FAIRLEA- The 2024 Greenbrier East football season did not go the way anyone had hoped, especially with the Spartans dropping down into Class AAA in what was supposed to lighten the schedule and give Greenbrier East a fighter’s chance at something special.
However, that turned out to not be the case as East limped—literally—to a 3-7 finish.
The schedule did not get any easier and there is an argument to be made that it was more difficult than the one they had last year and even it was difficult as well.
But East did not/does not want any excuses. With the conclusion of the season, they will get back to work in the weight room with the knowledge of knowing exactly what they need to work on as a team and individually to come back next year and make 2025 what they hoped 2024 would be.
Let’s take a look back at this year’s offense in part one of the Spartan football recap:
As a team, East averaged 22 points per game. Their season-high in points came on September 12 at Bluefield when they put up 40 on the scoreboard against the Beavers but lost by two in the waning moments. The Spartans also put up 34 points twice in wins over Shady Spring and Summers County.
East averaged just 97.4 yards rushing per game and through the air, passed for 144.2. Those numbers are a tad skewed as several key players missed time in the latter part of the season including quarterback Brody Hamric and running back Brady May.
Speaking of Hamric, the junior threw 1,221 yards and 14 touchdowns on the year. He suffered a foot injury in the season-opening win over Riverside and it reared its ugly head throughout the season which eventually forced him to miss the final two regular season contests. Hamric, an honorable mention all-stater last season, completed 57 percent of his passes.
Most of the rushing attack was done by May, an Alleghany transfer who had success in his first year as a Spartan. May ran 154 times for 624 yards and finished with eight touchdowns. He also added 136 yards receiving and another score as well. May ran hard between the tackles and had his biggest game of the year at Shady when he ran for 125 yards and four touchdowns, half of his rushing total on the year.
Keshawn Bland was second on the team in rush yards with 79, but all his came in the season finale against Nitro. Bland may be an option in the backfield next year should he get that opportunity. He and May could form a nice combo back there.
At the receiver spot, East had a little more consistency there and Nate Suttle led the way in impressive fashion. Suttle is a player that gives 110 percent effort 100 percent of the time and does whatever the coaches need him to do. In the final two games where injuries were rampant, Suttle stepped in at quarterback and performed admirably. He also returned kicks and punts all year on top of leading the team in catches (37) and yards (568). The junior, who has battled injuries the last couple years, scored seven touchdowns on the season, six via catches and one 90-yard kickoff return.
Donavin Penn provided a nice boost to the receiver room in his senior year as well. He had only five catches all year, but they were important as all five went for touchdowns. Tight End Grant Burdette finished with 17 catches for 243 yards and Kaden Stone hauled in 11 receptions for 236 yards and three touchdowns. Jy Green provided some quality depth as well with 12 catches for 130 yards and a score.
The Spartan offensive line had its ups and downs with their best performance of the year at Shady Spring in a game where they came together and owned the line of scrimmage all game long. That performance came after a bye week and one game after the Alleghany Cougars manhandled the Spartans in the trenches. It was an impressive showing against the Tigers. The line also featured two of the team’s three seniors in Rhett Baker and Ashton Mentz.
Look for our defensive recap in the coming days.
