Julie McCombs
Senior running back Quez Nesbitt was held out of last week's game after getting a thigh bruise in practice. He is scheduled to start Friday at Blue Ridge.
The point system will be used if Blue Ridge beats Greer. Greenville can be involved with a win over Eastside. The tiebreaker will give the team with the fewest defensive points among the three the championship.
Game time is 7:30 at Blue Ridge.
Greer’s Quez Nesbitt, selected to play for the North All-Stars (Rolland Nall also picked), did not play last week while nursing a thigh bruise sustained in a contact drill. Nesbitt is scheduled to start. DeAndre Moren out last week with a knee injury and Jake Purvis, ankle injury suffered in last week’s win over Southside, are questionable.
Head coaches Will Young (Greer) and Shane Clark (Blue Ridge) coached together for three years earlier in their careers. Clark was more guarded with his comments Thursday at the Greer Touchdown Club meeting.
“Greer is a great football team and are very well coached,” Clark said. “It will be a very tough challenge for us. I hope our guys are up for the challenge.”
Young is the more veteran head coach, 60-33 in his ninth year versus Clark’s 7-2 record in his first year as head coach.
“It’s a great atmosphere (at Blue Ridge) and it will be a big challenge. Blue Ridge is s good football team,” Young said.
Young said his team, “had a good week of practice and the kids are really focused on what they are supposed to be doing and what the job is on hand Friday night. The kids are playing their best football of the year and they’re playing at a time it’s supposed to be your best football.”
The only comment Clark made on any player was when he introduced Kyle Pcheny as the TD Club’s defensive player of the week. Pcheny, a linebacker, recorded a 58-yard interception return last week for a touchdown. That was his sixth interception this season.
“Offensively (Blue Ridge) is probably more balanced than they were last year,” Young said. “They run the ball well with a sophomore running back (Vonta Jenkins) and his brother (Tay Jenkins) plays wide receiver. Ty Montgomery (quarterback) throws the ball very well and runs the ball very well.” Wide receiver Clifton Duck gives Blue Ridge a second high-value target.
Blue Ridge “is very active and they blitz a lot,” Young said of the defense. “They’re front seven is very aggressive and they get after you the whole time. This ought to be a great game.”
Greer has turned back all challenges since the opening-game loss at Seneca. The Yellow Jackets have won eight straight.
By the numbers
Records: Greer 6-0 Region II-AAA, 8-1 overall. Blue Ridge 5-1 Region, 7-2 overall.
Game time: 7:30 p.m.
Weather: Rain tapering off Friday afternoon become clear and cooler. Game time temperature 65 degrees and cooler throughout the game.
Records: Greer 6-0 Region II-AAA, 8-1 overall. Blue Ridge 5-1 Region, 7-2 overall.
2012 game: Greer 35, Blue Ridge 7.
Series: Greer leads 11-2.
Key matchups
Quarterbacks
Greer: Mario Cusano 96-159, 1,750 yards, 17 TDs. Blue Ridge: Ty Montgomery 140-217, 1,730 yards, 16 TDs.
Running backsGreer: Quez Nesbitt, 162-1,750 yards, 23 TDs, Adrian McGee 44-202, 1 TD. Blue Ridge: Vonta Jenkins 118 – 861 yards, 10 TDs, Melvin Smith 63-407, 3 TDs.
Receivers
Greer: Dorian Lindsey 33-399, 3 TDs, Emanuel Kelly 30-515, 6 TDs. Blue Ridge: Tay Jenkins 57-713, 8 TDs, Clifton Duck 46-533, 5 TDs.