Greer wins 5th straight region title, Cusano sets new passing mark

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Julie McCombs

Mario Cusano broke the Greer career passing record against Southside Friday night. Assistant coach Mazzie Drummond set the record 15 years ago.

 

Enlarge photo

Julie McCombs

There are no passing records without the offensive line. Tyeek Donaldson (56) and Ryan McCullough (70) keep Southside's defense away from Mario Cusano.

 

 

 

The Yellow Jackets clinched their fifth straight Region II-3A championship Friday night with a 48-14 win over Southside at Dooley Field.

But the region title for unbeaten and third-ranked Greer seemed somewhat anti-climactic with rival Blue Ridge lying in wait next week and with bigger goals further down the line.

"We've won five region championships in a row -- I don't think these seniors have ever not won the region championship," Greer Head Coach Will Young said. "But the bottom line is, it's been 2003 since we've won a state championship, and that's what we've worked to do, that's what we've talked about and worked toward all year. We've still got six games to go."

After trading touchdowns with Southside in the first quarter, the Yellow Jackets (9-0 overall, 6-0 Region II-3A) erupted for six unanswered touchdowns from the usual suspects -- quarterback Mario Cusano, running back Adrian McGee and receivers Troy Pride and Dorian Lindsey.

Cusano scored on runs of 1 and 7 yards and threw for 302 yards and four touchdowns, breaking the 15-year-old career passing yardage record of former player and assistant coach Mazzie Drummond along the way. Cusano broke Drummond's record of 5,665 career yards on a short pass to Cameron Kelley in the third quarter.

While the Greer offense rolled up 481 yards of total offense en route to seven touchdowns, the Yellow Jackets defense forced the Tigers (7-2, 4-2) into turnovers three times inside the Greer 30-yard-line.

"We feel like we're one of the most talented defenses in the state," Sitton said. "We wanted to get their best, and we did. We played our best, and it came out in our favor."

Southside answered Greer's initial score -- a 2-yard run by McGee with 9:30 left in the first quarter -- with a nine-play drive that was capped by a 26-yard touchdown pass from Prince to Neje Washington with 7:02 left in the first quarter.

But the Tigers were unable to find the end zone again until Quavian White's 28-yard run with 6:42 to play. White finished with a game-high 107 yards on 16 carries with 65 of those yards coming on the Tigers' final two possessions.

McGee, who also scored on a 40-yard reception from Cusano, led the Yellow Jackets with 93 yards on 12 carries. Cusano added 72 yards on 11 carries with two touchdowns.

Alex Syphertt led Greer with six catches for 77 yards, and Lindsey had 114 yards on four catches.

Southside entered Friday night's contest as once-beaten contenders to Greer's region throne, but left in a three-way battle for second place with Chapman and Emerald. Chapman defeated Blue Ridge 52-49 Thursday night, and Emerald stopped Berea 28-21 Friday. 

Eastside was upset by Travelers Rest 21-20 Friday night and fell to 3-3 in region play.

Southside hosts Chapman next week, while Greer travels to rival Blue Ridge.

"It's always fun to play there," Young said. "I'm looking forward to playing there, and our kids are looking forward to playing there. We'll see what happens."

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