Greenwood holds off West Florence

FLORENCE — After trailing the entire game, West Florence quarterback Paul Pizzuti nearly led the Knights to a last-minute comeback Friday night at Memorial Stadium against Greenwood.

However, it was the Eagles, led by standout defensive back-turned quarterback D.J. Swearinger, who held on for the 17-10 win.

Down by a touchdown with 1:17 left, West Florence (4-2) got the ball on its own 33-yard line. Pizzuti had three runs for 28 yards to help put the Knights on Greenwood’s 24-yard line. But an incomplete pass and a sack as time ran out endedthe drive and game.

“I thought our offensive line and our kids played extremely well,” West Florence coach Trey Woodberry said. “Another second there, there’s no telling what might have happened. I was very proud of the effort, especially there at the end.”

Swearinger, a University of Tennessee commitment, carried Greenwood (2-4) with a game-high 149 rushing yards, 123 of which came in the first half. It was Swearinger’s first high school start at quarterback.

He was filling in for injured Christian Powell.

“He stepped in and did a great job,” Eagles’ coach Shell Dula said. “We can ride him a while, I think.”

Swearinger, who usually plays receiver on offense, kept the ball on 12 of Greenwood’s first 14 snaps and scored two rushing touchdowns in the first half. Swearinger put the Eagles up 7-0 just 49 seconds into the game after a 24-yard run. With 3:01 left in the second quarter, he scored Greenwood’s only other touchdown on an 89-yard run.

“He was the key to it,” Woodberry said about Swearinger. “He’s an athlete. He’s an unbelievable player.”

West Florence’s only touchdown came with 5:05 left in in the first half when Pizzuti connected with senior Matt Connelly from the 2. Connelly caught the ball in the end zone while on his back.

The Knights gave up several turnovers that proved costly, including a fumble on the opening kickoff, which led to the Eagles’ first score. Greenwood kicker Tucker Nelson also nailed a 37-yard field goal on the first play of the second quarter after West Florence running back Avery Murray threw an interception to Demarcus Rappley on a lateral play.

“At times we didn’t play well, but we played extremely hard,” Woodberry said. “Turnovers and big plays on third down for them was the difference in the game.”

Pizzuti completed 11 of 20 passes for 139 yards, while throwing a touchdown and an interception. Junior Leon Richardson led the Knights in rushing with 52 yards on 13 carries.

West Florence hosts Conway on Friday night at 7:30.