What We Saw: Greenwood and River Bluff Scrimmage
Host River Bluff and Greenwood met in The Swamp Monday evening for their second and final preseason scrimmage. Both teams still have an opportunity to fine tune things with one final dress rehearsal this weekend in different jamborees. Both teams…
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Continue ReadingHost River Bluff and Greenwood met in The Swamp Monday evening for their second and final preseason scrimmage. Both teams still have an opportunity to fine tune things with one final dress rehearsal this weekend in different jamborees.
Both teams made the postseason a season ago but must replace large, talented 2021 Classes. He is what we observed in the nearly one hour and 45-minute scrimmage.
GREENWOOD
The Eagles will be young but good be improved on the 4-3 finish from a season ago. Greenwood graduated 30 seniors last year and have a much smaller graduating class this year. They might lack experience but make up for it with talented athletes and a sophomore class that has a chance to be special.
Senior Daylan Rappley impressed on both sides of the ball. He took plenty of snaps at quarterback and did some good things, but he was more impressive in the defensive secondary. Senior Chris Simmons, who is a three-year starter but in his first playing linebacker, turned in what turned out to be the highlight of the scrimmage. He picked off a pass at his own three-yard line and returned it 97 yards for a score.
Senior Drew Geoly was praised for his play along the offensive line.
The bad came in several penalties that wiped out big gains. They also had a few dropped snaps that cost them some opportunities.
“We have a really young team this year,” Greenwood coach Chris Liner said. “We’re fast and athletic but trying to get more physical. That’s the style River Bluff plays so this really helped us.”
RIVER BLUFF
Things were not much different for the Gators. The sloppy play included several mishandled snaps, a few penalties, and enough mistakes to make coach Blair Hardin understands work still needs to be done. A couple of players did show flashes though.
River Bluff went 5-3 last year with a second-round playoff exit. They must break in several new skill position players that includes finding a new starting quarterback. It is a three-player battle currently with senior Colyn Crocker, junior transfer Hunter Sheppard, and freshman Parker Murray all in the mix.
Whoever wins the spot has a big-time target in wide receiver and defensive back Apollos Cook. The junior has a huge frame that already has gotten noticed on the recruiting circuit. He has offers from West Virginia, Charlotte, Georgia State and Appalachian State. Powell scored on a nearly 50-yard pass late in the scrimmage.
Junior safety/wide receiver Thomas Powell, a South Carolina baseball commitment, will see plenty of action. He has a chance to be a football prospect with a solid 2021 season. Junior running back Cooper Johns also showed flashes of being a solid playmaker.
“Offensively, we killed ourselves with bad snaps, penalties, and turnovers,” Hardin said. “We weren’t very clean, but we have to find a way to be consistent and finish drives. We competed. We just didn’t finish like we need too.”