WEEK 14 (2011) BOILING SPRINGS @ GAFFNEY

Round 2 of the Division 1 4A Playoffs went pretty much as expected. The favorites, to make it to the finals, both won big with Gaffney defeating Dorman 33 to3 and Byrnes defeating Summerville 56 to 20. The other two games had Boiling Springs pulling out a close 28 to 27 win over Dutch Fork and in the Cinderella Bowl 14 Seed Blythewood defeated 11 Seed Wando 13 to 8. At the start of this High School football season, I didn't see Boiling Springs and Blythewood being one win away from playing in the State Championship Game. Who did?

Boiling Springs @ Gaffney

The Bulldogs and Indians played way back in August in Week 0 and the Indians had their way with them 47 to 0. The Bulldogs have improved quiet a bit and so have the Indians. The Bulldogs are 10 and 3 on the season and finished 2nd in Region 2 4A. The Indians are 13 and 0 and are Region 3 4A Champions. This is the first time in Boiling Springs football history that they have made it to the State Semi-finals. This is the biggest football game ever for Boiling Springs.

The Boiling Springs offense is led by their very athletic QB Tyrecous Garrett. He is also a major weapon in the kicking game as well, as he ran a kickoff back 99-yards for a TD last week against Dutch Fork. They also have a strong runner at the RB position in Deon Burgess. Their bread and butter is their running game. They have scored 437 points this season for an average of 33.6 points per game. You throw away the first two games when they were shutout by Gaffney and Greenwood and their average is 39.7 per game. They do have a problem with turning the football over which could be a factor in this game. They are also a heavy penalized football team.

The Boiling Springs defense has gotten better as the season has rolled along. They also get penalized a lot with personal fouls that have cost them at times. For the season they have given up 286 points for an average of 22.0 per game. The bottom line is, against good football teams they give up points and against bad teams they don't.

The Gaffney offense continues to be explosive and efficient working like a well oiled machine. QB Joey Copeland has thrown for 42 TDs and rushed for 22 TDs and has completed almost 70% of his passes. WR Quinshad Davis has 93 catches with 24 TDs. RB C.J. Miller has rushed for over 900 yards and scored 12 TDs. For the season the Tribe has scored 651 points for an average of 50.1 per game. As all Gaffney fans and coaches and fans of teams we have played have figured out, the Indians are not a one man team.

The Gaffney defense had a dominating performance last week against Dorman. That has been the norm for them this season. They have been overshadowed by the offense for most of the season. Players like DL Jaylen Miller leads the team in sacks, LBs Quan Weeks and Savon Dukes lead the team in tackles and DB Cobby McDowell leads in INTs, DBs Marquise Brannon and Snoop Byers have had great years as well. The defense has given up 131 points on the season for an average of 10.1 per game. PRETTY DOMINATING IF YOU ASK ME!

Keys To The Game For Boiling Springs..... (1) They must control their nerves. None of their players have played in a game of this magnitude. (2) They MUST be able to run the football consistently. Running is how they move the football and it will shorten the game and keep Gaffney's offense off the field. (3) They CAN'T turn the ball over. (4) They can't have the stupid penalties that have plagued them at times this season.

Keys To The Game For Gaffney..... (1) DO NOT OVERLOOK THE BULLDOGS!! Come out focused on beating them. (2) Do not beat themselves with turnovers and penalties. (3) Do what Gaffney has done all season execute on offense and spread the ball around. (4) Take away the Bulldogs running game and make them have to beat you passing.

Game Prediction..... I look for this game to be a little closer than the Week 0 game. That game was over by halftime. I expect the Tribe to put the game away in the 2nd half..... Gaffney 42 Boiling Springs 14

TRIBE FACTS..... Joey Copeland needs 1 TD pass against Boiling Springs to break Kentrell Jones school record of 42 TD passes in a season. He tied it last week against Dorman.

You can check out my Boiling Springs @ Gaffney Recap on Monday due to the Thanksgiving Holiday.

Until Next Time.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM TRIBE BLITZ!!