Julie McCombs
Omar Fattah is game-ready for the "Jackets Bowl". No. 3-ranked Greer beat Union County, 35-28.
Julie McCombs
Mayor Rick Danner was the honorary captain for the Greer Yellow Jackets Friday night. Troy Pride (5), Brodie Wright (42) and Mario Cusano (11) were game captains.
Greer senior quarterback Mario Cusano called Friday night's 35-28 win over Union County, “the toughest game of my career."
"It was really tough," Cusano said. "We had to battle it out. We fought through some adversity, but we came out on top."
It was also tough for some other of Greer's skill-position players, who went old school for some iron-man football.
That list included WR/DB Troy Pride, Jr., WR/DB Dorian Lindsey and RB/Safety Adrian McGee.
Lindsey and McGee recorded vital interceptions for the Greer defense, while McGee also ran for 91 yards and a touchdown.
"Back in the day, you had a lot of "Iron Man" football players, but not so many of them in this day and age," Greer Head Coach Will Young said. "It really says a lot about their commitment and how hard they work that they were able to play as many plays as they did and still be out there in the fourth quarter and come out with a win."
• Union County's 35-28 loss to Greer was its fourth in as many games and three of those – against Gaffney, Newberry and Greer – have come by seven points.
Gaffney defeated Union County by an identical 35-28 score, and Newberry stopped Union County 34-27.
Despite Union County's 0-4 start, Young said he expects to see the Yellow Jackets again.
"We'll probably see them again in the playoffs," Young said, adding that Union County's corps of receivers is possibly the best in the state at any level.
• The "Jacket Bowl" was the first time this season that Greer had given up more than a single touchdown.
• Greer dual threats Pride and Lindsey did double duty at receiver and cornerback.
Pride and Lindsey had the enviable task of attempting to contain Union County wideout Shi Smith in a preview of future NCAA Division I talent.
Pride is a Virginia Tech commit, while Lindsey is drawing interest from Appalachian State and Coastal Carolina for starters.
Smith had seven catches for 105 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for 35 yards on four carries out of the Wildcat formation. He has offers from Clemson and Tennessee but is also reportedly considering South Carolina and North Carolina.
"I knew coming in they had some great athletes," Pride said. "I knew it was going to be a test. I had a couple of slip-ups, but overall, I think I did pretty well."
• Greer hosts Emerald Friday at Dooley Field to open the Region II-3A field. Union County, still in search of its first win this season, hosts Abbeville.