CLEVELAND — Greenwood High School was three minutes away from payback, but instead walked away with a heartbreaking loss.
East Side cashed in on a late turnover deep inside GHS territory for a 14-13 homecoming victory here Friday night to stay unbeaten on the season.
With Greenwood clinging to a 13-8 lead, a shotgun snap on third down sailed over the head of quarterback Kwadra Griggs and was recovered by the Trojans at the Bulldogs’ 8-yard line.
Two plays later, Barron Burns bulled his way into the end zone for a 4-yard touchdown. The try for two failed, leaving East Side with a 14-13 lead with 2:33 to play.
Thanks to a 22-yard kickoff return by Korey Robertson, GHS still had hope, starting its drive at the East Side 48. But a holding penalty and a fourth-down sack preserved the Trojan victory as they improved to 6-0.
“We had every opportunity to win this game, but we didn’t take advantage of a lot of chances to do that,” GHS coach Clinton Gatewood said. “We’ve got to learn to finish.”
It was East Side’s fourth straight win against Greenwood, which falls to 3-3 on the year.
“I really wanted this one because I haven’t beaten East Side in my three years here,” Gatewood said. “But our guys are ready to move on and focus on district play. That’s where it counts, and we’re already 1-0 in district.”
The wayward snap that led to the game-winning touchdown wasn’t the only one that cost the Bulldogs. A third-quarter snap over the head of punter Alex Johnson resulted in a safety when Johnson kicked the ball out of the back of the end zone while it was rolling on the ground deep in his own territory.
That wasn’t the only special teams mistake that proved to be costly. GHS also had a missed PAT kick in the second quarter that came back to haunt the Bulldogs.
East Side came in averaging 35 points a game and more than 300 yards rushing. The Bulldog defense bent at times but didn’t break much.
Johnson, a senior linebacker, and junior linebacker Broderick Hodo had 16 tackles each. Senior defensive end Dwight Griggs had 14 stops and two sacks, while senior strong safety Artez Williams added 13 tackles.
Senior cornerback Khalil Johnson had seven tackles and five pass break-ups, including two on a key stop in the red zone.
Greenwood took a 7-0 lead with 5:25 left in the first quarter on an 11-play, 60-yard touchdown drive, capped by an 8-yard scoring strike from Griggs to Booker T. Chambers. Johnson booted the PAT kick.
Griggs, a junior, was 5-of-5 passing on the drive and finished the game 18 of 33 for 230 yards and two touchdowns and no interceptions.
East Side made it 7-6 in the final seconds of the first quarter on a 17-yard pass from Jonathan Clerk-Beamon to Brandt Williams. The Bulldog defense stuffed the two-point run to keep GHS out in front.
After a fumble recovery by Carlton Jordan that was forced by Dwight Griggs, the Bulldogs took over at the East Side 29. They cashed in on the turnover when Griggs hit Chambers with a screen pass, and Chambers went 28 yards for the touchdown.
After the PAT kick sailed wide right, GHS led 13-6.
In the second half, the Bulldogs had another costly mistake when Griggs hit Chambers on a 40-yard pass play, but Chambers fumbled the ball. East Side’s Paddarrius Bronner recovered it to give the Trojans possession at their own 12.
Tyrone Weaver led the receiving corps with six grabs for 120 yards. Chambers finished with four catches for 46 yards and a pair of TDs.
Robertson, the team’s leading receiver, was held to just four catches for 26 yards.
Greenwood looks to bounce back this week with a homecoming game against Humphreys County.
• Contact Bill Burrus at 581-7237 or bburrus@gwcommonwealth.com. Follow on Twitter:@Bill_Burrus.
