Julie McCombs
Emmanuel Kelly splits a pair of receivers to catch a ball thrown by Dorian Lindsay Tuesday in a scrimmage at Dooley Field versus J.L. Mann.
Julie McCombs
Running backs coach Jay Abercrombie explains techniques during Tuesday's scrimmage.
Julie McCombs
The Yellow Jackets got some valuable contact practice against J.L. Mann in a scrimmage Tuesday at Dooley Field.
Julie McCombs
A Greer player pulls down a J.L. Mann runner from behind while others are in pursuit.
Greer Head Coach Will Young finally got to see his team scrimmage Tuesday evening against J.L. Mann.
Hopefully the weather will cooperate for Thursday’s scrimmage versus Gaffney and Meet The Jackets at 6 p.m. at Dooley Field. Saturday Greer plays Mauldin at the J.L. Mann Jamboree and only one other scrimmage remains, (Aug. 23 vs. Woodruff) before the season opener on Aug. 30.
The Greenville County school schedule begins next Wednesday (Aug. 21), limiting additional scrimmages.
The Yellow Jackets missed a valuable week of scrimmaging teams last week when Gaffney asked to reschedule its scrimmage to this Thursday at 6. Then Greer was washed out of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Jamboree at North Greenville University last Saturday versus Wade Hampton.
Now comes a forecast of cooler temperatures that are expected to peak at 77 degrees Thursday, 68 Friday and 69 Saturday. “We’re getting concerned with the cooler temperatures,” Young said last week.
It was one year ago that Greer was setting record daily and summer records with temperatures reaching into the high 90s and over 100 degrees heat index factored in. Some practices were abbreviated or moved into the evening, including one that went past midnight during Camp Swarm.
Gaffney, defending 4A champs, is ranked No. 48 in the USA Today Top 50 preseason poll. The preseason has taken its toll on the Indians and some key players may not see action in the Greer scrimmage.
Shaq Davidson, senior, has a thumb injury on his throwing hand that has put his playing the season-opener next Friday in jeopardy. Running back Jo Jo McGill has a knee injury that may cost him most of the season. Davidson and McGill have committed to the University of South Carolina.
Running back Hyleck Foster, who gained 1,000 yards rushing last year, has been used some at quarterback. Gaffney’s defense is a work in progress, according to head coach Dan Jones. The Indians may have to use players going both ways, which is uncharacteristic of a 4A school.
Greer plays its best athletes with its skill players multi-talented. Quez Nesbitt, running back, is back for his senior season. Young is looking to use Nesbitt as a weapon at several positions on offense.
Emmanuel Kelly has had a good summer, Malek Johnson, a 4-year starter and Tay Woods give sophomore quarterback Dorian Lindsay some talented receivers who are breakaway threats on each catch. DeAndre Moren, a junior, gives the Yellow Jackets a variety of options.
Greer’s defense returns a senior-strong group and looks to duplicate its domination of its conference opponents last year.
• Steve Snipes was to be honored posthumously at the FCA Jamboree last Saturday. He died Feb. 26 from injuries after falling from a ladder while working for his painting business in Spartanburg. Snipes taught and coached at Travelers Rest High School for more than 20 years and coached at Blue Ridge High School until he retired. Snipes was 59.
Summer schedule
GREER
Aug. 15 – Scrimmage vs. Gaffney at Dooley Field, Meet the Jackets, 6 p.m.
Aug. 17 – vs. Mauldin at J.L. Mann Jamboree, 7:30 p.m., $5 admission
Aug. 23 – vs. Woodruff at Blue Ridge Jamboree, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 30 – First regular season game at Seneca, 7:30 p.m.
BLUE RIDGE
Aug. 15 – vs. Woodruff at Woodruff Jamboree, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 17 – vs. Riverside J.L. Mann Jamboree, 7:30 p.m., $5 admission
Aug. 23 – vs. Woodmont at Blue Ridge Jamboree, 8:30 p.m.
Blue Ridge Jamboree
Aug. 23
5:30 p.m. – Riverside vs. Chapman
6:30 p.m. – River Bluff vs. Landrum
7:30 p.m. – Greer vs. Woodruff
8:30 p.m. – Blue Ridge vs. Woodmont
First regular season game – vs. Wade Hampton, 7:30 p.m.
BYRNES
Aug. 16 – vs. Erwin (N.C.) at Border Showcase Classic at Gaffney, 8 p.m.
Aug. 24 – First regular season game, vs. Apopka (Florida), noon, ESPN
EASTSIDE
Aug. 17 – vs. Carolina, Eastside Jamboree, TBA
Aug. 20 – scrimmage vs. Mauldin, 5 p.m.
Aug. 23 – TBA
First regular season game – at Riverside, 7:30 p.m.
RIVERSIDE
Aug. 17 – vs. Blue Ridge at JL Mann Jamboree, 6:30 p.m.
Aug. 20 – scrimmage vs. J.L. Mann, 6 p.m.
Aug. 23 – vs. Chapman at Blue Ridge Jamboree, 5:30 p.m.
First regular season game – vs. Eastside, 7:30 p.m.
J.L. Mann Jamboree
Aug. 17
Admission $5 (Each contest is a half)
6:30 p.m. – Riverside vs. Blue Ridge
7:30 p.m. – Mauldin vs. Greer
8:30 p.m. – J.L. Mann vs. Travelers Rest