Mighty Greenwood awaits upstart Airedales in 5A-West football finale
By Kevin Taylor
Alma Schools
Alma quarterback Jay Lemieux knows what he’s up against this Friday in the team’s 2026 season finale.
But that won’t change his demeanor when the Airedales and Greenwood Bulldogs meet at 7 p.m.
The 5-foot-10, 143-pound junior quarterback has already set the single-season record for touchdown passes with 28, and he’s thrown just six interceptions in 251 passing attempts.
“They’re (Greenwood) a really big and physical team, and they’re going to be the best team we’ve played in conference and maybe all year,” Lemieux said. “It’s going to be pretty tough, but our offense has been doing pretty well. We’re not clicking on all cylinders, but we’re getting there.”
The Airedales snapped Harrison’s three-game conference winning streak last week by locking down in the final minute of play.
By virtue of their losses to Alma, the Goblins and Devil Dogs play Friday for the No. 4 seed and a likely first-round playoff trip to Camden-Fairview.
As the No. 3 seed, the Airedales will most likely draw Hot Springs Lakeside in the first round of the state playoffs.
“Everybody’s been calling and texting and offering congratulations,” Alma coach Jeremie Burns said. “I went to Walmart yesterday, and everybody was like, ‘It (crowd) was so loud.’ Everybody is pumped up about Airedale football.”
Friday’s season finale against Greenwood pins down one of the great runs in high school football history. The Bulldogs don’t just win conference championships; they win state championships.
Since 2000, Greenwood has won 11 state titles, including a remarkable run between 2005-12 that saw the program win six in eight seasons.
Greenwood and Alma have met 52 times, but none since 2015. The Airedales haven’t beaten Greenwood since 2004, a 11-game losing streak.
The Bulldogs lead the all-time series, 29-23.
“It’s going to be a big challenge going over there to play them,” Burns said. “You look at them on film, and they’ve got a huge offensive line. But hopefully we’ll get down there, get after it, make some plays, and see what happens.”
Lemieux, who showed up on campus in June of 2025, worked his way into Alma’s starting lineup halfway through the ’25 campaign, and he’s tracking to become the school’s best quarterback of all time.
This season, he’s thrown for 2,180 yards and 28 touchdowns
“I set goals for more than what I have, but stats don’t matter,” Lemieux said. “We made the playoffs, and that’s really all that matters. The stats will come. I’m just really proud of our team.”
Senior Dylan Jackson (5-10, 155) has secured his place in the record books and beyond. With 106 career receptions, the elusive receiver is one of only seven players (Brayden Johnson, Sam Schlegel, Conner Stacy, Heath Friddle, Isaac McCoy and Grayson Bailey) with 100 or more career receptions.
“I’ve had a really good season so far,” Jackson said. “I’m very proud of the season. (But) have a goal set, and I’m not quite there yet. I’m still working toward that goal, which is 1,300 yards on the season.”
Jackson has 988 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns this season. Stacy holds the single-season mark of 1,306 set in 2021.
Jackson said facing Greenwood will be a lofty challenge.
“We know they’re going to have some of the best defensive players we’ve seen all year,” he said. “We’re going to have to game plan and know what we’re getting into and how we’re going to execute it. We want to piece everything together and have a great game against Greenwood.”