What We Saw: Byrnes Blasts Greenville 37-14
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DUNCAN | Armoni Weaver Armoni Weaver 5'11" | 170 lbs | ATH Westside | 2025 State SC dropped it. The pass down the Greenville sideline at Nixon Field hit the speedy Byrnes receiver right in the hands, and he dropped…
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Continue ReadingDUNCAN | Armoni Weaver Armoni Weaver 5'11" | 170 lbs | ATH Westside | 2025 State SC dropped it.
The pass down the Greenville sideline at Nixon Field hit the speedy Byrnes receiver right in the hands, and he dropped it.
He stood out of bounds for several seconds in disbelief. He yelled, mostly to (and at) himself. He clapped his hands, as if giving himself a pep talk.
Then he made up for it.
Weaver took his next touch 56 yards through the heart of Greenville’s defense, scoring to break open a tight game as the Rebels took a 37-14 win over the Red Raiders.
“I was trying to make up for it (the drop),” Weaver said. “My coaches called a good play, my teammates executed on their blocks, and I scored.”
Weaver had a big night all the way around. He caught seven balls for 113 yards and the score. He returned the Red Raiders’ first punt to set the Rebels up in good position. He lined up early in one-on-one coverage with Greenville’s best offensive player, Mazeo Bennett Mazeo Bennett 6'0" | 170 lbs | ATH Greenville | 2024 State SC . And, in what might have been his favorite play of the night, he absolutely demolished a screen pass in the backfield, making a huge play in space.
“Coach Cross had told us DBs to crash screens all week,” Weaver said. “They told us we needed at least a tackle for loss or a hit in the backfield. That’s what I gave them.”
Byrnes has a couple of two-way guys aside from Weaver, including Chamarryus Bomar Chamarryus Bomar 6'0" | 180 lbs | ATH Westside | 2025 State SC , Knai Cook Knai Cook 5'11" | 180 lbs | RB Byrnes | 2024 State SC , and RJ Livingston RJ Livingston 5'9" | 185 lbs | LB Byrnes | 2025 SC , and coach Reggie Shaw said the Rebels are constantly seeking to keep them fresh.
“They’re special, man,” Shaw said. “We’re just trying to limit them because you want to play four quarters with them. You have to be strategic throughout the week and then during the game as well.”
Weaver won’t be asking for a breather on either side of the ball anytime soon. And his favorite?
“I can’t choose,” he said with a grin. “I love them both.”
RUGGED RUNNING
Byrnes found the going tough early in the running game, with Greenville’s massive and talented defensive line making a bunch of big plays. But as the game wore on, the Rebels found more success, particularly behind freshman Tre Segarra Tre Segarra 5'11" | 195 lbs | RB Byrnes | 2027 State SC . Segarra’s tough, physical running style paid off big, and his 53-yard score with eight minutes to play put the game away. Segarra finished with 148 yards on 16 carries to lead Byrnes’ ground game.
DOMINANT DEFENDERS
Greenville’s Jayden Wilson-Abrams Jayden Wilson-Abrams 6'3" | 270 lbs | DL Greenville | 2024 State SC and Bruce Knauber Bruce Knauber 6'2" | 295 lbs | DL Greenville | 2024 State SC were a force on the defensive line for Byrnes. They controlled the line of scrimmage in the early going, helping the Red Raiders dictate the game for much of the first quarter. Knauber is a physical presence in the middle, clogging running lanes and pressuring the QB, and he came up with a couple of huge plays for Greenville, including a key tackle for loss. Wilson-Abrams simply never stops. His motor is off the charts, and he never seems to be out of the play. On one snap in the first half, he very nearly recorded a sack eight yards in the Byrnes backfield, saw the ball come out, turned and chased down the play seven yards downfield, and made the tackle.
HUGE LOSS
Bennett missed the bulk of the game for Greenville after coming out with what appeared to be an injury, and his absence was definitely notable. The Red Raiders looked out of sync without him, and were limited offensively when their main weapon wasn’t part of the scheme.