Julie McCombs
Emanuel Kelly is a threat on offense, defense and special teams.
Julie McCombs
Catching passes like these have become part of Greer's arsenal with Mario Cusano lofting passes to Kelly behind the secondary.
Julie McCombs
Emanuel Kelly is often an escort for Quez Nesbitt.
“Emanuel played both ways and a lot of snaps,” Young said. “We called a timeout in the end because we needed him in there.”
Kelly said the Jacket Bowl was not a game he wanted to take a breather. “There is no way I was coming out of the game,” Kelly said as he sat exhausted on the turf last Friday, unwrapping tape.
Kelly’s offensive output was more measurable statistically in the 31-28 victory. His presence on defense helped hold off Union’s late surge.
Kelly rushed three times for 18 yards and turned five receptions from quarterback Mario Cusano into 84 yards and one touchdown. He had one kickoff return for 40 yards. Kelly’s 16-yard touchdown reception with 5:04 left in the game helped stake Greer to a 31-21 lead and gave the Yellow Jackets a two-possession cushion it would need to win its second game of the season in three outings.
Greer will play Greenville in the teams’ first Region II-3A game Friday at Dooley Field at 7 p.m.
“Emanuel is practicing well. He comes to work when it’s time to work. It’s the first time in his career he’s doing the normal things the right way,” Young said.
While Kelly has matured into his role as a senior leader, some of his teammates, Young points out, doesn’t appear to be as focused.
“We’ll mature when we learn to keep our mouths shut,” Young said. Reviewing the video only confirmed to Young that his players were guilty as charged with a flood of yellow flags signaling their transgressions against Union.
Greer was flagged 11 times for 125 yards. Unsportsmanlike conduct calls did not set well with Young.
Malek Johnson said after the game that he was wrong voicing his displeasure to an official that resulted in a 15-yard penalty and moved Union deep into Greer territory late in the game. Union scored on that drive to get to within the final 3-point margin. “It never should have gotten that close and we should not have been in that position,” Young said.
“I know I was wrong. I will make myself run some,” Johnson said. It was Johnson’s first game he played since injuring his shoulder in the preseason.
“There’s no reason for it,” Young said. “It doesn’t have a place. I thought our goal was to go to Columbia. They’re not going anywhere if they keep that up. It’s just a handful. I talked to them after the game and they see it after the fact.”
Aside from the flurry of a core of players almost costing Greer a defeat to a rival, Young saw plenty of good.
Greer was down 10 points at halftime. “We played extremely hard and it was good to see the kids come back,” Young said. “Cedric Sullivan, Jackson Tipton and the defensive line played well.”
“We got better in the second half and the offensive line did better,” Young said. “Mario played well.” Cusano passed for 121 yards and a touchdown and had one pass intercepted. Young said some blocking schemes were changed in the second half.
Quez Nesbitt ran for his second consecutive 200-yard game. “You got to give him credit for his effort,” Young said. “He came out in the second half and did not want to be tackled. He’s a tremendous football player. Sometimes he tries to do too much.”
Sophomore punter Jake Arrowood had his best game punting. He kicked two 45-yard punts but a penalty nullified the second. “He had to get rid of it quick a couple of times,” Young said. Arrowood averaged 34.3 yards.