Wolverines Answer Late, Edge Bulldogs in Season-Opening Thriller
Bentonville West 28, Greenwood 24
CENTERTON — Bentonville West answered Greenwood’s late rally with a decisive final drive, defeating the Bulldogs 28-24 Friday in both teams’ season opener.
The Wolverines took a 7-0 first-quarter lead after recovering a punt that touched a Greenwood player at the Bulldogs’ 40. A trick play reached the 4, and Sutton Mackey completed a 2-yard touchdown pass to Asher Swoboda. Greenwood answered with Landon Franklin’s 29-yard field goal.
Greenwood drove to the Bentonville West 1 early in the second quarter, but the Wolverines stopped a fourth-down run. Bentonville West then covered 99 yards, capped by VJ Warren’s 31-yard touchdown run for a 14-3 lead. Cruz Coatney’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Braxton Canada pulled Greenwood within 14-10 before halftime.
Neither team scored in the third quarter. Mackey’s 23-yard touchdown pass to Swoboda extended the Wolverines’ lead to 21-10 with 10:40 remaining.
Greenwood responded with two consecutive touchdowns. Coatney found Canada uncovered for an 18-yard score, cutting the deficit to 21-17. William Rye then intercepted Mackey and returned the ball 21 yards to the Bentonville West 23. On fourth-and-4, Canada made a low catch for a first down at the 11, and Mario Dunbar scored on the next play to give Greenwood a 24-21 lead with 2:42 left.
Bentonville West’s ensuing kickoff return reached the Greenwood 33. Warren broke a 29-yard run to the 4, and Mackey scored from 2 yards with 1:04 remaining. Greenwood crossed midfield on its final possession, but a fourth-down pass fell incomplete.
Mackey completed 14 of 24 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns. Warren rushed 28 times for 178 yards. Coatney finished 25 of 37 for 174 yards and two scores, while Canada caught 16 passes for 112 yards and two touchdowns. Ty Ross added six receptions for 103 yards to pace the Wolverines’ receiving corps.
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
Bentonville West – Sutton Mackey 2-yard pass to Asher Swoboda (Ethan Robinson kick), Bentonville West 7-0, 3:51
Greenwood – Landon Franklin 29-yard field goal, Bentonville West 7-3, 0:19
2nd Quarter
Bentonville West – VJ Warren 31-yard run (Ethan Robinson kick), Bentonville West 14-3, 3:13
Greenwood – Cruz Coatney 13-yard pass to Braxton Canada (Landon Franklin kick), Bentonville West 14-10, 0:28
3rd Quarter
No scoring
4th Quarter
Bentonville West – Sutton Mackey 23-yard pass to Asher Swoboda (Ethan Robinson kick), Bentonville West 21-10, 10:40
Greenwood – Cruz Coatney 18-yard pass to Braxton Canada (Landon Franklin kick), Bentonville West 21-17, 7:45
Greenwood – Mario Dunbar 11-yard run (Landon Franklin kick), Greenwood 24-21, 2:42
Bentonville West – Sutton Mackey 2-yard run (Ethan Robinson kick), Bentonville West 28-24, 1:04
Players of the Game
- Sutton Mackey, Bentonville West junior QB — Completed 14 of 24 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns. He threw scoring passes of 2 and 23 yards to Asher Swoboda, then scored the winning touchdown on a 2-yard keeper with 1:04 remaining.
- VJ Warren, Bentonville West junior RB — Rushed 28 times for 178 yards and scored on a 31-yard run. His 29-yard gain to the Greenwood 4 set up Mackey’s winning touchdown.
- Braxton Canada, Greenwood junior WR — Caught 16 passes for 112 yards and two touchdowns, scoring from 13 and 18 yards. He also converted fourth-and-4 with a low catch at the Bentonville West 11 and averaged 41.8 yards on four punts, placing two inside the 20.
- Cruz Coatney, Greenwood senior QB — Completed 25 of 37 passes for 174 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. He added 48 yards on eight carries and directed Greenwood’s two fourth-quarter touchdown drives.
- William Rye, Greenwood junior CB — Recorded four tackles and intercepted a fourth-quarter pass. His 21-yard return to the Bentonville West 23 directly set up Dunbar’s go-ahead touchdown.