Greer defenders go high to tip a pass away from its target.
This pass was dropped during the passing scrimmage today at Greer High School's practice fields.
No one won this battle for the ball.
Greer defenders sandwich the receiver to stop the play.
Kelly alternated most of the day with Josh Gentry with each playing wide receiver when the other quarterbacked.
“Kelly’s reads have improved 100 percent. He had good reads and good throws,” Greer offensive coordinator Jay Abercrombie said. “He and Josh did a great job.”
Kelly frequently hit his receivers over the middle frustrating some teams who were unsuspecting of the tosses. His timing routes were good, often on target at the receivers’ outstretched hands. His overthrows were not far off, considering it was the first of nine 7-on-7 competitions.
Gentry was also effective. Some of his throws were off target on sideline routes. When Gentry and Kelly rotated at quarterback the other would be running routes. “Josh and Kelly have handled that relationship well,” Abercrombie said.
Abercrombie said Corbin Nesbitt, D’Anta Fleming and Quez Nesbitt “all did well.” The passing competition was completely different from a year ago. “Last year we had a case of the dropsy’s,” Abercrombie said. While Kelly’s throws were on target and he threw a hard ball, Reese Hannon, last year’s QB, had a Division I throwing arm and his teammates couldn’t handle his strong throws.
Travis Perry, defensive coordinator, had praise for Brook Chapman and Tae Wood. “They did a good job. I thought the defense, until the Greenville game, competed well. We then got flat and weren’t flying around.”
The Greer-Greenville game was halted midway when both schools got into a series of fights. “I think that took the wind out of our sails and we didn’t get it back,” Perry said.
Greer plays in a passing competition next Saturday at the University of South Carolina.
• Ronald Stokes, father of Greer’s Jalen Stokes, was watching the scrimmages and shared this story. “My first car was an Expedition. When Michael Vick made the pros he bought a car to ride back and forth to his practices. I told my son to keep his head on and some day he may get the same car Michael Vick got because I had one.” Stokes works for the Department of Transportation and is responsible for changing the traffic lights.
• No scores or statistics were kept in today’s scrimmages.
• Greer was among nine schools competing. Others were: Berea, Greenville, J.L. Mann, Southside, Southside Christian, T.L. Hanna, Wade Hampton and Woodmont.
• Murrell’s, Greer’s new pizzeria, was the pizza of choice today for the team’s lunch. The Greer Walmart provided water.
• Jim Riggs, J.L. Mann assistant coach, was easy to spot with his bright orange shoes. Mann’s dominant color is blue. “I’m wearing these because of Clemson,” Riggs said. Riggs played tight end for Danny Ford during the Tigers’ 1981 National Championship season. He played the same position in the NFL for the Cincinnati Bengals and Washington Redskins. Atlantic Coast Conference schools, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest and N.C. State among them, are heavily recruiting Riggs’ son, Zack, a senior wide receiver.
• Charles Lane described his son, Levon Lane’s schedule for the next two weeks. Levon, a senior at Woodmont, is a wide receiver and cornerback. Levon will be making visits to: Marshall (Sunday), Clemson (June 15), Duke (16), Appalachian State (17), Furman (22) and Wofford (23). “It’s somewhat exciting for me. I must remember I’m playing the role of dad. (Levon) is looking at schools with strong academics.” A Shrine Bowl representative will pay a visit Saturday.