Clinton Gatewood predicted this rematch back in September.
Gatewood’s Greenwood Bulldogs had just lost at home 34-18 to Louisville. These were the first words of the post-game interview: “We’ll take this (tail) whipping, but I guarantee you we will see this team again in the postseason. And I can promise you we will be a much better team then.”
So, nearly two months have passed and here the Bulldogs are — right where their coach said they would be.
Greenwood (10-2) plays at Louisville (11-2) Friday night in the third round of the state 4A playoffs with a spot in the North 4A finals at stake. The winner gets the Noxubee County-Corinth winner on Dec. 1.
“So many people considered Louisville a favorite to win the North, and I knew our team was better than what we showed that night and would be right there in the mix in mid-November. I just knew we would see them again,” Gatewood said. “We still have a very, very bitter taste in our mouth from that game. We are very excited for this one.”
In the regular-season matchup on Sept. 22, the Bulldogs were without three starters. They fell behind 14-0 early and trailed 14-6 at the half. It was a tough outing for the offense as the Wildcats shut down the Bulldogs’ vaunted running attack. Gatewood, however, expects a much different performance on Friday.
“We were without our starting center (Marcus McDaniel) so we had to move some guys around on the line. We will be at full force this time,” he said. “We also didn’t protect the ball well at all in that game, giving them a short field to score several times.”
Even though his program has been a perennial playoff team in his eight years at GHS and has made it to the North 4A finals twice (2014 and 2015), Gatewood said the Bulldogs don’t garner the same respect around the state as teams such as Louisville and Noxubee County.
“I am tired of people talking down on Delta football. They say we got a bunch of dumb coaches and only win with great athletes,” said Gatewood, who has a 12-7 postseason record at GHS. “But we will let them know who Greenwood is Friday night. We’re trying to prove a point.
“Yes, Louisville has eight state championships, but none of that matters in this game. They think they’re the best team, and we think we’re the best team. We’ll see Friday night, I guess.”
The five-time reigning Region 3 champion Bulldogs comes into this rematch having won six straight since the loss to Louisville. During this streak, the Bulldog defense — led by R’Tavis McGee, Carl Jones and Jalen Bedell — has recorded two shutouts and is allowing a mere 10 points per contest.
That unit will face the challenge of slowing down a Wildcat offense that is averaging 34.5 points a game — the most of any of the 22 teams in the North 4A. Louisville, which has won five straight since a 35-30 defeat at the hends of Noxubee, has scored 30 or more points in eight straight games.
Gatewood said the first priority is shutting down the Wildcats’ run game, which is led by Kenneth Knowles and Kevon Jackson, who have combined for 1,400 yards and 17 touchdowns.
The GHS coach is confident his defense is up to the challenge.
“They have a good offense, no doubt, but we like our defense, too. Itawamba came in last week averaging over 30 points, and we shut them out,” Gatewood said of the Bulldogs’ 28-0 second-round win.
Louisville also has a mighty stiff defense, which leads the North 4A by allowing only 11.5 points a contest. It has posted two shutouts in the last five outings and will face a Bulldog offense that is rolling at this point in the season.
The GHS ground-and-pound running attack is averaging 275 yards per game — with Walter Ivory and Jaylen Stanley leading the way. Ivory, a junior running back, has a team-high 1,723 yards on 228 carries, while Stanley, a junior quarterback, has 106 rushes for 678 yards and a team-high 17 touchdowns.
The Bulldogs have thrown just 10 times in their first two playoff games, but there is no need to put the ball in the air when you are gashing opponents on the ground.
For the season, Stanley has completed 58-of-100 passes for 936 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions.
nContact Bill Burrus at 581-7237 or bburrus@gwcommonwealth.com.
