GREENLAND -- In a game full of offensive highlights, it was two crucial stops by Gentry's defense to secure a 35-27 victory over Greenland in a nonconference clash Friday night.
Gentry forced the Pirates offense to turn the ball over on downs at the Gentry 8 late in the fourth quarter, only to punt it right back three plays later. Greenland took over at the Pioneers' 35 with 55 seconds left, but could only muster one yard in the final series.
Gentry's Mateo Cain swatted away the final desperation pass in the end zone to send the Pioneers' sideline and crowd into a frenzy.
"Our defense stepped up and made some plays when they had to be made, forcing some down and distances that were easier to defend," a relieved Gentry coach Paul Ernest said. "My hat goes off to Greenland; that's a very, very good football team. They scared the mess out of us, and I don't want to play them again, I tell you that."
The Pioneers (2-1) jumped out to a 21-0 first-quarter lead, scoring on their first three possessions, and seemed to be on cruise control with quarterback Brandon Atwood at the helm. The 5-foot-11 senior ran the ball in from a yard out to score on the opening drive, then hit junior Zach Jarnagan, who out-jumped two defenders to score from 27 yards out midway through the opening quarter.
Atwood found Jarnagan again late in the quarter to give Gentry the three-touchdown cushion.
"We've got some playmakers and just tried to keep the ball in their hands," Ernest said. "In the first quarter we got up 21 and I kind of got in my pocket with the play sheet a little bit, and started getting conservative. I think that took the kids out of it a little bit."
Greenland (2-1) started to crank things up in the second quarter. After Zach Gilbert picked off a Pioneer pass at the Pirates' 3, Greenland mounted a 97-yard drive in seven plays, including a 49-yard jaunt by quarterback Gabe Wilson. Tailback Jett Dennis finished it off with a 9-yard touchdown run.
A 67-yard punt return by Zaylen Bryant set the Pirates up at the Pioneers' 30. Dennis scored on the second play of the drive with an 18-yard run to cut the lead to 21-14 with 3:32 left in the first half.
Deniis tallied 134 yards on the ground on 24 carries.
Gentry bounced back before the intermission, as Atwood found Jarnagan once again. Jarnagan caught the ball in the flat, made a spin move and scored from 10 yards out to make it 27-14.
"I've just got to thank my quarterback for getting me the ball," said Jarnagan, who finished with eight catches for 171 yards. "Brandon is phenomenal, a great quarterback and a great guy. We've played together or against each other for pretty much all of our lives. We've just got a good connection. Well, this whole team has a connection, really."
Greenland opened the second half with an 8-play drive that ended with a 26-yard touchdown run by Wilson, who led the Pirates with 139 yards on 16 carries. He also completed 9 of 22 passes for 80 yards.
After a successful onside kick, Greenland put together an 11-play drive, as Wilson found Carter Gobel open in the end zone with 2:12 remaining in the third. The extra-point kick was wide right, keeping the score tied at 27-27.
Gentry went 60 yards on the ensuing drive, as Atwood hit Beau Tomblin for a 7-yard TD strike with 9:37 left to play. Atwood then darted in for the two-point conversion to score to put the Pioneers up by 8 with the game's final points.
"It was an intense game," Jarnagan said. "We were up 21-0 in the first quarter and we thought we had it then, but they came back and showed that they could make it a game. We just stuck with it and were able to pull it out."
Atwood completed 10 of 15 passes for 182 yards, while rushing 16 times for 111 yards.
GENTRY 35, GREENLAND 27
Gentry 21 6 0 8 — 35
Greenland 0 14 13 0 — 27
First Quarter
Gent – Atwood 1 run (kick failed) 11:01
Gent – Jarnagan 27 pass from Atwood (Jackson pass from Atwood) 6:59
Gent – Jarnagan 5 pass from Atwood (Hays kick) 2:09
Second Quarter
Green – Dennis 9 run (Tomblin kick) 7:24
Green – Dennis 18 run (Tomblin kick) 3:32
Gent – Jarnagan 10 pass from Atwood (kick blocked) 1:29
Third Quarter
Green – Wilson 26 run (Tomblin kick) 9:01
Green – Gobel 6 pass from Wilson (kick failed) 2:12
Fourth Quarter
Gent – Tomblin 7 pass from Atwood (Atwood run) 9:37
Four Downs
• Atwood's 7-yard TD to Tomblin in the fourth quarter was the only pass Gentry threw in the second half.
• Greenland outgained Gentry 391-340 in total offense, including 311 on the ground.
• The last time Gentry played in Greenland in 2017, the Pirates won a 76-71 classic in regulation.
• Greenland will open 3A-1 Conference play next week at Charleston, while Gentry travels to Pea Ridge for the 4A-1 Conference opener for both teams.
Sports on 09/21/2019