Emerald Looking Strong At Start of Region Play
Emerald junior QB Beau Hite led his team to produce 274 points in just five games during this season.
By Jeff Moeller
Contributing Writer
Greenwood - After his team’s recent 41-3 rout of Palmetto, Emerald High head coach Tad Dubose sees his team beginning to peak at the right time.
Emerald won their second straight and improved their overall record to 6-1 as well as notched their first victory in the Class 3A Region 2 bracket. In the past five games, the Vikings have produced 274 points, averaging 54.8 points in that span.
Dubose sees his club hitting on all of its cylinders.
“We are playing at a high level right now,” said Dubose. “We are executing and our offense is really in sync. We have been getting contributions from a number of players.”
Against Palmetto, quarterback Beau Hite completed 10 of 14 passes for 165 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. Running back Joe Moore rambled for 155 yards on 18 carries and had a score. Hite added 27 yards rushing, and Collin Partlow had 43 yards.
Keirion Brown was the recipient of Hite’s touchdown tosses, catching five passes overall for 114 yards. Coleson Marino had four receptions for 36 yards, and Gavin Quarles grabbed three balls for 23 yards with a score.
“Beau Hite had a good game through the air,” added Dubose. “It also was a big night for Keirion Brown, and Joe Moore had a solid game running the ball. Gavin Quarles had a great catch for a touchdown.”
Defensively, Trayvion Foster had 10 tackles and Tyrell Cloud, LaZohn Mobley, and Hayden Doerflein each had nine against Palmetto. RJ Lyles added seven tackles and recorded three sacks. Cloud added a sack.
Leading receiver Desiray Christian, who was held to one catch, had a pick six. The Vikings notched four turnovers. Lyles have five tackles for a loss along with Cloud with four, and Mobley and Jeremiah Jones each with three.
Dubose was definitely impressed.
“Our defense was rock solid all night,” beamed Dubose. “We forced turnovers and moved toward the ball. RJ Lyles, Tyrell Cloud, and Jeremiah Johnson all had big games.”
For the season, Hite has completed 89 of 134 passes for 1,462 yards with 16 touchdowns and four interceptions.
Moore crossed the 1,000-yard plateau for the season and has 1,036 with 19 touchdowns.
Christian has 28 receptions for 471 yards with four touchdowns. He is part of an effective trio receiving corps with Brown, who has 23 catches for 416 yards with six scores, and Marino has 26 grabs for 398 yards with three scores.
Doerflein leads the team with 82 tackles, and Cloud has 6.5 sacks.
Dubose is confident his team can keep their momentum down the stretch. They have three regional games left starting with a road game with Wren, and then they will finish the season with home contests against Powdersville and Belton-Honea Path.
“It was a great team effort against Palmetto,” stressed Dubose. “We have three games to go, and we’re confident we can keep this going.”
