DORMAN @ GAFFNEY GAME RECAP

It was Christmas in August last night at The Reservation and the Gaffney Indians were in the giving spirit as they handed the Dorman Cavaliers two first quarter gifts and a 14 to 0 lead. The Indians fumbled the ball on two consecutive plays, once inside their 35 yard line and on their next possession at their 20 yard line. The Cavaliers took advantage of their two gifts with two short TD drives with the first one ending with a short TD pass and the second from a short TD run from the Wildcat formation By A.J. Booker. The Indians were able to move the football pretty well in the first half as they had a pass intercepted on their first drive of the game in Dorman territory. The Tribe also had their red zone woes from a week ago show up again last night as they were stopped on downs deep in Cavaliers territory in the first quarter as well. The Gaffney defense played pretty well in the first half as the Cavaliers only put together one sustained drive and they were able keep them out of the end zone and force a field goal attempt. Gaffney's Soph DE Jaylin Miller blocked the field goal attempt to keep the game at 14 to 0. On the Tribe's last possession of the 1st half they drove into Dorman territory yet again only to be stopped on downs. The Indians did not punt in the first half.

The second half started with the Gaffney defense getting a three and out on the Dorman offense forcing a punt. The Gaffney offense finally responded with a drive that put points on the scoreboard, as they put together a 71 yard drive that ended when QB DeEdward Burris found WR Ryan Frock at the Dorman 10 yard line and he made the defender miss as he dove into the end zone for his first varsity TD. The Tribe's kicking woes showed up with a missed PAT. The score was 14 to 6. Dorman's offense would respond on their next possession as they would put together their best drive of the night driving deep into Gaffney territory and then turning it over to their Wildcat formation and A.J. Booker as he scored his second short TD of the game for a 21 to 6 lead. The Gaffney offense was still clicking on their next possession as they responded to get right back in the game with a 79 yard drive and a TD pass from Burris to Quinshad Davis. The Tribe would miss the PAT and they trailed 21 to 12. Dorman responded driving into Gaffney territory once again behind the running of Raymond Smith. The drive stalled on downs and Gaffney took over and was moving when Burris had to leave the game with cramps. The Gaffney drive would stall and they were forced to punt for the first and only time of the game. Gaffney finally got a gift from Dorman as Adam Humphries fumbled the punt giving Gaffney the ball on the Dorman 30 yard line. Burris was still out of the game on first and second down and Back-up Joey Copeland could not move the offense. Burris came limping into the game with a 3rd and long, but the Tribe would turn it over on downs. The game was pretty much over at this point as time was running out and Gaffney had to have two scores. Dorman would keep the ball for the remainder of the game as they drove deep into Indian territory and the game ended 21 to 12 in favor of Dorman. The Tribe falls to 1 and 1 on the season and they travel to Greenwood next Friday night.

My View From The Stands

I saw a lot of positives from Gaffney to build on, but I also saw some things that are going to have to be corrected if they are going to be a factor in the 4A Championship race. (1) They have to find a kicker that they can depend on to make PAT's. (2) They have to decide what kind of red zone offense they are going to have and improve on red zone production. (3) They have to take better care of the football and the defense has to start forcing some turnovers. The Tribe is -4 in the take away give away department after three games. (4) I see a ton of potential with this team they just have to improve on execution. The mistakes that they are making are correctable.

Until Next Time.