BY NOAH GRIFFITH
FOR THE OBSERVER
SMITHS STATION —
A week after clinching the top seed in its region, Glenwood honored its seniors before giving way to the program’s future in a 49-8 victory over Morgan Academy on senior night.
Three senior receivers hauled in touchdowns for the Gators within the first four minutes of the game — the first six offensive snaps. On the third play of the night, senior Eli Bankston snagged his first career TD catch before seniors Griff Garner and Brayden Gooden followed — hauling in passes from three-year starter and senior quarterback, Dallas Crow.
“I’m blessed to be their coach, and thankful that we have 20 seniors that are phenomenal kids, great character guys and great players,” said head coach Ryan Nelson. “It’s been a fun bunch to coach … I can’t say enough about them and how tight they are and how much of a family culture we have in our locker room.”
While Crow and the starters improved to 9-0 and continued their undefeated season in dominating fashion, their nights ended before halftime. Up 42-8 going to the break, Glenwood showed off a glimpse of the program’s future in the second half, playing mostly all freshman, junior varsity and underclassmen to wrap up the win.
After sophomore running back Carter Judah pounded one in from 10 yards out and senior Levi Pinder hit junior River Baker for a TD to make it 35-0 after a quarter, freshman QB Trey Claridy and freshman RB Josiah Clark first appeared in the second quarter.
Claridy, who “has a little Crow in him” with his shifty running and ability to throw on the move, started his night by leading a scoring drive. The drive included a few long QB keepers and was capped off by a TD scamper from Claridy to end the half with a 34-point lead. The Gators held onto that lead and tacked on in the third quarter with a Clark rushing TD.
The young defense also kept Morgan scoreless for the remainder of the game, marking two weeks in a row where the Gators have surrendered just one score. More importantly, Nelson said everyone was able to stay healthy and rested after blowout wins in two straight weeks.
“We came in here tonight and did what we wanted to do,” Nelson said. “We’re 9-0, and you know, we’re looking forward to a big one next week.”
Looking to stay undefeated in the season finale, however, will not be an easy task. Glenwood will go on the road to Chambers Academy (8-1), who hasn’t lost a game since a week one loss to Lee-Scott, 14-6.
With the region title and first-round playoff bye already secured, Nelson is looking forward to the final test of a clean slate in his second year leading the Gators. This would be Glenwood’s first undefeated regular season since 2020.
But Glenwood’s hopes go beyond the regular season. It is vying for the program’s first ever state championship victory in what is set to be its final year in the AISA.
Glenwood’s playoff race all starts in the semi-final round at Glenwood on Thursday, Nov. 9, but not until the Gators go for an undefeated season next Friday.