Greenwood coach Mike Campbell talks to his team during Friday’s sectional game against Martinsville.
Chris Williams | For the Daily Journal
Greenwood’s difficult season mercifully ended last night.
The Woodmen dropped their Class 4A sectional opener, 49-0, at home against Mid-State Conference rival Martinsville to end their season at 1-9.
It was the ninth consecutive loss for Greenwood after a season-opening 35-7 win over Seymour back on Aug. 19. It was also the fifth straight loss to the Artesians dating back to 2019.
Not the ideal way to go out for longtime coach Mike Campbell, who was coaching his final high school game. He took over as the school’s athletic director in August.
“They (seniors) persevered a lot,” Campbell said. “But those dudes have stuck it out, did what they needed to do, and they are tough kids and are certainly going to be successful. I’m proud of these kids and I love this community and you don’t want to have your last game go like this, but I’m still here and I’m looking toward the next chapter, and it will be a challenge, but one I look forward to.
“It’s been a great journey.”
From the beginning, the Artesians — who beat Greenwod back in a much closer September game, 28-14 — used a potent and balanced passing and running attack to keep the Woodmen off balance.
Their second touchdown, a flea-flicker, effectively ended the game. Martinsville quarterback Tyler Adkins handed off to Brayden Shrake, who then tossed the ball back to Adkins, who then hit Garrett Skaggs for a 68-yard touchdown pass.
Adkins had hit Skaggs for another score three minutes earlier, but that didn’t have the effect of this one.
After that second TD, Greenwood struggled both offensively and on defense and had no answers.
“It was a great call,” Campbell said. “We were really aggressive, and we shut down their run game the first time we played them, and we shut them down again on the first series, but they made a great call (the next time).”
Before the first half was over, the Artesians had a 35-0 lead and a running clock.
Not helping matters were two fumbles in their own territory in the first quarter that led to two scores.
Greenwood started out great, holding the powerful Artesians and forcing them to punt, but Alan Burnett fumbled after catching a Brock Riddle pass and that set up the first Martinsville score.
The second fumble led to the Artesians’ fourth touchdown, this time with Adkins hitting Trevor Hott.
By that time the Woodmen were playing exclusively for pride.
That pride showed in the second half when the Woodmen finally put together a drive, taking it to the Martinsville 38, but an interception snuffed it out.
One more interception led to the final score and gave the Woodmen a dubious four turnovers on the night — all of them leading to scores.
Greenwood gained a total of 171 yards with back Marcus Stokes gaining 76 of those on the ground.
For Martinsville, Shrake ran for 87-yards and two touchdowns, while Adkins was 9 for 10 through the air for 176 yards and four touchdowns.
“It had to end sometime,” Campbell said. “They were hard to handle tonight. Greenwood will keep building, though, and keeping after it.
“It’s the Woodmen way.”
Martinsville (7-3) now faces Bedford North Lawrence (6-4) next week.
