Under Clinton Gatewood, Greenwood High School has become a fixture in the playoffs.
The Bulldogs are in the postseason for the ninth straight season, the seventh time as the Region 3-4A champions. But Gatewood’s expectations are much higher than just qualifying for the playoffs.
“I like how far this team has progressed from the start of the season to get us here, but we have to keep improving and do the little things better to reach our goal of winning North State,” Gatewood said.
That starts Friday night at home against Amory (5-6), the fourth seed from Region 2, in the first round of the North 4A playoffs. The six-time reigning Region 3 champions have an 11-8 postseason record under Gatewood after losing in the third round last year, 21-13, at Louisville. In 2015 and 2014, GHS lost in the North 4A finals, falling just short of the program’s first trip to the state championship game since 1988.
“It’s a nerve-wracking time of year once it’s win or go home,” Gatewood said. “You can throw out the records because it’s a new season, and everybody is 0-0.”
Greenwood claimed its sixth straight Region 3 crown last week with a thrilling 21-14 overtime win over Clarksdale.
“Our kids showed great fight last week, and that’s what we will hang our hats on in this postseason — resiliency,” said the GHS coach. “The kids believed in what we were telling them, and, more importantly, they believed in themselves. This is a determined bunch.”
Amory had to win back-to-back games to close the regular season to make the playoffs. The Panthers trailed in both but found ways to beat Caledonia and Mooreville the last two weeks.
Against Caledonia on Oct 19, Amory used a last-minute touchdown and two-point conversion to beat the Confederates, 35-34, and grab its first division win of the season. Then last Friday, Amory erased a 14-0 deficit with a 31-point outburst in the second half to beat Mooreville, 41-21.
With the two wins, Amory and coach Allen Glenn punched themselves a ticket into the playoffs as they grabbed the No. 4 seed out of Region 2-4A and set up a game on Friday night at Greenwood.
“The kids knew the situation, and the resiliency they showed how tough these kids are, and we are excited about a chance to play again,” Amory coach Allen Glenn said. “Our goal stays the same. Go 1-0 this week.”
One of the keys to the success the last two weeks is the emergence of the Panthers’ offense. Led by quarterback Hunter Jones and running back K.C. Ivy, Amory scored more points in the two wins (76) than they did during the four-game losing streak (72) that led to that point.
In the last two games, Jones has tallied up 532 yards and six touchdowns, while Ivy has rushed for 266 yards and three touchdowns. In total, the team has rushed for 564 yards in its two wins.
Those two will face a tough Bulldog defense that pitched a shutout in the second half against Clarksdale and caused a huge turnover in overtime to seal the victory. The Bulldogs are allowing just 11.8 points, the second-fewest in the North 4A ranks behind Louisville (9.5).
Friday’s winner advances to face the winner of the New Albany-Noxubee County contest. GHS would be at home again next if they play Noxubee County.
nContact Bill Burrus at 581-7237 or bburrus@gwcommonwealth.com.
