Thanksgiving in Greenwood is like it is everywhere else.
Families gather for food and friends. One thing that is also a tradition in Greenwood, practicing football on turkey day.
That tradition lives on this year as the Bulldogs prepared for three time defending state champion El Dorado instead of sleeping in.
Though the Bulldogs have missed Thanksgiving practice just once since 2004, that doesn’t mean coach Rick Jones takes it for granted.
“That`s a pretty high standard though because we are very fortunate to practice on Thanksgiving every year,” Jones said.
Houston Kennedy spent his third straight Thanksgiving at Smith-Robinson Stadium.
“It`s practically a tradition now,” Kennedy said. “We`ve done it for three years and hopefully the next guys that will be seniors can do it for three years also.”
Most thought it would come down to the Wildcats and Greenwood to determine the 6A title. El Dorado is looking to secure its fifth straight trip to the championship game while the Bulldogs are trying to get to their third straight and first ever at the 6A level.
“When we knew we were going to 6A, I figured at some point and time if things went well for us that our paths would cross because they are obviously the team to beat based on their tradition,” Jones said.
Greenwood has won 36 straight games, including 10 straight in the playoffs. El Dorado has won 12 straight postseason games.