Wolfpack seeks more dominance in region
The Greenbrier High School football team has claimed Columbia County bragging rights the past two seasons, but beating local rivals Lakeside and Evans has been bittersweet for the Wolfpack.
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In Region 3-AAAA games, the ones that really matter, the Pack has come up short.
Some of the region losses have been inevitable, as Statesboro dominated en route to a Class AAAA crown two years ago, and Thomson duplicated the feat last year.
It's the wins that somehow slipped away that have kept the Pack out of the playoffs during Mickey Derrick's four-year run as head coach.
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Last year Greenbrier was bitten by bad luck. After a solid start, including wins over Evans and Lakeside, the Pack moved to 3-1 with a victory over Butler, but there was a price to pay - junior quarterback Brooks Robinson was injured during the contest at the Brierpatch and was out for the season.
From there, a promising start turned into a precipitous slide, and Greenbrier limped home with a final 4-6 record.
Derrick doesn't disguise his disappointment about Greenbrier being the odd team out when playoff berths were clinched in Region 3-AAAA.
The Pack's only choice is to keep knocking on the door until it finally opens.
"We've come close to making the playoffs the past few years, and this season we hope our hard work will pay off," Derrick said. "Our goal is to become a close-knit group, and hopefully that will spill over into Friday nights."
Greenbrier won't be making any strategy changes in 2003 - on offense the Pack will stick with the Wing-T and throw in some shotgun formations, and will employ its customary 50 defense.
Executing the game plan, however, will take some doing. Region 3-AAAA teams seem to keep getting tougher, and while Greenbrier is blessed with athletes, many are still learning the ropes.
"We have a pretty young team," Derrick said. "We'll play about 15 or 16 sophomores and juniors."
Greenbrier lost 12 seniors from last year's team. The kicking game really took a hit because placekicker Ben Tankersley and punter Daniel Jordan graduated. The Pack's offensive line also was depleted by graduation.
But the cupboard's not bare at the Brierpatch.
The Pack has 11 returning starters from last season, and with 14 seniors suiting up, leadership should be easy to find.
Robinson has recovered from a broken collarbone and will pace the offense at quarterback. Big things also are expected of Tyler Dent. He had a solid showing at running back before being sidelined with knee problems last fall. Fullback Erik Smith might be the new sophomore sensation this fall.
Robinson will throw to receivers Eugene Rogers, Michael Newman and Stephen Young - if the offensive line provides pass protection. Guard Rashad Dunn is the only returning starter on the line, and the senior will set the tone. Bill King will provide help at the other guard position.
Keith Maxwell takes over kicking duties, and his foot could propel the Pack to the post season for the first time since 1998.
Greenbrier coach Mickey Derrick talks to the team during the first practice of football camp. Derrick wants his team to be a close-knit group on and off the field.
"Keith is not at the same level as Ben (Tankersley) was, but he has been working hard and has the ability to be as good as Ben," Derrick said.
Defensive play could be a strength for Greenbrier. The line features Dunn at nose guard and Chuck Middleton at tackle, with Daniel Landon and Josh Stringfield manning the defensive end slots. The linebacking corps includes Ben Lawson, Reggie Rice and Dustin Shirey. A solid secondary is manned by Newman, Rogers, Paul Maness and LaShawn Butler.
The wild card is J.C. Jennings. The junior ran afoul of team rules and began preseason practices late, but if he can prove to the Pack coaching staff that he belongs, Jennings could be an impact player on offense, defense and special teams.
2002 game results
Overall record: 4-6
W vs. Evans, 43-26
L at Westside, 31-17
W vs. at Lakeside, 36-24
W vs. Butler, 23-8
L at Hephzibah, 21-14
W vs. Cross Creek, 21-14
L at Jones County, 23-10
L vs. Burke County, 20-13
L at Thomson, 48-14
L vs. Statesboro, 34-13
2003 schedule
Aug. 29 - at Evans
Sept. 5 - vs. Westside
Sept. 12 - open
Sept. 19 - vs. Lakeside
Sept. 26 - at Butler
Oct. 3 - vs. Hephzibah
Oct. 10 - at Cross Creek
Oct. 17 - vs. Jones County
Oct. 24 - at Burke County
Oct. 31 - vs. Thomson
Nov. 7 - at Statesboro
Nov. 14 - open
Greenbrier High School Varsity Roster
# Player, Grade
1 Donald Davis, 11
2 Ben Lawson, 11
3 Paul Maness, 11
4 Lashawn Butler, 10 5 Brooks Robinson, 12
8 Stephen Young 12
9 Eugene Rogers, 11
11 William Bishop, 10
12 Metz Davidson, 11
13 Keith Maxwell, 11 14 Brandon Grant, 10
15 Taylor Battles, 11
21 Gary Sharp, 12 22 Joshua Davis, 10
23 Chedric McElderry, 11
24 Wesley Merriweather, 11 25 J.C. Jennings, 11
31 Tyler Dent, 11
33 Charlie Kupar, 10 34 Michael Paschal, 11
35 Reggie Rice, 10
36 Matt Boiter, 12
37 Erik Smith, 10
40 Dustin Shirey, 12
43 Edward Curtis, 11
44 Kyle Ogletree, 12
45 Daniel Landon, 11
47 Michael Moore 12
50 Josh Stringfield, 12
51 Michael Hawkins, 11
52 Timothy Williams, 12
53 Chad Huffman, 11
54 Chris Smith, 12
55 Kristofer Carrow, 11
56 Brad Robbins, 12
57 Josh Sharp, 11
59 Mark Boiter, 10
60 Tanner Hayden, 11
61 Bill King, 12
63 Brent Johnson, 11
69 Jay Adkins, 10
70 Nick Alexander, 11
74 Chris Scavone, 11
75 Rashad Dunn, 12
76 Phillip Hill, 10
78 Charles Middleton, 11
82 Cal Morris, 10
83 Andrew Durham, 10
85 Michael Newman, 12
Junior Varsity Roster
# Player, Grade
6 Bryan Sangster, 10
7 Sean Gray, 10
10 John Harlam, 9
16 Freddie Jones, 9
17 Alan Lanier, 9
18 Matt King, 10
19 Josh Deves, 10
20 Corey Beckworth, 10
25 Joseph Lugo, 9
26 John Clary, 9
27 Will Ware, 9
28 Jamey Wombles, 9
29 Parker Feltner, 9
30 Chad Hollingsworth, 10
32 Marcus Stephens, 9
38 Daniel Sanders, 9
39 Eric Rogers, 9
41 Russ Winter, 94
2 Mike Baura, 10
46 Kyle Waddell, 9
48 Tanner Helfrich, 10
58 Corey Durrence, 10
62 Chaz Davis, 10
64 Kyle Yohe, 9
65 Julian Quattlebaum, 9
66 Richard Johnson, 9
67 Jason Brown, 9
68 Scott McCann, 9
71 Rick Stahman, 9
73 Ricky Clark, 10
77 Daniel Cash, 9
79 Jordan Tejeda, 9
80 Demetrius Ferguson, 10
81 Jamie Tucker, 9
84 Jacob Palgut, 9
86 Kyle Phillips, 9
87 Matt Maner, 9
88 Dustin Thompson, 9
89 Shermoan Daiyaan, 9