Jim Fair
Quez Nesbitt scored Greer's third touchdown to builtd a 21-0 lead.
Here's three of the reasons Greer dominated Woodruff, left to right: Quez Nesbitt, Noah Hannon and Emmanuel Kelly.
Rain and lightning set the Greer-Woodruff matchup back two hours – it started at 10:41 and ended at 11:50 p.m. Greer players did not get back to the school until nearly 1 a.m.
The 30-minute halves saw the Greer offense score all of its touchdowns in the first quarter and then went deep into its reserves in the second period to keep its undermanned roster healthy for another battle – the regular season-opener at Seneca next Friday.
“Next week is the first round of a 15-round fight,” Young told his team.
Emmanuel Kelly’s catch and run for a 64-yard touchdown on the second play from scrimmage, with 58 seconds gone by, set the tone of the matchup. Quarterback Mario Cusano, a sophomore transfer from Connecticut, led Kelly in full sprint as he breezed past the Woodruff secondary and into the end zone. Nick Roberson added his first of four points after touchdowns.
Cusano scored on a 4-yard run, Quez Nesbitt on a 15-yard run and sophomore reserve Adrian McGee powered through the middle of the Woodruff defense for an 8-yard scoring run.
Greer doesn’t have a bulky lineup. But it has speed throughout and the defense is relentless in its pursuit. “Our D is great,” said Kelly. “Our goal is to get to the ball.”
Kelly was the ringleader with Marquis Lyles and Cedric Sullivan when all three came sprinting into Woodruff’s backfield and sacked the quarterback on a fourth and seven in the second quarter.
“We’re pretty banged up but we’ve got some really good playmakers,” Young said. “They’re a scary group of kids but we still must execute up front.”
Cedric Sullivan stopped Woodruff’s first possession with an interception and Jackson Tipton’s interception, coupled with an additional 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty against Woodruff, set up McGee’s touchdown. “McGee looked good running the ball and showed some power,” Young said.
Missing the game because of injury were Malek Johnson, Tyquan Lyles, Zeke Whiteside and Vincent Dellapenna. Usual starting quarterback Dorian Lindsey was used as a wide receiver.
Blue Ridge’s field is under water with the record-breaking rain in the Upstate this summer. Woodruff hosted the four games. Other scores tonight:
• Chapman 16, Riverside 14
• River Bluff (Lexington) 14, Landrum 8
• Blue Ridge 14, Woodmont 7
SCORING
First Quarter
Greer: Emmanuel Kelly 64 pass from Mario Cusano (Nick Roberson kick). 11:02. 7-0
Greer: Mario Cusano 4 run (Nick Roberson kick). 5:07. 14-0
Greer: Quez Nesbitt 15 run (Nick Roberson kick). 2:48. 21-0
Greer: Adrian McGee 8 run (Nick Roberson kick). 1:30. 28-0
Second Quarter
Woodruff: Demajiay Rooks 6 pass from Jack Bonds. (Kyle Brittan kick). 1:37. 7-28.