The Yellow Jackets squeaked by Emerald, 34-30, last week and Westwood easily handled Woodruff, 38-10. It was Westwood’s first playoff win in its two-year existence. Greer hasn’t advanced to the third round of the playoffs since 2006, Head Coach Will Young’s second year as head coach.
Westwood comes into the game on a five-game winning streak after losing three of its first five games. Greer had its 8-game win streak abruptly snapped by Blue Ridge, 10-9, in the final regular season game.
Greer and Westwood feature strong running games with Quez Nesbitt recording 2,126-yards on 208 carries for a 10.2-yard average for the Yellow Jackets. His counterpart at Westwood is Christian Brown, 5-foot-10, 185-pounds, with 1,592-yards rushing on 228 carries and a 6.9 yards per carry average. Nesbitt has 26 touchdowns to Brown’s 19.
Brown had 240-yards rushing and scored four touchdowns in Westwood’s win over Woodruff last week. Westwood had 360 yards rushing and only threw six passes completing six for 93 yards.
Westwood’s 17-play, 95-yard scoring drive in the third quarter consumed all but 1:48 of the time.
Brown started the season on defense and moved to offense as a starter at running back in the fourth game. Westwood only lost one game with Brown at running back.
Westwood’s defense dominated Woodruff holding the Wolverines scoreless in the second half with a net 33 yards including two sacks and two interceptions.
Nesbitt rushed for 297 yards and also scored four touchdowns in Greer’s win over Emerald.
Mario Cusano, Greer’s sophomore quarterback has competed 59 percent of his passes for 1,689 yards and 19 touchdowns. Westwood’s Chris Patterson has a 42 percent completion rate for 920 yards and five touchdowns.
Greer’s defense has been incredible in all but the Emerald game where it gave up the most points since the first game loss, 35-27, to Seneca. The Yellow Jackets are holding opponents to an average 13.5 points a game while its offense is averaging just less than 40 points (39.9).
Westwood averages 26.2 points a game and its defense allows an average of 16.5. Its first game opponent, Fairfield Central, scored the most points on the Redhawks, 35, of any other team this season. Greer is 9-2 and Westwood 7-4.
The winner of tonight's game will play the winner of Daniel vs. Clinton next week. If Greer wins it will host the third round game.