Greenwood football routed by Decatur Central

Sustained drives and big plays were more than enough for Decatur Central.

The visiting Hawks totaled 429 yards as they trounced Greenwood 35-3 to maintain a grip on first place in the Mid-State Conference.

Class 5A No. 4 Decatur Central (6-1, 5-0) had three plays over 70 yards, which not only stunned the Woodmen but ultimately proved impossible to overcome.

“We’re to the point now that we’re not into moral victories, we’re into coaching details,” Greenwood coach Mike Campbell said. “We figured a lot of things out, but now we have to figure out all those small details that take you from being a solid team to a good team and we’re really close.”

In winning their ninth straight over the Woodmen and 15 of the past 16 total, the Hawks proved they were worthy of their ranking on their first series, marching 87 yards on 17 plays. Senior tailback Kaleb Hicks ran it in from the 5. It didn’t take quite as long for Decatur Central’s second score as quarterback Javon Tracy raced 74 yards, and suddenly it was 14-0.

Greenwood (2-5, 1-4) was desperate for a score and started to produce a nice drive themselves, alternating rushes between senior backs Gavin Ruppert and Noah Apgar. As a result, the Woodmen found themselves at the 13-yard line, but two incompletions, a run for no gain and a costly delay of game penalty forced Greenwood to settle for a 35-yard field goal by Michael Joseph.

Decatur Central scored again when Hicks scored from the 19. The Woodmen answered with another nice drive, getting to the 5, but the Hawks stiffened and this time the host side came up with nothing.

“We had too many small opportunities that we let go and it opened up the window for them,” Campbell said. “It’s details. We still have to get better.”

Tracy scored on another long run, this one from 71 yards, and then threw to William Starks, who zigzagged his way to an 81-yard touchdown for the final tally.

Hurting the Woodmen was the absence of Apgar, who was out of the game midway through the second quarter.

“Precautionary reasons,” Campbell said. “He’s going to be fine.”

Tracy accounted for a remarkable 356 total yards, 180 rushing and 176 passing. Greenwood had 221 total yards, with 95 coming in the air courtesy of quarterback Brock Riddle. Carter Campbell had six catches for 92 yards.

Up next for Greenwood is an always-important conference and county contest against Franklin.