. He has four quarterback sacks.
Sophomore linebacker William Stewart is second with 59 tackles (39 solos) and 11 sacks, and senior lineman Quontavious Lymon is next with 57 tackles, which includes 12 for loss and four sacks.
Clarksdale’s Queston Skipper is the top rusher in the district with 1,238 yards and 13 touchdowns on 121 carries. Junior Sammie Ray has 691 yards on 96 carries and 11 scores.
nContact Calvin Stevens at cstevens@gwcommonwealth.com.
