5A Greenwood (1-1) at 6A South Warren (1-1)

Former district rivals square off here at South Warren High School on Friday!

These 2 local teams have played 14 times beginning in 2013 with the Spartans leading the series 12-2.  South Warren's victories in this series have been pretty convincing, while the 2 Gator victories have been pretty memorable.  Greenwood won for the first time in 2016 with a 17-16 OT victory.  The other Gator win was in 2024 as "Super-Gator' Lofton Howard powered Greenwood to a 35-21 win that earned the Gators the #2 district spot and sent the Spartans to the 3 seed and the road for the first round of the playoffs.

Last season was a pretty strong effort from Greenwood as they were only outgained by about 100 yards rushing and fell 33-19 at home in a pretty competitive game. 

Greenwood Gators Information

Greenwood had a fine team last season and graduation always brings change.  Additional change includes the beginning of the Tony Adams era as head football coach.  Coach Adams graduated from Greenwood in 1997 and began his coaching career with Greenwood working under Greg Cavanah and staying on with Coach Chris Seabolt.  He returned to Greenwood in 2020 as special team's coordinator and later defensive coordinator.  Good luck to Coach Adams!

I really don't know much about this Greenwood team, but after falling to a very solid Station Camp, TN team in Week 1. They then travelled yesterday to the Smurf Turf at Warren East and earned a hard fought 15-14 win. I don't have any info here, but great first win for Coach Adams. Congratulations.

South Warren Spartan Information

The Spartans hosted a strong Dupont Manual team on Friday night and fell 42-21. The Crimsons ran for nearly 300 yards and passed for nearly 200 yards. That's not the Spartans I know. Defensively is where they hang their hat. But its a new season and its early in the season. AND Manual may be the second-best team in 6A. So I look for South to be really focused in practice this week. 

Game Information

I just don't have time to be cute with words this week. I just don't see a scenario where Greenwood stays in this game. It's at South. South will be hungry to get back in the win column and think that is all it will take for the Spartans to come out on top.

What are your thoughts in this game?

South by as much as they want it.

Bump.

SW by 4 touchdowns.

The guys that made an impact against SW last year for Greenwood are gone - mainly Chaney, Hines, Coleman, and Scott.

Even if the Spartans aren't at last year's level, they should still be able to handle the Gators.

South Warren by as much as they want.

Gators were down 14-2 at halftime on the road against Warren East last week and found a way to win 15-14. Hard to argue they'll compete with the 6A runner ups from last season after that performance. On the other hand to say this one is a running clock at halftime is a bit of a stretch. The Spartans may of played a good Manual football team but they were dominated up front. Very uncommon for South, regardless of competition.

I think you'll get two fired up teams, the Gators are coming into this game 2-12 all time against their crosstown foe and as I stated last year before this matchup, "what do they have to lose.” If the Spartans don't put a lid on this one early they'll find themselves in a similar position as last year. It all depends on how well the Gators can perform in the trenches, especially offensively. Won't be surprised at all if this one turns into a ballgame, but I'll ride with the history in this one.

Spartans 31-14.

No contest here.

42-7 South

4Q