SPARTANBURG @ GAFFNEY RECAP

The Gaffney Indians got off to a slow start Friday night against their arch rival Spartanburg Vikings, as they were able to score 4 TD's, in a six minute span, to put the Vikings away. The Indians defeated Spartanburg 48 to 20, to wrap up sole possession of 2nd place in Region 3 4A. The Indians got another big game from QB DeEdward Burris, as he was 9 of 12 for 166 yards and 3 TD passes. He also rushed for 78 yards and one TD. Quinshad Davis had a huge game as well, with 6 catches for 118 yards and 3 TDs. The Tribe finishes the regular season with a record of 8 and 3 overall and 4 and 1 in Region 3 4A. Lets look at the game.

FIRST QUARTER

The Indians hurt themselves with penalties on their first possession of the game, but on their second possession they scored on a 9-yard TD pass from Burris to Davis. The defense was extremely strong in the 1st quarter, as they held the Vikings to only one 1st down. The 1st quarter ended with Gaffney ahead 7 to 0.

SECOND QUARTER

The Vikings started the 2nd quarter with a drive that ate up almost 6:00 of the quarter and they scored on a 2-yard run by Sims, to tie the score at 7 to 7. The score stayed tied, until the Indians scored on a 23-yard TD pass from Burris to Davis, with a little over a minute left in the 1st half, to take a 14 to 7 lead. On Spartanburg's next possession, Gaffney's Reggie Fleming made a huge play, as he intercepted Adrian Kollock's pass at the Spartanburg 39-yard line with 56 seconds left in the half. Three plays after the interception, Burris hit Davis with a perfectly thrown 38-yard TD pass for a 21 to 7 lead. The Indians, on the strength of two TDs in the last two minutes of the half, had a 21 to 7 halftime lead.

THIRD QUARTER

The 3rd quarter would start with a bang for the Tribe, as they received the 2nd half kick and drove the ball quickly down the field and scored on a 15-yard run by Burris that made the score 28 to 7. Then, on Spartanburgs next possession, Gaffney DT Shaq Wilson intercepted a deflected pass and returned it 45-yards for a TD that made the score 35 to 7. The game was pretty much over from there. The Indians would take a lot of their offensive starters out of the game at that point. On Gaffney's next possession, they would score again on a 15-yard TD pass from back-up QB Joey Copeland to WR Ryan Frock. The Tribe led 42 to 7 late in the 3rd quarter. The Vikings would finally stop the string of 35 unanswered points by the Tribe, as they scored on a 70-yard screen pass from Kollock to Arland Woodruff. The score at the end of the 3rd quarter was 42 to 14.

FORTH QUARTER

The Indians would score their final points of the night, as Copeland would hit little used WR Drayton Queen on a 59-yard TD pass. Queen is the Tribe's long snapper. The score was 48 to 14. The Vikings would score one more time, against the Gaffney subs, on a 48-yard run by Kollock. The final score in this traditional rivalry game was GAFFNEY 48 SPARTANBURG 20.

The Gaffney Indians will start the 4A Division 1 playoffs at The Reservation on Friday night against Wando.

My View From The Stands.....(1) There were less than 100 fans in the visitors stands at The Reservation on Friday night. (2) Even though Gaffney vs Spartanburg is still a big rivalry, it is obvious that it takes a back seat to Dorman and Byrnes to most Gaffney fans these days. (3) If there is a better combination in the state than DeEdward Burris to Quinshad Davis, I have not seen them. (4) I see the Tribe as a serious threat to win the State Championship.

TRIBE FACTS..... Gaffney QB DeEdward Burris was named to the 2010 Shrine Bowl team.

Until Next Time.