GREENWOOD EXPECTING SOUTHSIDE TO RESPOND

Greenwood coach Rick Jones doesn't get many invites to play nonconference football team. Not many from noncompetitive football programs, anyway.

He and Southside coach Jeff Williams have enjoyed the rivalry since they signed on to play in 2006.


For the most part, they've been very competitive games, too.

"They like playing us, we like playing them," Jones said. "It's a great rivalry. It boils down to the team that wants to execute. I think it's going to be a big challenge for us. They (Southside) have a big offensive line and a good defense."

Southside and Greenwood kick off today at 7 p.m. at revamped Rowland Stadium. The new turf is painted and ready to go.

With the exception of a 45-24 loss in 2012, Southside and Greenwood have played a lot of close games. And the Bulldogs seem to keep finding ways to win. The Bulldogs won 45-42 in 2013, 15-10 in '14, and pulled out a 38-31 victory last season.

"We've had a lot of good games with them," Williams said. "Greenwood and Southside have always been a big game; I know our kids are going to be excited. We've got to come out and play and take care of the football, and not give them any gifts."

The Mavericks (0-1) learned the hard way last week that dropping the snap on fourth-and-long deep in your own territory is bad. And that six turnovers at the wrong end of the field is near impossible to overcome.

Against a more balanced, well-coached team like Greenwood there's not much room for error.


Southside trailed Har-Ber 17-0 only a few possessions into last week's opener. By the end of the first half, the Mavs were down 33-0.

"I wanted to see who was going to compete," Williams said. "Like I told the defense, they played really, really well. I know coach (Steven) Thessing felt the same way. The guys that we had some question marks about really stepped up an played well as a unit. But as a group, when it's 33-to-nothing, the kids are smart enough to understand that this one's probably gotten away from us.

"But I wanted to us give an effort, and I thought our effort was pretty good in the second half."

Jones expects an angry Mavericks' team today.

“That’s exactly what’s going to happen; they’re going to be ready to go," Jones said. "When you turn it over six times, you have a hard time getting going. Plus, Har-Ber is physical and tough; they’ll attack you downhill."

Southside quarterback Graves Schmidly completed 8-of-19 passes for just 54 yards. He was intercepted three times.

Kobe Roges led the team with 23 yards rushing on a dozen carries. In all, the Mavericks had just 16 rushing yards on 28 attempts.

The Mavericks were also without last season's leading rusher, Parker Dixon. Dixon practiced this week but will probably be a "game time" decision as whether he plays.

Balanced Greenwood rolled up 518 yards in its win over Northside, with quarterback Luke Hales throwing for 136 yards and running for 104 yards on 18 carries.

Greenwood finished with 257 yards rushing and 261 passing.

"They've got the luxury of having two Division I quarterbacks, and that's what a lot of the focus is on," Williams said. "They have a very big offensive line. Defensively, they look more physical and more improved what they were last year."

Photo Credits: Kevin Taylor