Startup South Greenville Makes Statement

Newly-minted South Carolina HS club South Greenville pulled off something of a shock result when they beat Phoenix Alpharetta, the top team from Georgia, 26-15 this past weekend.

South Greenville was formed when last year's state finalists, Greenville, opted to go single-school. With the then-head coach stepping down, there was also a coaching change, and Greenville assistant Phil Weston decided to form a team with the players who couldn't play for Greenville HS anymore. That became South Greenville, and the club's formation wasn't without drama, as parents and players struggled with whether to follow a coach they knew (Weston) or stay with the school they knew. In the end, some kids from Greenville HS are playing for the South Greenville club, which is now 3-0 in league play, and 4-1 overall.

Weston and Greenville HS Coach Lawson Ballard are friends, but the split of the Greenville club into Greenville HS and South Greenville was a little messy. Regardless, South Greenville has started to come together wth several experienced players plus some who are completely new to the sport.

"We have about 40-something guys," said Weston. "Things are going extremely well. We have some guys who played in that state final loss to Wando last year and they want to get back there. That's why our last two games were so important."

South Greenville played and lost to touring Georgetown Prep out of DC, and then turned around and beat Phoenix Alpharetta. 

"We learned so much against Georgetown," said Weston. "We wouldn't have been able to beat Alpharetta if we hadn't played that Georgetown game."

The Alpharetta game itself was closer than the score indicates, as it was 19-15 for most of the second half, and it was only right at the end of the game that South Greenville scored to extend their lead.

Scrumhalf Jackson Clark had two tries for South Greenville, while wing Jonathan LaFoy-Vance, a local football standout, sped over for two on the wing.

"Our forwards al played their butts off," enthused Weston. "I think they learned a big lessons from Georgetown about retaining possession. We definitely played better in this game than the week before."

Everyone in South Carolina gets the weekend off this coming weekend, but then it's the run to the playoffs. South Greenville has Aiken April 10 and then the big rivalry clash with Greenville HS a week later. They finish up against Chapin. All of those games will be tough, as South Greenville looks to win the Midlands conference and set up a likely meeting with Wando in the playoffs.