Adrian McGee (24) is a powerful alternative to Greer's heralded passing tandem of quarterback Mario Cusano and wide receiver Dorian Lindsey.
File Photo
Isaiah Long (21) has plenty of help in the defensive secondary to make it one of the region's best coming into the regular season.
Quarterback Mario Cusano, a three-year starter, holds the key to Greer's high powered offense in his hands.
The Greer Yellow Jackets hope 2015 is the year they finally take the next step towards their goal of a 3A state championship.
With a talented host of experienced players returning from last year's 11-1 team, Greer looks primed to make a deep run into the playoffs this fall. Seniors Mario Cusano, quarterback, and Dorian Lindsey, wide receiver, lead the way for the Yellow Jackets. Running back Adrian McGee had a terrific spring game.
All-state sprinter Troy Pride, headlines the defense at cornerback. Pride has verbally committed to Virginia Tech but continues listening to other major colleges seeking his services.
Greer begins practice Friday.
Opposing teams will have their hands full this season at Dooley Field and beyond.
Head Coach Will Young, entering his 10th season as Greer Head Coach, took some time to talk to GreerToday.com about this year's team entering Friday’s preseason practice.
Q: How many offensive and defensive starters are returning from last year's team?
A: Six on offense and five on defense.
Q: What will be your base offense and defense?
A: We'll run the spread on offense and a 4-3 on defense.
Q: How much will you count on Mario Cusano and Dorian Lindsey to lead this year's team?
A: Pretty much all the time. To be honest, it's Mario's number one job to be the leadership part of it. They both do a good job. They both are very hardworking kids. Both are very good students. Both are good people. They just happen to be good football players, too.
Q: You have experience coming back on defense as well. What do you look for out of that unit?
A: Our two corners are back, Dorian and Troy Pride, and obviously both of them are very talented. We'll have some new faces at safety and some new faces at outside linebacker. Isaiah Long will return at outside linebacker, C.J. Collins returns at defensive end, Jordan Hawthorne will be back as a defensive tackle, and Tyrick Smith is back at defensive tackle so we've got some things to work with there. We've got a little work to do, particularly at inside linebacker.
Q: How will this team respond to having a target on their backs every Friday night?
A: It's something we'll talk about. To be honest, we won nine or 10 games, I think, each of the last four years so the expectation is generally always there. It's not something that's new. We still haven't gotten over that hump yet which is in the second or third round (playoffs), and trying to get to an upper state championship and obviously on to Columbia. That's still there and still a major goal that not only our team has, but our community as a whole has. We all want to get back to that level of play.
Q: What are your expectations for the 2015 Greer Yellow Jackets?
A: Welcome to Greer. Expectations are high every year. I think our kids did real well last year. Some of the kids that hadn't played quite as much in the past came on and did a good job for us. Some of our key players have done a really good job in the offseason. Adrian McGee, Mario Cusano, Dorian Lindsey and those guys have really put it in in the offseason. We expect big things from them and it's a good thing when you have that many returning.
Jamborees
Aug. 8 – Scrimmage at Gaffney, 6 p.m.
Aug. 11 – Pickens and Abbeville at Greer, 6 p.m.
Aug. 14 – vs. Woodruff at Byrnes Jamboree, 6 p.m.
Aug. 15 – vs. Chesnee at Landrum Jamboree, TBA
Aug. 18 – at Boiling Springs scrimmage, 6 p.m.
2015 Regular season schedule
All times at 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 28 at Clinton
Sept. 4 vs. Riverside
Sept. 11 vs. Union County
Sept. 18 vs. Emerald
Sept. 25 at Travelers Rest
Oct. 2 vs. Eastside
Oct. 9 at Berea
Oct. 16 at Chapman
Oct. 23 vs. Southside
Oct. 30 at Blue Ridge
Jayvee schedule
Aug. 27 vs. Clinton, 7 p.m.
Sept. 3 at Riverside, 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 17 at Emerald, 7 p.m.
Sept. 24 vs. Travelers Rest, 7 p.m.
Oct. 8 vs. Berea, 7 p.m.
Oct. 15 vs. Chapman, 7 p.m.
Oc. 22 at Southside, 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 29 vs. Blue Ridge, 7 p.m.