Julie McCombs
Emanuel Kelly returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown and unofficial school record.
Julie McCombs
Quez Nesbitt continues to star in one of the greatest weekly shows in high school sports. He gained 344 yards and scored 4 TDs.
Julie McCombs
Nakeem Hoke just shows up for games and creates havoc. He had three sacks against Pickens Friday night.
Julie McCombs
Nick Roberson connected on 3 of 4 field goal attempts. He scored 14 points, a career high for the sophomore.
Greer dismissed Pickens from its claim of a share of the top spot in the Region II-AAA standings with a powerful display of talent in a 51-20 victory Friday night.
Greer is alone atop the region standings with two games remaining in the regular season – next Friday at home versus Southside and Nov. 1 at Blue Ridge. Greer is vying for its second straight No. 1 seed in the state playoffs.
The Yellow Jackets played arguably its most complete game of the season for its seventh straight victory. Greer’s heroes were, pick a name, all along its roster.
“I thought we played physical. Our kids were challenged and came out and met it,” Greer head coach told the media. “We did some good things tonight.”
Quez Nesbitt rushed 344 yards – he had 200 in the first half – and scored four touchdowns.
Emanuel Kelly had an unofficial record 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, Nick Roberson scored 14 points on three field goals and five extra point kicks and Nakeem Hoke had three sacks to lead a bully defense in shutting down Pickens after its 14-point first quarter scoring flurry.
Kelly showed his strength when he shook off a Pickens player who had a solid hold of his jersey, just before the Greer all-around player bolted along the sideline to the end zone.
Greer only punted once but sophomore Jake Arrowood lofted a 47-yard kick.
Nesbitt was sprung free almost at will by a young, but maturing offensive line, as the senior record-breaking running back has more than 5,300 yards with at least three games – 2 regular season, one playoff remaining. Nesbitt averaged 13.8 yards per carry.
Malek Johnson, DeAndre Moren and Jackson Tipton picked off passes from Pickens quarterback Elijah Turner. Dorian Lindsey recovered a fumble.
Tipton returned his interception for a touchdown but it was erased on a penalty. He broke up another pass on the next series. Both plays were followed with Nesbitt touchdown runs, 29- and 33-yards, respectively as Greer tied Pickens and then went ahead for good, 21-14 with 5:20 left in the first half.
Tipton was given jersey number 34 to wear when it was learned he left his regular jersey (13) in Greer.
Greer accumulated 462 total yards of offense – 415 on the ground. Pickens netted 303 yards, with most of Turner’s 180-passing yards in the first
Roberson’s 35-yard field goal on the last play of the first half accounted for the 24-14 halftime lead. Roberson missed a 30-yard FG attempt earlier.
The teams traded touchdowns on the game’s first three possessions.
Three plays after the kickoff Turner hooked up with Mason Covey for a 33-yard scoring play for Pickens. Matt Gravely’s kick gave the Blue Flame a 7-0 lead 52 seconds into the game.
Nesbitt pulled Greer even, 7-7, with an 11-yard TD run to end a 6-play, 66-yard drive that took 4:10. Covey caught a 22-yard scoring strike from Turner to culminate a 9-play, 82-yard drive for Pickens. The PAT gave Pickens the lead again, 14-7, but for the final time.
Greer scored on its next five possessions – two Nesbitt touchdowns, 3 Roberson FGs and two PATs. Roberson scored a career-high 15 points.
SCORING SUMMARY
|
|
1st Quarter |
2nd Quarter |
3rd Quarter |
4th Quarter |
Total |
|
Greer |
7 |
17 |
20 |
7 |
51 |
|
Pickens |
14 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
20 |
First Quarter
Pickens: Mason Covey 33 pass from Elijah Turner. (Matt Gravley kick). 11:08. 0-7.
Greer: Quez Nesbitt 11 run (Nick Roberson kick). 6:59. 7-7.
Pickens: Mason Covey 22 pass from Turner. (Gravley kick). 3:30. 7-14.
Second Quarter
Greer: Nesbitt 33 run. (Roberson kick). 10:14. 14-14.
Greer: Nesbitt 29 run (Roberson kick). 5:20. 14-21.
Greer: Roberson 35 FG. :03. 14-24.
Third Quarter
Greer: Roberson 37 FG. 7:51. 14-27.
Greer: Roberson 31 FG. 3:14. 14-30.
Pickens: Austin Carr 1 run (run failed). 2:25. 20-30.
Greer: Emanuel Kelly 99 kickoff return (Roberson kick). 2:07. 20-37.
Greer: Nesbitt 73 run (Roberson kick). 0:00. 20-44.
Fourth Quarter
Greer: Adrian McGee 2 run (Roberson kick). 6:30. 20-51.