ZIONSVILLE
Greenwood Christian’s long road to respectability continues to be a tough one. For the second straight week, the Cougars were victims of a powerful offense and a superior defense.
Host Covenant Christian, despite playing sloppy football at times, beat the Cougars 42-16 Friday night at Zionsville West Middle School.
Last week Greenwood Christian was pounded by Class A No. 9 Park Tudor, 65-6. It was much the same against the Warriors, but there was improvement from the Cougars, especially in the way they moved the ball.
But in some ways the Cougars regressed, especially with their discipline.
GCA (0-2) was flagged eight times for 60 yards. There were more, but the Warriors declined them in lieu of better yards from scrimmage.
In addition, the Warriors turned the ball over four times, yet the Cougars could only turn them into seven points.
In that error-prone first half, Greenwood Christian saw its first score go for naught thanks to a penalty. The Cougars drove to the Warrior 5 but turned the ball over on downs.
Greenwood Christian stopped a Warrior drive themselves with a fumble recovery by Daniel Honeycutt, but the Warriors ultimately went up 6-0 when sophomore quarterback Connor Cruz hit Noah Bryant for an 11-yard score. The kick was botched, which ultimately helped the Cougars get their first lead of the season.
That came on an electrifying 67-yard scramble by sophomore Trey Dobson. Charlie Overton’s extra-point kick gave GCA the lead with 1:49 left in the first quarter.
After a lackluster start to the second quarter, Covenant Christian scored twice in three minutes, the first when Cruz passed to Carter Bell from the 6.
Jeremiah Dowdell then scampered for a 26-yard touchdown run and it was 21-7, where it remained for the rest of the half.
Covenant had lost Bryant to an injury late in the first quarter but had its next man up with Dowdel, who replaced Bryant.
Dowdel’s score from the 2 early in the third pretty much ended who was going to win, as Greenwood Christian couldn’t get anything going on offense.
Dowdel scored again in the quarter from the 10 and it was mop up time after that.
In that time, Dobson hit Overton for a 37-yard score and restored some pride for the Cougars.
Covenant committed its final indiscretion of the night with a high snap in the end zone that resulted in a safety for the Cougars.
Coming off the bench, Dowdel rushed 156 yards and three touchdowns for the Warriors.
In addition to two fumble recoveries, the Cougars also had two interceptions, one each by Jacob Schlichting and Overton, but they ended up wasting the opportunities.
Dobson rushed for 82 yards and threw for 105 more for Greenwood Christian.
GCA continues that climb to respectability next week when it travels to Wes-Del.
