Greenwood Faces Undefeated Hillcrest in Challenging Game Amid Hurricane Helene’s Impact

Greenwood Prepares for Tough Match Amidst Inclement Weather

GREENWOOD – In the wake of Hurricane Helene, residents are bracing for tropical storm conditions this Saturday. Forecasts predict a windy morning with periods of rain, but by the afternoon, some sun is expected to break through. Highs will reach around 78°F, with winds from the south blowing at 25 to 35 mph. The chance of rain is at a solid 100%, with rainfall accumulating close to half an inch. As night falls, the skies will clear up, and temperatures will drop to a low of 62°F, with winds calming to 5 to 10 mph.

Amidst this weather, the much-anticipated football game between Greenwood and Hillcrest will kick off, albeit with a change in schedule. Due to the storm, the game has been moved to 2 p.m. Saturday at Chandler Stadium at Hillcrest. The Eagles face a formidable challenge this week, clashing with an undefeated Hillcrest team ranked No. 8.

Greenwood coach Chris Liner acknowledged the task at hand. “It’s gonna be a tough challenge for us, but, you know, it’s a challenge that we’re excited about,” Liner shared. “Hillcrest has some elite athletes on both offense and defense.”

Tough Defense

The Hillcrest Rams’ defense is no easy feat; they’ve allowed less than 12 points per game while their offense averages a whopping 37.5 points. They recently delivered a stunning 51-6 victory over Mauldin. Greenwood’s offense has shown flashes of brilliance but hasn’t yet fully clicked. Liner highlighted the need to slow down Hillcrest’s prolific defensive line, especially senior Antrez Nance, who he described as “maybe the best lineman I’ve seen all year.” Just last week, the Rams recorded four sacks, two of which were by Nance.

“They’ve got talented guys everywhere, are well-coached – they’re undefeated for a reason,” Liner stated. Yet, he remains confident in his team’s abilities. “Our mental toughness has improved, building momentum moving forward into our second region game against a team as good as Hillcrest is a huge plus for our program.”

Match Strategies

According to Liner, both teams play similarly on defense, and about 75% of their offensive strategies overlap. “Our prep for this one is going to be easier than [TL Hanna], but we still have to stop them, which will be a challenge,” he remarked. “They make it really hard for you to do what you wanna do – run it, throw it…”

Star Quarterbacks

Just like Greenwood, Hillcrest boasts a mobile quarterback, Kalab Sutton. The 6-foot-4 senior, who began his career at Easley, averages over 200 passing yards per game. Liner praised Sutton, calling him a “prototypical college quarterback”. Stopping Sutton and his elite wide receiving core will be a significant test for Greenwood’s defense, which has been outstanding and consistently rises to the occasion.

In their last 12 quarters, Hillcrest has scored 18 touchdowns, while Greenwood has given up just five scores in that span. “You can’t put Greenwood back in the sentence with the elite teams until you start competing and beating these types of teams,” Liner commented. This weekend, the Eagles have a chance to change their narrative.

Game Details

When: 2 p.m., Saturday

Where: Chandler Stadium at Hillcrest

Tickets: $8

Radio: WZLARadio.com/Greenwood

Updates on X: @AndrewChodes_

The Greenwood Eagles are ready, despite the weather. It’s going to be a challenging game and an exciting match. Let’s see if Greenwood can rise to the occasion and take on the undefeated Rams!