LOUISVILLE — The third time wasn’t the charm for Greenwood.
For the third time in five years, the Bulldogs saw their season end one win shy of a state championship appearance. This time it was Louisville with a 17-14 win here on a rainy Friday night.
After falling behind 10-0 in the first half, GHS rallied to go ahead but couldn’t make a 14-10 lead hold up in the fourth quarter. The Wildcats’ Kevon Jackson scored from 3 yards out on a fourth-down play with 8:37 to play that provided the eventual game-winning score.
The Bulldogs got into Louisville territory late but couldn’t overcome a third-and-30 situation and turned the ball over on downs with nine seconds left.
Greenwood lost to Noxubee County in this same spot in 2014 and 2015 but exorcised those demons in the second round of the playoffs two weeks ago with a 20-0 victory over the Tigers. Now the Bulldogs have to find a way to get past Louisville, which also ended GHS’ season a year ago with a 21-13 third-round win.
Greenwood’s Quiontavious Lymon chases Louisville quarterback Deonte Yarbrough (18) Friday night.
Louisville (14-1), the winner of 12 straight, advances to face Poplarville in next week’s 4A state title game. Poplarville defeated East Central 33-17 Friday. The unit is led by a pair of SEC commits — lineman Charles Moore (Mississippi State) and outside linebacker Ashanti Cistrunk (Ole Miss).
The Bulldogs end the season at 11-3 after surprising many with another deep postseason run.
GHS found yards hard to come by Friday against a Wildcat defense that came in allowing the fewest points in the statewide 4A ranks (8.08).
Greenwood’s two touchdowns came from its defense on a heads-up play from Quiontavious Lymon, who stripped the ball and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown to pull his team within three, 10-7, with 5:15 to play in the third quarter. Then late in the third quarter, Omar Emmons returned an interception 75 yards to pay dirt, handing the Bulldogs a 14-10 lead.
Lymon led the strong defensive charge for GHS as he was credited with 18 tackles, including two sacks and five tackles for loss.
After losing 21-0 to Louisville in the regular season, the Bulldogs gave the Wildcats all they wanted in the rematch, but in the end just couldn’t get over this North 4A finals hump.
In a battle between the two best defenses in the 4A ranks, it was the Wildcats who came out on top by allowing zero points.
The Greenwood defense, which came in allowing just 9.5 points a game, stood tall early in the game after Louisville returned an interception 20 yards to the Bulldogs’ 7-yard line. The Wildcats were held out of the end zone and settled for a 31-yard field goal by Elijah Wilkes to take a 3-0 lead with 2:37 left in the opening quarter.
Louisville went up 10-0 at the 10:48 mark of the second quarter on a 10-yard run by quarterback Deonte Yarbrough right up the middle.
Unfortunately for the Dogs, the Wildcat defense made a huge stand right before the half to preserve its 10-point lead. GHS had the ball second-and-5 at the Louisville 19, but Greenwood turned the ball over on downs. The Wildcat defense was aided by two crucial penalties.
Greenwood managed just 115 total yards. Walter Ivory had 60 hard-earned yards on 20 carries, while quarterback DeAndre Smith completed 6 of 10 passes for 47 yards and one interception.
Marquavious Williams had 10 tackles.
It was the ninth straight postseason for the Bulldogs in Gatewood’s nine years as head coach.
• Contact Bill Burrus at 581-7237 or bburrus@gwcommonwealth.com.
