Devastating floods buried much of the South Carolina midlands and Lowcountry under feet of water and forced postponements of scores of games. SCHSL commissioner Jerome Singleton granted a one-week extension to the regular season so that all teams could make up their missed regular season games.
The Greer Yellow Jackets will feel the effects of that decision.
Greer will have a week off following its game on Oct. 30 as other schools scramble to finish the regular season.
"I don't think it's a detriment," Greer Head Coach Will Young said. "It might give everyone a chance to get healthy and get their best players out there. Honestly, this helps the folks in Columbia and in the lower part of the state. They've missed a week of school and football so it gives them a chance to catch up."
Initially, 2A schools pushed for the season to be extended. Athletic directors in that classification voted to extend their season by a week and it was confirmed by the SCHSL.
It became apparent to Singleton, however, that the extension needed to be statewide, which he granted on Tuesday.
"We made this decision when we found out our member schools would have to make up more than one contest, forcing them to play multiple games in a short period," Singleton said.
"That jeopardized the safety of our student athletes. This decision gives schools more flexibility."
The extension means that the 1A, 2A, and 3A classifications will begin the playoffs on Nov. 13, Class 4A will start its postseason on Nov.20.
State championship games have also been rescheduled.
• Class 1A, Friday, Dec. 4 at Benedict College.
• Class 2A, Dec. 5 at River Bluff High School.
• Classes 3A and 4A, at Williams Brice Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 12.
"By moving (the season) back, it changes the week of finals," Singleton said. "Some of it will conflict with the North/South All-Star game (Dec. 12 in Myrtle Beach). There could be some decisions made to address that issue, but using safety as a measuring stick, we believe nothing is more important than the health and safety of our kids."
Greer's Mario Cusano and Adrian McGee could be selected for the North/South game.
"We've been working since last December for a chance to play for a state title, not in an all-star game," said Young. "That would be a pretty good situation to be in and there's no question which way we would go with it."