LEWISBURG, WVa- Greenbrier East lost last Friday to Woodrow Wilson 42-39, but for Spartan fans, the story of the game had nothing to do with the second loss of the season, but the resiliency and pride that East showed up until there were all zeroes on the clock.
The Spartans trailed 21-0, then 28-7 at one point, but they fought, clawed, and climbed their way back into a game against their biggest rival, on the road, and in front of a hostile group of fans.
It is kind of weird, honestly. East sits at 0-2 on the season and they are behind the 8-ball, so to speak, already. However, there is a positive, good-vibed feeling around the team and the community. Everyone is relatively happy about this football team and that is only going to help matters—and attendance—the rest of the way.
Here are my thoughts on the Beckley game:
The Spartans do not give up:
As mentioned above, this team is as resilient as any that I have watched in the last few years. Well, at least through just two games. When down 21-0 in the first quarter, and with all three opponent touchdowns scored by the same player (Elijah Redfern), East could very well have laid down and just taken a pure beating on the field. But they did the exact opposite, and the most impressive thing about it is the youth of the Spartans. They are very young and somewhat inexperienced in several positions, but this year, the youth is working out in the team’s favor. They seem hungrier and eager to prove themselves to everyone who thought they would be at most, a 2-win team. No matter what the final record shows a the end, as long as East keeps fighting for four full quarters, eventually good things are going to happen. And even if they don’t, the fans and the community are still going to be proud to rep their Spartan gear around the state.
The kickoff team needs help:
The only negative that stuck in my mind after the game was the kickoff coverage team for the Spartans. They allowed two kickoff returns for touchdowns, one for 81 yards and the other for 65, and they came at times when East had grabbed the momentum on the field. Elijah Waller’s 81-yard return came just after Grant Burdette caught a 68-yard touchdown pass that got East on the board. Nelson (MJ) Staples’ return opened the second half, just after East had trimmed the deficit to eight points with a touchdown late in the second quarter. So, it is not just about the returns in general, but when they occurred. When the Spartans seize momentum and make a statement play or score, they need to stay 100 percent focused on the first few plays after. Those two returns, in my opinion (and that means a whole lotta nothing) were the difference between a win and a loss.
Hamric and Suttle are becoming a formidable backfield:
How’s this for a stat line for a sophomore in his second career start in Class AAA?
13-for-25, 253 yards and four touchdowns. Those numbers belong to quarterback Brody Hamric. Hamric is a tall, thin kid that is playing well beyond his years. He never seems to be rattled and if something does not go his way, he never hangs his head and instead comes out even stronger on the next series. Hamric did throw two interceptions against the Eagles, but every QB that has ever played has thrown a ton of them, and he will throw more too. Hamric seems to learn from mistakes and watching his season play out is an exciting thought. He also seems to have found a favorite target in Burdette.
Here’s another sophomore stat line: 23 rushes, 57 yards, TD. Three receptions, 57 yards, two TDs.
That is running back Nate Suttle. After missing 2022 with an injury, Suttle has come back this season in a big way. He has been banged up in both games so far, but he always shows back up on the field. He basically is a carbon copy of the whole team, as both are resilient. Suttle is on a nice upward trajectory like his quarterback, and both players will have their ups and downs, but the ups are going to become a lot more frequent.
The defense should not be overlooked:
Yes, East gave up 42 points. No, not all of them were on the defense. The Spartans only allowed 283 yards to Woodrow and other than a 42-yard run from Waller in the second half, the Eagles were fairly stagnant after the break. East had multiple fourth down stops in the game and even got a punt block for a touchdown. Sam Wright had two sacks, Aiden Cole, Abram Wickline, Weston Pence, Kaden Stone and Carter Hamilton were in on a lot of plays, and the team defense was honestly very solid. No one may mistake them for the ’85 Bears at any point this season, but the Spartan defenders are a unit that coordinator Aaron Baker can lean on in certain situations.
FRIDAY NIGHT QUOTE TO LIVE BY- “Every day is an opportunity disguised as a challenge.”—Former New York Giants running back Tiki Barber.
The Spartans open their home slate this Friday, Sept. 8 against the Bluefield Beavers.
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