GREENBRIER — The start of games doesn't get much better than the one Greenbrier had Friday.
Greenbrier won its 5AWest opener over Siloam Springs 42-24 at Greenbrier's Don Jones Stadium, giving Siloam Springs its first loss of the season.
Greenbrier (3-1, 1-0) scored on the game's first possession when Jo Oluokun picked up a fumbled option pitch by Siloam Springs and ran 81 yards for a touchdown. Greenbrier's Tyler Thomas then recovered a fumble on the Siloam Springs 35-yard line on the ensuing kickoff, setting up a 3-yard touchdown run by Hunter Winston, who rushed 26 times for 297 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Greenbrier took a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter when Winston broke free for an 84-yard touchdown run.
"Things went well for us early in the game to give us a little mojo," Greenbrier Coach Randy Tribble said.
Winston got his third touchdown run near the end of the half, scoring from 2 yards out to put Siloam Springs (3-1, 0-1) down 28-7 before the third quarter.
Greenbrier had 218 yards of total offense in the first half.
Siloam Springs rallied in the third quarter, keying on Winston to keep Greenbrier from crossing the 50 for most of the quarter. Siloam Springs also scored 17 consecutive points to cut the lead to 28-24.
The pressure appeared to get to Greenbrier, with Winston being called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after returning akickoff following a 17-yard touchdown catch by Siloam Springs' Greg Frabotta.
Tribble yelled at Winston from the sideline, then watched as he ran for a 88-yard touchdown on Greenbrier's next play.
"That was awesome," Tribble said. "That was a huge play. I was pretty steamed. I was thinking of taking him out."
Winston said he wasn't expecting such a heavy workload, but that Siloam Springs dictated the offensive strategy.
"I guess they kept trying to overpursue," Winston said. "And we kept sticking it down their throat."
Conference victories have been rare for Greenbrier, which has the longest playoff drought of any team in the 5A-West.
"Inside, I'm just jumping up and down, yelling, screaming and hollering," said Tribble, inhis second year with Greenbrier after coaching at Harding University. "This old man's got chill bumps."
WHITE HALL 28, SYLVAN HILLS 0
WHITE HALL - A.J. Richardson scored three touchdowns and No. 6 White Hall opened its 5A-Southeast season with a victory.
Richardson finished with touchdown runs of 12, 40 and 15 yards for the Bulldogs (3-1 overall). Larry Walls added a 43-yard touchdown pass to Phillip Etheridge.
Sylvan Hills fell to 0-4 overall and 0-1 in conference.
CAMDEN FAIRVIEW 42, HOT SPRINGS LAKESIDE 21
HOT SPRINGS - Camden Fairview dominated in the first half, scoring four times and leading 35-7 at halftime.
Camden Fairview rushed for 22 yards. James Gulley had two touchdowns on six carries, rushing for 65 yards. Kevin Wooten had 10 carries and rushed for 37 yards.
Quarterback Chase Foster was 9 for 11 passing for 106 yards, with 1 touchdown and 1 interception.
Hot Springs' Andre Wesley scored on a 50-yard interception in the fourth.
Sports, Pages 26 on 09/26/2009