Julie McCombs
Greer's Quez Nesbitt has averaged over 200 yards rushing in the past two games. Greenville held the all-state running back to 110 yards last year.
“We had a great week of practice, all of our kids performed really well. Enthusiasm has been high,” Greer Head Coach Will Young said.
And the players appear to be as healthy as any time since preseason.
Greer plays Greenville tonight at 7:30 at Dooley Field with both teams entering the game with 2-1 records. The weather forecast is for mostly clear skies with the kickoff temperature 77 degrees.
It’s the first game of the Region II-3A dogfight for a spot in the state playoffs. Greenville eked out a 24-21 win last year on a late score at Sirrine Stadium.
Greer is coming off a 31-28 win over Union County in the annual Jacket Bowl, after the Yellow Jackets had to come from 11 points down at halftime. Greenville had its way with J.L. Mann, 34-14.
Young said he was impressed with his team’s composure against Union County, between the 11 penalties that cost 125 yards and nearly derailed the comeback. “We’re down by eleven and I am not sure last year’s team could come back from that. This year’s team didn’t have much of a problem,” he said. “They have an innate desire not to lose and not to fail.”
The return of seniors Raymond Booker (defensive line) and Malek Johnson (safety, wide receiver) allowed Greer to put all projected starters from the summer practices on the field. Offensive lineman Vincent Dellapenna, a junior, had knee surgery and did not play a down.
Sophomore quarterbacks will start for both teams – Dorian Lindsay for Greer and Carson Spiers for Greenville. “Both are good quarterbacks and we’re lucky to have one and Greenville, too.” Young said. Greenville senior quarterback Clark Scolamiero remains sidelined with a shoulder injury. Spiers has thrown for 658 yards and two touchdowns in relief of Scolamiero the past two weeks. Lindsey has 592 yards and six TDs in his three starts.
Young said he is impressed with Greenville’s two wideouts – juniors Caleeb Franklin and Maleek Rogers. The running back is senior Uriah Oliver.
Greer’s Quez Nesbitt, bottled up the first week, has had back-to-back 200-plus yard games rushing the ball. The senior standout has been harnessed somewhat from breaking long touchdown runs, but his workhorse efforts – 70 carries, 516 yards – average 7.1 yards per carry and 164 yards per game.
Young said Greenville’s defense is similar to Union’s with a 3-3 stack. “They throw 11 kids out there that can run. They are all athletic and play an aggressive style of defense.
Greer’s defense has defined its own identity with its blitzing, stingy, swarming athletes. The Yellow Jackets’ opponents average 212 yards a game. However, Greer has only allowed 301 total yards in the past two games, less than 70 yards rushing.
Young has preached to his team that going deep into the state playoffs was a clear possibility. “We’re not perfect in any stretch of the imagination, we have a ways to go,” he said. “We are into the region schedule and it’s time to get better.”