Arkansas tailback pledge James Jointer (6-2, 210) had an apt description for what he did while rushing 31 times for 270 yards and five touchdowns Thursday at Little Rock’s War Memorial Stadium.
The Little Rock Parkview senior, who endured a pair of injuries the past few years, was the star of his team’s 48-28 win over Greenwood in a 6A-Central conference clash.
“Our quarterback (Ole Miss commit Jaylon White) was a little banged up so I had to put on my big boy pants, you know,” Jointer said. “I just put my head down and was a blue-collar worker and did whatever the team needed. Whatever it takes to win.
“I am built for moments like this. I just put my head down and was a blue-collar worker and did whatever the team needed. I even went on defense a little bit. Whatever it takes to win.”
Little Rock Parkview coach Brad Bolding was not surprised by the effort from Jointer, who chose Arkansas over Tennessee, Missouri, Michigan State, Purdue, Florida State, Kansas State, Arizona State, Indiana, Louisville, Memphis and other programs.
Jointer now has 58 carries for 511 yards and 8 touchdowns this season.
"He's a special player," Bolding said. "He's very physical and powerful and strong, and he's the type of guy that you want back there in a game like this, putting it on his back."
Jointer had touchdown runs of 2, 13, 22, 37 and 42 yards in the win, a matchup of teams that did not get to play last season because of covid-19.
“First of all, I want to thank my offensive line,” Jointer said. “I’m not shocked by what we did. We were underdogs and we were looking forward to meeting them last year, but we didn’t get to play because of covid.
“More than likely, we will see them again, hopefully in the state championship. We’re just going to get back to work and get ready for our next game.”
Jointer admitted that Greenwood’s success, having won eight state titles and 13 championship game appearances since 2000, has been frustrating to Little Rock Parkview.
"It was just one word: fun,” Jointer said. "We always get reminded, 'Greenwood, Greenwood, Greenwood.' We've been waiting for this game a year now. It's pretty big to be out there on top.”
Jointer is also pleased with how the Razorbacks have started the season 3-0 under coach Sam Pittman.
“Coach Pittman and the program are definitely headed in the right direction,” Jointer said. “I feel confident in being able to compete at whatever it is – second-string or whatever, getting in and getting some blocking as a freshman.
“I feel comfortable in myself. I know what I am able to do if I really put my mind to it.”
Greenwood coach Chris Young’s team was handcuffed due to the loss of junior starting quarterback Hunter Houston to injury.
“That is a good team, and they made us look bad,” Young said. “Jointer is a very physical back. I know we had some people lined up a few times and he ran through them.”
Greenwood drops to 2-2 overall after a 62-56 loss to Fort Smith Northside last week and the loss to the Patriots.
“Parkview has all the ability in the world and they just flew around us and look like an all-star team,” Young said. “This was a tough night because we put our sophomore quarterback in a tough situation.
“We’ve got to go back to work and need to be concerned about ourselves and not about Parkview.”
Bolding’s team moved to 4-0 with Thursday’s win, but became 3-1 on Friday when it was informed that its season-opening 47-0 win over Little Rock Southwest on Sept. 2 would be forfeited.
That is due to self-reporting a violation of Article 3, Rule 1 (playing of ineligible player or players), meaning Parkview will be on placed on warning for the rest of the 2021-2022 school year.
The Patriots will play defending state runner-up Lake Hamilton next week and travel to Benton on Oct. 8.
“It doesn’t get any easier,” Bolding stated. “The state championship team, I think, will come out of our conference. It typically does. Lake Hamilton is going to be another physical game. We’re going to have to really get after them in the trenches and do a good job of stopping their run game and rise to the occasion.
"I know our guys will be ready.”
The win has an added bit of significance for Bolding.
“I was part of Greenwood’s first state championship team in 2000 (as an assistant), and I know they weren’t going to be getting caught in the hoopla of playing in War Memorial Stadium since they’ve been here so many times,” Bolding said.
“This is a big win and we’re going to enjoy it, but we’re a blue-collar team that clocks in and clocks out at work and keep our focus.”