Greenwood scored on its first play from scrimmage and cruised to a 43-12 over visiting Jennings County in a Class 4A sectional semifinal on Friday night.
Senior Jackson Haessig went up the middle and raced untouched for a 76-yard touchdown run to start out the festivities that gave the Woodmen a running-clock win for the second straight week.
In addition to Haessig’s run, it only took the Woodmen three plays to score two more touchdowns.
Indiana State-bound quarterback Brock Riddle threw for 233 yards and two touchdown passes, while Haessig had 115 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
Defensively, the Woodmen were at their stingiest, allowing the Panthers’ leading rusher, Branden Braun, to only 46 yards.
Greenwood also had an interception by Gunner Ruppert.
“Defense played very well,” Greenwood coach Justin Boser said. “They played solid and their positions well. We have been using this defense now since Whiteland and it’s been working for us, and we’re getting used to where we need to be on the field.”
The win not only vaults Greenwood into the sectional championship game next Friday, but it also ensures the Woodmen (6-5) of their first non-losing season since 2020.
Both teams entered with 30-plus points a game on offense and giving up that same amount defensively, so it didn’t take a genius to figure this would going to be a high-scoring spectacle for someone.
The common opponent for both was Seymour, whom the Woodmen knocked off in the season opener back in August, 51-49. The Panthers lost to the Owls 56-32 in September.
“We knew about (Jennings County) just on film,” Boser said. “We knew they were going to come out and give their best.”
After Haessig’s score, the Woodmen didn’t score again in the first, but they more than made up for it in the second quarter with three scores and as mentioned, two in only three plays.
Riddle hit Tanner Crouch for a 43-yard score, on the only play of the Woodmen’s third possession. On their next possession, Riddle threw a 59-yard strike to Chase Monroe. Haessig finished out the first-half scoring on a 2-yard run.
“Brock did another great job of finding the right man,” Boser said.
With the game well in hand and a running clock, Boser took out Riddle and most of his starters, but Alan Burnett scored for the Woodmen from the 1 and sophomore Ayden Houseman also scored late.
Jennings County got on the board late in the third when quarterback Nathan Harrison threw a 25-yard pass to Lane Kirchner. The Panthers scored again late in the fourth on a meaningless touchdown pass.
Next up is a road trip to face the top-ranked team in 4A, reigning state champion East Central.
It won’t matter where Greenwood plays, according to Boser. He says his team will be ready.
“We know we’re playing a top-10 team in 4A football, and the winner of this sectional championship can go as far as they want,” Boser said. “We’re going to have to play our absolute best game, and (tonight) was a step in that direction and we’re going to have to continue that.
“I’m so happy I get to coach the guys another week.”
