RADCLIFF — Heat, turnovers, fourth-down lapses – none of it could keep Greenwood down for long Saturday.

The Gators (2-0) turned the ball over four times in the first half at North Hardin, but surged in the second half with a strong rushing attack for a 56-33 win in the first game of the Joe Jaggers Bowl in Radcliff.

Greenwood ran for 241 yards with temperatures in the mid-90s early on, including 162 yards on the ground in the second half.

“We wanted to come in and show that we’re going to play our type of football,” Greenwood coach Greg Cavanah said. “We made a few errors early, but once we got in the groove of the game and the heat, I was pleased with the way they stayed with it.”

The Gators led 28-15 at halftime despite three lost fumbles and an interception by junior quarterback Josh Dyer late in the second quarter.

The game had a sluggish, albeit explosive start, as the teams combined for fewer yards (19) than points (21) in the first quarter.

“I definitely struggled in the beginning, but our defense kept us in it,” Dyer said. “I’m glad they can pick us up. It was a great team effort with defense and special teams.”

Greenwood fumbled on its first two drives, and North Hardin (0-1) took the lead at the 7:08 mark with a 21-yard, fourth-down pass from quarterback Andrew Rugerio to receiver Dante Johnson.

The Trojans’ other first-half touchdown also came on fourth down, a 25-yard strike from Rugerio to Dontre Woodruff with 11:49 left in the second quarter.

“We have to do a better job of getting off the field on fourth down or third-and-long,” Cavanah said. “If you take those points off, we’ve done a pretty good job.”

The Gators answered North Hardin’s first score with an 85-yard kickoff return TD by senior running back Tanner Thompson.

Thompson – who had four touchdowns last week against Trousdale County (Tenn.), including one on a kickoff – rushed for 112 yards and two scores Saturday in addition to his big return.

Thompson left the game in the second half with a sprained knee, but was walking after the game and said he doesn’t expect it to be an issue.

“At the beginning it was a little sloppy, but we picked it up after halftime,” Thompson said. “It felt good once we got out of the heat. I can just about take a break whenever I want, and I know everyone else will step up.”

Thompson followed his return with a 4-yard touchdown run with 5:02 left in the first to give Greenwood a 14-7 lead.

North Hardin had the connection from Rugerio to Woodruff, but the Gators added a 16-yard touchdown pass from Dyer to senior receiver Dakota Madison, a 5-yard TD rush by junior running back Joey Hughes and a safety before halftime.

“We were able to answer them,” Madison said. “That’s all that really matters.”

The Gators scored three straight times to open the second half with touchdown runs by Thompson, Dyer and Madison.

Madison finished the game with three total touchdowns, including scoring runs of 10 yards and 1 yard in the second half. He caught four passes for 85 yards and rushed for 45 more, primarily while spelling Thompson after the latter’s knee sprain.

“We got the run game going and just kept pushing it,” Madison said. “We ran all over them, and then we were able to spread it out.”

North Hardin scored on three touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, the first a 60-yard bomb from Rugerio to Woodruff.

NHHS sophomore backup quarterback Detlef Turner threw the Trojans’ final two touchdowns to Johnson (54 yards) and Tavon Graves (11 yards).

Greenwood outgained North Hardin 400-289. Dyer, who was named the game’s top offensive player, completed 8 of 13 passes for 159 yards with two total touchdowns.

Hughes rushed for 53 yards. Senior defensive back Tyree Lancaster was named defensive player of the game.

Greenwood plays its third of five straight road games at 5:30 p.m. Friday against Hopkinsville at Trigg County in the David Sadler Bowl.

“I thought we improved tonight,” Cavanah said. “At the end, when you need to run the clock down, we did a great job. I like where we are now, but we can’t get satisfied.”

GHS 14 14 14 14 – 56

NHHS 7 8 0 18 – 33

First quarter

NH – Dante Johnson 21 pass from Andrew Rugerio (Jordan Murray kick), 7:08

GHS – Tanner Thompson 85 kickoff return (Esnaf Pasic), 6:54

GHS – Thompson 4 run (Pasic kick), 5:02

Second quarter

GHS – Dakota Madison 16 pass from Josh Dyer (kick failed), 6:27

NH – Dontre Woodruff 25 pass from Rugerio (Tavon Graves run), 3:59

GHS – Joey Hughes 5 run (pass failed), 2:16

GHS – Safety, 0:19

Third quarter

GHS – Thompson 1 run (Dylan Dewitt kick), 6:46

GHS – Dyer 2 run (Dewitt kick), 0:19

Fourth quarter

GHS – Madison 10 run (Dewitt kick), 11:22

NHS – Woodruff 60 pass from Rugerio (run failed), 10:37

GHS – Madison 1 run (Dewitt kick), 6:59

NHS – Johnson 54 pass from Detlef Turner (pass failed), 5:38

NHS – Tavon Graves 11 pass from Turner (pass failed), 3:20