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Greer bids farewell to milestone-making group of seniors

By John Clayton, Staff Reporter
Published on Thursday, November 26, 2015

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Greer Head Coach Will Young will be looking for replacements of the 22 seniors who played this season.
 
 

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Greer Head Coach Will Young will be looking for replacements of the 22 seniors who played this season.

 

 

Soon after time ticked away on Greer's Class 3A playoff loss to rival Union County last Friday night, the Yellow Jackets had to start preparing for life without the 22 seniors who played their final game in Greer uniforms.

This, of course, is the norm in high school sports, but the milestones, statistics and win-loss record over the past couple of seasons say the Class of 2016 was special in the annals of Greer football.

"We're losing some very good football players," Greer head coach Will Young said. "These kids have won a lot of football games here at Greer High School. They've done a lot for our school, they've been great people, and they've been fun to coach."

The seniors led the Yellow Jackets to 20 regular-season wins over the past two years, recording back-to-back perfect, 10-win regular seasons for the first time in school history. The Yellow Jackets have also won four-straight Region II-3A titles.

Along the way, school records were broken as the Yellow Jackets re-established themselves among the elite in Class 3A, outscoring opponents by an average of 41-15 behind a quartet of senior offensive stars.

Quarterback Mario Cusano, receivers Dorian Lindsey and Troy Pride and running back Adrian McGee led one of the most explosive offenses in the state.

Pride, Lindsey and McGee were also defensive stalwarts, combining for 13 interceptions and three defensive touchdowns. Lindsey and McGee recorded a team-high five interceptions each.

Cusano broke the all-time passing yardage record held by assistant coach Mazzie Drummond and threw for an unofficial record of 6,486 career yards and 77 touchdowns for his three-year career as a starter.

This season, Cusano completed 150 of 240 passes for 2,582 yards, 34 touchdowns and four interceptions. He was also the team's second-leading rusher behind McGee with 788 yards on 149 carries and 10 touchdowns.

Cusano was named Greenville County Player of the Year.

McGee, who was named to the S.C. North-South All-Star game set for Dec. 12 in Conway, ran for 3,055 yards in three seasons, turning in back-to-back seasons of at least 1,200 yards the past two years and scoring 36 combined touchdowns as a rusher and receiver during his career.

Both Lindsey and Pride earned spots in the annual Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas high school all-star game set for Dec. 19 at Wofford College.

Wofford's Gibbs Stadium will soon be home to Lindsey, who made a verbal commitment to head coach Mike Ayers' Terriers during the season.

Lindsey has been Greer's top receiver for the past three years and recorded back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2014-15.  For his career, Lindsey caught 169 passes for 2,755 yards and 27 touchdowns.

After leading the team in interceptions as a junior with four, Pride turned in an all-star season on both sides of the ball as a senior, earning attention from some of the top college football programs in the country and a Shrine Bowl bid in the process.

As a junior, Pride was used sparingly on offense, primarily as a backup running back with nine carries for 163 yards and four touchdowns while anchoring the Yellow Jackets' defensive backfield.

This season, Pride led the team in scoring with 20 total touchdowns. He was second on the team in receiving behind Lindsey with 41 catches for 848 yards and 13 touchdowns and gained 183 yards on 14 rushing attempts –  most coming when filling in for an injured McGee during a regular-season win at Travelers Rest -- and three touchdowns. He also returned three punts for touchdowns.

Pride began the season as a Virginia Tech commit, but the retirement of Hokies head coach Frank Beamer prompted Pride to re-open his recruitment in early November.

In addition to reported offers from Notre Dame, Clemson, Tennessee and North Carolina, Pride also picked up offers from South Carolina and Ole Miss before Greer's second-round playoff game.

He has also been invited to play in the Blue-Grey All-American Bowl on Jan. 9 at Tampa, Fla.'s Raymond James Stadium.

Kicker Nick Roberson became the first Greer kicker to connect on 200 extra-point tries for his career, while punter Jake Arrowood averaged better than 30 yards per kick for the third-straight year.

Wideout Zach Glidden was able to return from a knee injury suffered during the regular season against Travelers Rest in time for the playoffs. 

Defensive back D.J. Sitton recorded an interception and linebacker/defensive back Isaiah Long's lone punt return went for 36 yards. Fellow defensive back Jamiel Canada.

Of wideout Ramon Ramage's four receptions this season, two of them went for touchdowns.

Receiver Chance Coleman averaged more than 11 yards per catch.

The Yellow Jackets defense will lose several players from its front seven, including Long, tackle Jordan Hawthorne, linebacker Travis Pearson, tackle Kip Johnson, and end C.J. Collins.

In addition to McGee, Greer will lose backup running back Markel Warren.

The offensive line will remain somewhat intact but will lose Tyreek Donaldson and Adam Tapp.

"As they get older and look back on it, they'll be proud of what they accomplished," Young said.

"It's always sad to say goodbye, but we've got another crop coming, and we'll get to work and see if we can't get past 11-1 somehow."

Greer Yellow Jackets 2015 seniors

P Jake Arrowood

WR Hunter Beard

DB Jamiel Canada

WR Chance Coleman

DE C.J. Collins

QB Mario Cusano

OL Tyreek Donaldson

WR Zach Glidden

DT Jordan Hawthorne

DT Kip Johnson

WR Dorian Lindsey

LB Isaiah Long

RB Adrian McGee

K Andrew Messer

LB Travis Pearson

DB Troy Pride

WR Ramone Ramage 

K Nick Roberson

DB D.J. Sitton

DE Korey Styles

OL Adam Tapp

RB Markel Warren

 

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