Julie McCombs
Emmanuel Kelly hauls in a pass from Dorian Lindsay while still in th air at Thursday's Greer versus Gaffney scrimmage at Dooley Field.
Julie McCombs
A Greer, right, and Gaffney player put their heads together to resolve this collision.
Julie McCombs
Quez Nesbitt fends off a Gaffney defender to gain extra yardage in a scrimmage with Gaffney. Nesbitt scored a 78-yard TD on another of his signature long runs on the second play from scrimmage.
Julie McCombs
Nick Roberson kicks one of his five extra points against Gaffney.
It was Meet the Jackets Night and Greer wasn't shy introducing themselves to defending 4A State Champion the Gaffney Yellow Jackets. Greer controlled the line of scrimmage and beat Gaffney 35-13, in near fall-like temperatures.
“We’ve got to make sure we don’t lose track of what we want to do. We know the prize,” said Emmanuel Kelly, senior two-way performer for Greer.
Kelly and Quez Nesbitt scored two touchdowns each and quarterback Mario Cusano, a transfer from Florida, recorded a fifth on a scramble. Dorian Lindsey and Cusano threw for two TDs each.
Nick Roberson was true on all five points after touchdowns.
“We looked very good and competed well,” said Greer Head Coach Will Young. “It’s not bad against the defending state champions."
Young’s description of Nesbitt is usually brief and to the point. “Quez is phenomenal.” Nesbitt scored on a 78-yard run on Greer’s second offensive play and he scored late in the scrimmage on a short pass from Dorian Lindsey.
Kelly scored on a highlight film catch when he jumped high between two Gaffney defenders and hauled in a pass while in mid-air.
Lindsey and Cusano, both sophomores, shared quarterback duties. “Mario (Cusano) and Dorian (Lindsey) are different quarterbacks. Both are good kids and hard workers,” Young said. “To think they are both sophomores, that’s a great situation to be in. Mario and Dorian will have excellent careers.”
Greer’s offensive front controlled the line of scrimmage. Rolland Nall is the only senior among a line that features juniors Cole Henderson, Garrett Poole and Mead Cook and Noah Hannon as a freshman at center.
“The offensive line played with a lot of heart and passion for our first game,” Nall said. “We wanted to make a statement. I think we made a big statement.”
Defensively, Greer shut down Gaffney on its first four possessions. Gaffney quarterback Eddie Studyvance and running back Hyleck Foster were the workhorses.
Foster scored on an 80-yard bomb one play after Kelly’s TD pass reception from Cusano in Gaffney second series of possessions.
Greer’s vaunted defense held Gaffney in check most of the game.
Young got a look at players playing multiple positions.
“We have a long way to go. It’s just another day,” said Erie Williams, defensive backs coach. “We’ll go back and look at the film and look ahead.”
Greer’s next scrimmage is Mauldin at the J.L. Mann Jamboree Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $5.
Scoring plays
Greer 7-0: Quez Nesbitt 68-yard run on second play from scrimmage. (Nick Roberson kick)
Greer 14-0: Emmanuel Kelly 17 pass from Mario Cusano. (Roberson kick)
Gaffney 14-7: Hyleck Foster 80-yard TD pass from Eddie Studyvance. Kick good.
Gaffney 14-13: Foster 1 run TD. (Ty Campbell blocked kick).
Greer 21-13: Kelly scored on pass from Dorian Lindsey. (Roberson kick).
Greer 28-13: Mario Cusano scrambled for touchdown. (Roberson kick).
Greer 35-13: Nesbitt 18 pass from Lindsey. (Roberson kick)
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