Canada sparks Greenwood’s homecoming rout
GREENWOOD — Braxton Canada caught two touchdown passes and threw another as Greenwood used a 22-point third quarter to pull away from Harrison on Friday, Oct. 2, at Smith-Robinson Stadium. The Bulldogs improved to 3-2 overall and 2-0 in the 5A-West while extending their home winning streak to 79 games, according to the broadcast.
Cruz Coatney completed 20 of 22 passes for 305 yards and three touchdowns. Canada finished with nine receptions for 171 yards, then added a 39-yard scoring pass on a double-pass play. Greenwood led 23-10 at halftime before scoring three touchdowns in the opening six minutes of the second half.
Landon Franklin opened the scoring with a 22-yard field goal with 9:29 remaining in the first quarter. Mario Dunbar followed with a 3-yard touchdown run at the 6:10 mark, and Franklin’s extra point made it 10-0. Ty Holt supplied a key block on Dunbar’s score.
Canada turned a short throw from Coatney into a 77-yard touchdown with 11:21 left in the second quarter. Franklin’s kick stretched the margin to 17-0, but Harrison answered twice before halftime.
Truett Bardwell kicked a 28-yard field goal with 6:08 left in the half after Greenwood stopped a goal-to-go possession. Gunner Flanary and Terry McGinister combined to sack Gavin Jones on third down during that stand. Jones later found Dawson Smith for a 6-yard touchdown pass with 2:41 remaining. The extra point brought Harrison within 17-10.
Greenwood responded on fourth-and-10. Coatney found Cooper Webb across the middle, and Webb fought through defenders to finish a 36-yard touchdown with 50 seconds left before halftime. A high snap spoiled the extra-point attempt, leaving the Bulldogs ahead 23-10.
The third quarter belonged to Greenwood. Flanary’s third-down sack helped force a punt, giving the Bulldogs the ball at the Harrison 36. On the next snap, Coatney hit Canada for a 36-yard touchdown with 9:45 left in the quarter. The same pair connected on the two-point conversion for a 31-10 lead.
Bailey Thibodeau intercepted Jones on Harrison’s next possession, setting up Dunbar’s second rushing touchdown, a 5-yarder with 8:20 left. Franklin’s kick made it 38-10. Canada then threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Ty Karnes on a double pass with 6:03 remaining. The extra point pushed the lead to 45-10 and started the running clock.
Harrison’s Gunnar Johnson threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to Cooper Campbell with 10:24 remaining in the fourth quarter. The extra point missed. Greenwood finished the scoring on Drake Little’s 7-yard touchdown run with 4:40 left and a successful extra point.
Alongside Canada’s production, Holt caught six passes for 59 yards. Webb’s 36-yard touchdown reception supplied a crucial late-first-half response, while Thibodeau’s interception helped turn Greenwood’s strong start to the second half into a decisive surge.
Scoring summary
First quarter, 9:29 — Greenwood: Landon Franklin, 22-yard field goal. Greenwood 3-0
First quarter, 6:10 — Greenwood: Mario Dunbar, 3-yard run (Franklin kick). Greenwood 10-0
Second quarter, 11:21 — Greenwood: Braxton Canada, 77-yard pass from Cruz Coatney (kick good). Greenwood 17-0
Second quarter, 6:08 — Harrison: Truett Bardwell, 28-yard field goal. Greenwood 17-3
Second quarter, 2:41 — Harrison: Dawson Smith, 6-yard pass from Gavin Jones (kick good). Greenwood 17-10
Second quarter, 0:50 — Greenwood: Cooper Webb, 36-yard pass from Coatney (extra-point attempt failed). Greenwood 23-10
Third quarter, 9:45 — Greenwood: Canada, 36-yard pass from Coatney (Canada pass from Coatney). Greenwood 31-10
Third quarter, 8:20 — Greenwood: Dunbar, 5-yard run (Franklin kick). Greenwood 38-10
Third quarter, 6:03 — Greenwood: Ty Karnes, 39-yard pass from Canada (kick good). Greenwood 45-10
Fourth quarter, 10:24 — Harrison: Cooper Campbell, 33-yard pass from Gunnar Johnson (kick missed). Greenwood 45-16
Fourth quarter, 4:40 — Greenwood: Drake Little, 7-yard run (kick good). Greenwood 52-16
Players who stood out
Braxton Canada, Greenwood — Nine catches for 171 yards and two touchdowns; completed his only pass for a 39-yard touchdown and caught a two-point conversion
Cruz Coatney, Greenwood — Completed 20 of 22 passes for 305 yards and three touchdowns
Mario Dunbar, Greenwood — Two rushing touchdowns, from 3 and 5 yards
Ty Holt, Greenwood — Six catches for 59 yards and a key block on the opening touchdown run
Ty Karnes, Greenwood — One reception for 39 yards and a touchdown
Cooper Webb, Greenwood — A 36-yard touchdown catch on fourth-and-10
Bailey Thibodeau, Greenwood — Third-quarter interception that set up a touchdown
Dawson Smith and Cooper Campbell, Harrison — Touchdown catches of 6 and 33 yards, respectively