INDIANAPOLIS
Greenwood scored touchdowns on its first possession of each half Friday, but that was the extent of the Woodmen’s offensive output at Mid-State Conference rival Decatur Central.
The host Hawks controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball and outgained the Woodmen 555 yard to 134 en route to a 52-12 victory.
The loss dropped Greenwood to 1-5 overall and 0-5 in conference play, while Decatur Central improved to 3-4 and 2-3.
“We had some shot plays, and we hit one and missed one, but our margin of error is so thin with our athletic ability that it’s a bad matchup for us,” Woodmen coach Mike Campbell said. “They isolated their speed in space. We had a lot of fight for three quarters; I was proud of our effort. We just have to continue to fight for every inch, and until we get to that point where we can finish some drives, we’re going to struggle.”
Greenwood, traditionally a run-heavy offense, threw the ball on its first five plays from scrimmage, and finished the game with 21 runs and 21 passes.
Woodmen quarterback Brock Riddle threw a pair of touchdown passes, a 65-yard strike to Ethan Pringle on Greenwood’s second offensive play of the game to give the Woodmen a fleeting 6-0 lead (they missed the extra-point try), and a 38-yard pass to Pringle on their first possession of the third quarter.
But Riddle and Ayden Houseman, who spelled Riddle in the fourth quarter when the game was no longer close, combined to complete just one of their other 19 passes.
“(Decatur Central) came out in a five-man front, and they weren’t going to let us run the ball how we normally like to,” Campbell said. “We hit them (pass plays) early. We got a couple matchups we really liked, but we just have to find ways to be consistent, make the throw, and in the end our protection started to break down. They knew we were going to throw, and their guys started teeing off. We’re young up front and inexperienced, and these are the kinds of games you have to grow and learn from.”
Greenwood managed just 14 rushing yards on 21 carries. Riddle finished with 113 passing yards, all but 10 coming on those two touchdown passes to Pringle. The Woodmen managed just four non-penalty first downs.
Decatur Central, meanwhile, gashed the Woodmen for 309 rushing yards and 246 yards through the air. Hawks freshman quarterback Bo Polston completed 19 of 27 passes to five different receivers and threw for four touchdowns.
Greenwood linebacker Cooper Smith recovered the fumble on Decatur Central’s first possession that set up the Woodmen’s first touchdown. Safety Jackson Kidwell also intercepted a pass late in the first quarter for the Woodmen at midfield.
The Greenwood offense marched to the Hawks’ 33-yard line after the interception, but the drive stalled there, and the Woodmen turned it over on downs.
Decatur Central then marched 67 yards on 10 plays to score a touchdown and take a 14-6 lead, which it never relinquished.
The Woodmen host Franklin next Friday.
