Myrtle Beach all but ended Greer’s Class 4A state championship hopes during a decisive third quarter Friday afternoon in front of 12,265 people at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia.
The Seahawks scored three unanswered touchdowns in the third quarter en route to a 37-21 victory over the Yellow Jackets, denying Greer its first state title since 2003.
“They’re a great football team, and we’re a great football team, but somebody had to win and somebody’s got to lose,” said Greer Head Coach Will Young. “The kids worked hard and deserved to win it, but we just didn’t get it done.”
Junior quarterback Matt Doty, an early commit to South Carolina, sparked the third-quarter surge by the Seahawks (12-1) after Greer had taken a 14-10 lead into the half.
Doty connected of 24 of 35 pass attempts for 244 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Senior Wyatt Roach caught both of Doty’s touchdown passes. Roach finished with five receptions for 97 yards, both season highs.
Young said the Yellow Jackets were unable to take back the momentum they had gained the first half after the break. “We just never got our mojo back,” he said.
Myrtle Beach’s defense was able to stifle Greer running back Dre Williams, holding the senior Shrine Bowler to 52 yards on 21 carries.
Williams added two receptions for 44 yards, including a 36-yard score. Williams took a screen pass from senior quarterback Matthew Huff and raced along the sideline for the score and a 7-0 Greer lead early in the first quarter.
Huff connected on 11 of 24 passes for 196 yards and three touchdowns, two of them to freshman wide receiver Jaleel Skinner. Skinner had three catches for 93 yards. Huff’s day also included three interceptions.
The game was played a day earlier than originally scheduled due to impending winter storms expected to hit the Upstate and possibly the Midlands this weekend.
“Our players weren’t distracted,” said Young. “They weren’t distracted by the stadium or any of that. We got off the bus, and we played well. . . . Greer is a special place, and we’ll be back here again soon.”
Both Williams and defensive lineman Quack Cohen are headed to the Shrine Bowl. Williams has committed to Marshall, but reportedly is leaving his recruitment open until after the Shrine Bowl.
The Shrine Bowl is set for Saturday, Dec. 15 at Gibbs Stadium on the campus of Wofford College in Spartanburg. The game gives Williams and Cohen a chance to extend their high school careers by one game, but the results of their penultimate game still stung Friday evening.
“We made a few mistakes and tried to come back in the second half,” Williams said. “They had an awesome defense, and we couldn’t pull it through. But I love these boys to death, and I’m proud of them.”
Cohen said the Yellow Jackets 13-2 season, which was bookended by losses, was memorable for the run to the state title. Greer was attempting to win its fifth state championship in school history.
“I’m glad we made it this far,” Cohen said. “I know it didn’t end the way we wanted it to, but we fought hard.”