Julie McCombs
Greer's Tyler Wright, junior linebacker, was honored as the Greer Touchdown Club Defensive Player of the Week Thursday. Wright had 8 tackles and helped lead Greer's defense in holding Riverside to 4 first downs – all in the first half – and 50 total offensive yards.
“Steve never beat us at Clemson and I never beat him at USC,” Young said. “Last year I beat him at Union and he beat me at Greer.” Young was an offensive lineman at Clemson while Taneyhill played quarterback at the University of South Carolina.
Army Spc. Brett Claycamp, a Purple Heart recipient, who played for Greer will be honored Friday at 7 p.m. The game begins at 7:30.
The Greer-Union series is knotted at 21-21-2. That means one of the Yellow Jackets' teams will gain the edge overall.
Greer handled Union, 41-28, during the regular season last year. Union avenged that loss by eliminating Greer, 31-14, in the second round of the state playoffs. Union made it to the state finals before losing.
Quez Nesbitt who gained over 2,000 yards rushing and more than 30 touchdowns did not score in the Union-Greer playoff game – the only game he did not record a touchdown.
“I think every game (Jacket Bowl) I’ve been involved in, except one, it’s always been a difference of a touchdown or field goal,” Young said.
"There’s not a whole lot of difference between the two schools talent-wise. We put pretty much the same talent level of kids on both sides of the ball. It’s always a heck of a ball game and hard-fought between both schools. I think there’s a healthy respect between both schools, a healthy rivalry that goes back a long time and has been a very good one.”
Both teams only have one win for the combined four games they have played this season. Greer lost at Seneca in its opener and dominated Riverside last Friday for its 1-1 record. Union lost to Spartanburg 51-21 and Gaffney 27-14. Union is suffering from fumbleitis, losing the ball four times versus Spartanburg and five against Gaffney.
That sets up a matchup of Greer’s defense against Union’s offense. Greer limited Riverside to four first downs in the first half last week and none in the second half. Greer only allowed 50 yards total offense.
“We challenged our defensive kids last week coming out of the Seneca game,” Young said. “It was important for us to play smart defense (versus Riverside). Our kids played sound fundamentally and sound intelligently.”
Malek Johnson, cornerback, and Raymond Booker, defensive lineman, are expected to return to the lineup this week. Both seniors were injured in the preseason and have not played to date.
Young was not as enamored with his offense. Despite gaining 457 total yards – 252 rushing and 205 passing – the offensive line drew much of his critique. “Quez ran hard (212 yard rushing, 1 TD) and Mario (Cusano) is doing pretty well (205 yards and 3 TDs passing) as a sophomore quarterback.” But . . .
“We do some good things at times up front and then we do some boneheaded things at times up front,” Young said of his offensive line. “We’ve got to get better, the competition only gets better from here. We’ve got to grow a few kids up. We have a lot of work to do.”
Rolland Nall, tackle, is the only senior on the line. “Those five kids are very talented and pretty good athletes and are very hard working kids. We’ve just got to get them to gel a little better and understand some of the concepts we are trying to do on the field,” Young said.
Young told the Greer Touchdown Club Thursday that Union’s offense has been playing dueling quarterbacks – Matt Barnett and Ben Beck. “They have been rotating the quarterbacks to decide which one will be the quarterback.
“They have a pretty good wide receiver (T.J. Foster, 6-foot-2, 180 pounds) who has committed to Louisville. They run a little bit of a two-back offense,” Young said. Christian Petty ran for 136 yards and two touchdowns versus Gaffney. Ty Thomas is the other starting back. Shi Smith and Foster are the wide receivers.
“Offensively Steve (Taneyhill) wants to throw the ball but they are running a little more,” Young said.
Union’s defense, “Is not quite as big as they were in the past,” Young said. “All eleven players on defense is very athletic and a lot started last year. It will be a challenge for us Friday night.”