Redondo Loses Key Member of Offense : Prep football: Senior running back Nigel Greer is removed from school after involvement in a fight.

Redondo High tailback Nigel Greer, a senior who ranked among the South Bay’s top rushers, has been removed from school because of his involvement in an on-campus altercation last week, Redondo Principal Bob Paulson said.

Paulson said Greer was one of three Redondo students involved in the incident, which sources said was a gang-related fight. As a result, Greer was not allowed to play in Redondo’s game against St. Bernard on Friday and all three students were removed from school Monday.

Paulson said Greer was not expelled from the Redondo Beach school district and had the option to attend Redondo Shores, the continuation high school, or participate in independent studies. Instead, Greer decided to return to Masada in Lawndale, a school for wayward youth.

Masada Principal Violet Long said Greer attended Masada last year after a troubled past that included gang activity. He lives in a Masada home.

Redondo had to petition the Southern Section before Greer was allowed to play football, and his conduct was monitored by the school.

“All the kids (at Masada) come from troubled pasts,” Long said. “A lot of kids who have problems like that can’t handle (attending) a big high school.”

Long said the peer pressure to uphold a gang’s honor may have provoked Greer into fighting.

“If they can’t resist that pressure, they get caught up in it, they can’t resist it,” Long said. “Even good football players are shortsighted in that regard. They don’t know how else to react.”

In his short time at Redondo, Greer quickly made a name for himself on the football field. The 6-foot, 195-pound running back, who possesses good speed and strength, rushed for 264 yards and four touchdowns in two games, averaging 8.5 yards a carry.

Greer rushed for 148 yards and touchdowns of 55, 57 and nine yards in a 34-28 loss to Torrance on Sept. 17 at Redondo.

“Obviously he is a very talented athlete,” Redondo offensive coordinator Rick Francis said. “We were certainly excited after the Torrance game.”

The loss of Greer and wide receiver-defensive back Tremaine Mayeaux, who suffered a broken fibula in the 21-13 loss to St. Bernard, figures to reduce Redondo’s outside speed. The Sea Hawks (0-3) resume play at 7:30 p.m. Friday with a nonleague game against Inglewood (1-2) at Coleman Stadium in Inglewood.