WEEK 10 (2011) NORTHWESTERN @ GAFFNEY

The Tribe got 6 TD passes from Joey Copeland and pounded Lancaster 49 to 7, last Friday night at The Reservation. The Tribe victory was sweet, but it came with a cost. Sophomore WR Shaq Davidson suffered a torn ACL in his knee and is lost for the season. It is a huge loss for the football team and the basketball team. The Tribe also had another injury, as OL Kerry Williams went down with an ankle sprain. His status is day to day. He is expected to be out at least this week.

It is time for ROUND 3 OF THE PAYBACK TOUR. The Indians have already beaten two of the teams that beat them last season in Dorman and Greenwood. It's time for Northwestern to be paid back this week. Gaffney goes into this game with a 9 and 0 record overall and 3 and 0 in Region 3 4A play. The Northwestern Trojans come into the game 6 and 3 overall and 2 and 1 in Region 3 4A.

Northwestern @ Gaffney

The Trojans come into this game probably as healthy as they have been all season. They still run their pass happy offense that throws the football about 80% of the time. They lost their National High School Player Of The Year QB Justin Worley, he is starting in Knoxville Saturday against the Gamecocks, but they have another outstanding QB in Soph. Mason Rudolph. He has 22 TD passes and only 8 INTs. Their top receiver is SR. B.J. Boyd with 75 catches and 11 TDs. The Trojans have scored 291 points for an average of 32.3 per game. As a team they are averaging 245.0 yards per game passing and 99.2 yards per game rushing. That is a total of 344.2 yards of total offense per game.

The Northwestern defense comes into this game with an aggressive style and a physical presence. They have 15 sacks and 10 INTs on the season. They have given up 178 points for an average of 19.8 per game. They will have their hands full trying to slow down the Indians' offensive machine.

The Tribe's offense comes into the game on a roll, but is having to deal with some adversity for the first time this season. Both of their starting offensive tackles are out for this game, left tackle Clay McKown suspended from the team for the remainder of the season, right tackle Kerry Williams out with an ankle injury. They will have to shuffle their WRs around to try and fill the void of Shaq Davidson being gone for the season. I look for Hyleck Foster to play a lot of WR and get some extended playing time from O.B. Davidson and Bryce Spurlin at WR. For the season the Tribe's offense has scored 475 points for an average of 52.8 per game.

The Tribe's defense will get their biggest test since the Byrnes game, by having to try and slow down the pass happy Trojans offense. The defense will have to tackle well to keep the yards after the catch at a minimum. For the season they have given up only 81 points for an average of 9.0 per game. The defense needs to kick it up another notch to help pick up the slack from the offense's injuries.

Keys To The Game For Northwestern..... (1) Get on the board early. Get ahead and put more adversity on the Indians offense. (2) Pressure the Gaffney QB. Try to take advantage of Gaffney starting two unproven players on the offensive line. (3) Force some turnovers. They forced 5 turnovers against the Indians last season which was the difference in the ball game.

Keys To The Game For Gaffney..... (1) Get off to a fast start to prove to themselves that they can continue to score points even with the injuries on offense. (2) Do not turn the football over. Five turnovers last season cost them the game with Northwestern. (3) They must tackle well to prevent yards after the catch. The Trojans shot passing game depends on yards after the catch.

Game Prediction..... We have Round 3 Of The Payback Tour and the Tribe wants this game bad. The first two games of The Payback Tour went to the Indians. So does round 3..... Gaffney 42 Northwestern 14

TRIBE FACTS..... The Tribe has lost their last three games against Northwestern. All three games were for the Region 3 4A Title.

You can catch my Northwestern @ Gaffney Recap on Saturday.

Until Next Time.