GAFFNEY @ IRMO RECAP

It was a game of turnovers and missed opportunities for the Gaffney Indians on Friday night, as they fell to the Irmo Yellow Jackets 12 to 7, in the 2nd round of the 4A Big 16 playoffs. A very frustrating night for the Tribe and their fans. Gaffney out gained Irmo 382 total yards to 214 total yards. The Tribe won every statistical category except turnovers, -3 in turnovers, and the scoreboard 12 to 7. It was a very long trip back up I-26 on Friday night. Lets look at the game by quarter.

FIRST QUARTER

The Tribe received the opening kick and quickly moved down the field to the Irmo 9-yard line. Gaffney QB DeEdward Burris would throw the first of his two interceptions on the night in the Irmo end zone, to stop the Tribe's opening drive. Little did we know that this would set the tone for the game. The Gaffney defense, that played lights out all night, would stop Irmo on their 1st offensive series. The Tribe would drive right back down the field and score on a 1-yard TD pass from Burris to Quinshad Davis to take a 7 to 0 lead with 3:25 left in the opening quarter. Little did we know that Gaffney would not score again all night. The 1st quarter ends with Gaffney in the lead 7 to 0.

SECOND QUARTER

Irmo would put together their best drive of the game and score on a 14-yard run from Dawan Scott. The PAT was missed and Gaffney remained in the lead 7 to 6. Gaffney's offensive frustrations continued, as they marched the ball into the Irmo red zone on all four 1st half possessions, only to score one TD. The defense was still playing very well, as the Jackets failed to even threaten to score the remaining of the 1st half. The Tribe lead 7 to 6 at halftime.

THIRD QUARTER

The 3rd quarter was more of the same, as the Gaffney offense moved the ball up and down the field, only to self destruct in scoring position. The Gaffney defense was still playing lights out. We had no points scored by either team in the quarter and Gaffney continued to lead 7 to 6 after the 3rd quarter.

FORTH QUARTER

The 4th quarter started with Gaffney deep in Irmo territory. On the first play of the 4th quarter, a pass from Burris ricocheted off a receivers hands and was intercepted two yards deep in the end zone by Irmo's Kevin Baxter and returned 70 yards to set up Irmo's go-ahead score, a 2-yard TD run by Dawan Scott. Irmo would miss the 2-point conversion and the score remained Irmo 12 and Gaffney 7. The Indians would respond and drive the ball deep into Irmo territory again, only to be stopped by their third and final turnover of the game. Burris fumbled the ball after he was sacked. The Gaffney defense would quickly get the ball back for the offense after a 3 and out by the Irmo offense. The Gaffney offense did what they had been doing all night, they drove deep into Irmo territory. The Tribe looked as though they had scored on a 35 yard run by Burris, only to have the play called back because of a holding penalty. They still had about 3:00 left on the clock. The offense would continue to move the ball down into the red zone again. Anther big miscue would occur when Burris hit Davis across the middle at the Irmo 7-yard line, only to have Davis drop the football. He would have probably scored with less than a minute left in the game. The Tribe had one last play, as they had a 4th down and 6 and a pass to Davis was deflected incomplete. Irmo would get the ball with about 50 seconds left and they were able to run out the clock. Irmo had escaped with an improbable 12 to 7 win over Gaffney. The Indians season ends with a 2nd round playoff loss and a 9 and 4 record. Irmo goes to the semifinal match-up with Dorman that the Tribe and their fans expected they would be.

My View From The Stands..... (1) The home side of Hawkins Stadium was less than half full, while the Gaffney side was packed. (2) The dropped pass by Quinshad Davis late in the game, was a pass that he would catch 99 times out of 100. (3) All of the missed opportunities, especially in the first half, came back to bite the Indians in the end. (4) Watching this game unfold, I was shocked that Gaffney would hold Irmo to 12 points and lose the game. (5) The Tribe has a lot of talent coming back next year, so the future looks very bright.

FORMER INDIAN UPDATE..... Gaffney's Malcolm Long has become the total offense and total TDs career leader at South Carolina State. He also led the Bulldogs to their third consecutive MEAC Title and playoff birth.

Since the Indians are out of the playoffs, Tribe Blitz will be on hiatus until after Thanksgiving. You can catch another blog next week.

Until next Time.