By Mike McGraw
Executive Director

MOORESVILLE – If I told you that the Sept. 19 game between Greenwood and host Mooresville featured a 60-yard kickoff return, a blocked punt recovered at the opponent’s 15-yard line, three fumbled punts recovered by the kicking team, and a successful onside kick, what would you guess the score to have been?

Something tells me you would not be guessing 11-3. Nonetheless, that was the final margin as Class 4A No. 9 Mooresville remained unbeaten both in the Mid-State Conference and overall.

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This was a game of missed opportunities, and one that wasn’t.

That theme began on the game’s opening possession as Mooresville’s Shelby Kanouse returned the opening kickoff down inside the Greenwood 30. The Pioneers (5-0 overall, 3-0 conference) could not move any further, however, and turned the ball over on downs.

Greenwood presently mounted its best drive of the evening, moving the ball quickly into Mooresville territory with an effective passing attack. That drive, though, also went for naught when Mooresville’s Andrew Gibson intercepted a Woodmen pass inside the Pioneers’ 10-yard line.

That made one possession, and one missed opportunity both ways.

Those would be the best scoring chances either team could mount in a scoreless first half. For the remainder of the first two periods, Mooresville could not generate any consistent ground game, while Greenwood never again moved the ball as well as on its initial drive after being plagued by turnovers.

The Pioneers’ physical offensive line and some halftime adjustments led to increasing success in their running game during the third quarter, but they were still unable to dent the scoreboard until Damon Martin recovered a fumbled punt at the Greenwood 32.

Even then, the Pioneers managed only one first down before having to settle for a field goal from Cale Larrison for a 3-0 lead.

Mooresville got good field position just inside Woodmen territory on its next possession, and the punishing rushing attack finally paid off. The Pioneers marched down the field and scored the game’s lone touchdown on a seven-yard scamper by Kanouse.

The Pioneers succeeded on a two-point conversion, but only because the snap for the extra point was – you guessed it – fumbled.

With Greenwood showing no ability to move the ball since early in the contest, the game seemed well in hand. That quickly proved to not be the case, however.

Midway through the fourth quarter, Mooresville was forced to punt from near midfield. Greenwood smothered the attempt, and it bounded toward the Pioneer end zone. Eventually, a Woodman jumped on the squirting pigskin at the Mooresville 15.

But Greenwood could not take full advantage and settled for a short field goal to cut the margin to 11-3.

Everybody in Morgan County knew an onside kick was coming. Still, Greenwood made it work, and suddenly the Woodmen had the ball inside Mooresville territory with a chance to possibly tie.

The chance would go by the wayside.

Once again, Mooresville seemed to have the game under control. But the Pioneers quickly stalled and were forced to punt, giving the Woodmen one last chance.

Enter Martin, one more time. The diminutive Pioneer again jumped on a muffed punt deep in Greenwood territory and sealed the outcome for Mooresville, which next travels to Martinsville (2-3, 1-2) for a Sept. 26 Mid-State matchup.

The loss drops Greenwood to 2-3 on the year (1-2 Mid-State) despite a valiant defensive effort against the powerful Pioneers. In all, the Woodmen will look back on five turnovers as the reason for defeat as they head toward a home date next Friday with 1A No. 11 Indianapolis Scecina (3-2).

They did show, though, that they will be a very hard out for the rest of the Mid-State teams the remainder of the season.

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