Greenwood’s football program entered Friday’s game against visiting Perry Meridian having won two of its past 10 season-openers.
The Woodmen stuck to the ground and improved their batting average.
Junior running back Brandon Rosado paced a determined Greenwood rushing attack with 102 yards rushing and a pair of touchdowns in a 34-7 victory.
Not to be outdone, sophomore Isaiah Borjas tacked on 101 rushing yards of his own. Borjas also contributed a pair of scores on runs covering 17 and 29 yards.
Greenwood’s swarming defense played a dominant role, as well. The Woodmen gave up 50 yards on 33 Perry Meridian rushing attempts and only 74 yards through the air.
“Defensively, I think we were plus-four in the turnovers. They controlled the tempo of the game,” Greenwood coach Mike Campbell said after watching his squad avenge last season’s 28-17 loss to the Falcons. “Our defensive staff put together a great game plan, and our players executed it as well as the game plan came together.
“Offensively, we had some ground and pound going. Borjas and Brandon ran hard and downhill. They’re physical kids and they’re good kids who are fun to be around. Our offensive line did a nice job of covering people up.”
Greenwood controlled the field-position game early, starting its first five offensive series at midfield or inside Perry Meridian territory.
The Woodmen went three-and-out on their first possession but marched 49 yards in six plays on their second to score the game’s first points.
Borjas barreled 17 yards up the middle on a second-and-3 at 5:21 of the first for a 7-0 Greenwood advantage.
After senior kicker Daymon Maynard’s ensuing kickoff sailed into the end zone for a touchback, officials stopped the game due to lightning seen to the north.
The game was restarted at 8:13 p.m.
On the second play following the restart, Falcons quarterback Jalen Lee had his pass deflected and eventually intercepted by the Woodmen defense at the Perry Meridian 22.
Greenwood’s offense failed to capitalize but would strike paydirt on its next two opportunities.
With 10:32 remaining in the second quarter and his team facing a third-and-16, junior quarterback Seth Gallman dropped back and hit senior Dylan Rosado in stride for a 43-yard touchdown strike.
Another Rosado — this time Brandon — tacked on another score for the Woodmen with a 5-yard TD run at 5:50 of the second for a 20-0 advantage.
Perry Meridian got on the board with some fourth-down daring of its own — junior Jalen Lee’s 24-yard strike to junior receiver Carlos Shane on a fourth-and-4 at the 3-minute mark before intermission.
The Woodmen accumulated 174 yards of total offense in the opening half compared to 109 for Perry Meridian.
While happy with the "W," Campbell knows from experience what next week’s opponent brings to Greenwood’s home field.
“We felt we had a really good offseason, and you always like to see the dividends paid,” he said. “But Indian Creek is well coached. Coach (Mike) Gillin, you don’t win 299 games by accident. We know that they’re going to come here well prepared to play us next Friday.”
