STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME 2012 RECAP

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP RETURNS TO TITLE TOWN, SOUTH CAROLINA..... The Gaffney Indians got redemption Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium, as they got what eluded them last season their 17th State Football Championship. The Tribe jumped on top on their 3rd offensive play of the game and never looked back. The defense forced 4 turnovers in the 1st half which led the Indians to a 24 to 7 halftime lead. The Gaffney offense scored on TD runs of 50-yards and 19-yards by QB Shaq Davidson, a 31-yard field goal by Victor Ramirez and a 44-yard pass from Davidson to WR O'Bryant Davidson to build their commanding halftime lead. The Gaffney defense completely made the Dutch Fork passing game a non factor, as they intercepted QB Derek Olenchuk three times while putting constant pressure on him. Dutch Fork's leading pass receiver Jordan Berry, whom had 122 receptions on the season coming into the game, was a non factor in the game as well.

The 2nd half started with the Tribe having the ball and they had a fast start when RB Hyleck Foster ripped off his best run of the game a 44-yard gain to set up the offense deep in Dutch Fork territory. The drive would stall and Victor Ramirez came in to nail his second field goal of the game, a 21 yarder, to make the score 27 to 7. The Silver Foxes would not quit however, as they drove 60-yards in 8 plays to close the lead to 27 to 14 and appeared to take momentum in the game. On Gaffney's next possession their offense faced a 3rd and 13 from their 19-yard line only to have QB Shaq Davidson find WR Brandon Bevis over the middle for a 34-yard gain and a huge 1st down at the Dutch Fork 47-yard line. Not only was it a huge play to keep the Gaffney drive alive but, it was a huge momentum changing play that set up the final nail in the Dutch Fork coffin when three plays later Davidson hit WR Eddie Studyvance with a perfectly thrown 38-yard TD pass to give Gaffney a commanding 34 to 14 lead after the 3rd quarter. It also sucked the remaining life out of the Dutch Fork team. Gaffney did not have to score any more points, as they knew all they had to do now was play defense and not do anything stupid to let them back in the game. The Silver Foxes drove the ball 95-yards in 14 plays, mostly on the ground, to score another TD with 21 seconds left in the game. Then the huge crowd from Title Town, SC could start celebrating their Gaffney Indians winning their 17th State Football Championship! FINAL SCORE GAFFNEY 34  DUTCH FORK 22

My View From The Stands..... (1) I saw a huge and loud Gaffney crowd in Williams-Brice Stadium Saturday afternoon. We outnumbered the Columbia area Dutch Fork fans probably 3 to 1. (2) I thought it was really cool that Gaffney's injured player Gabe Posey was one of the co captains for the game. He broke his leg in the waning moments of the Byrnes game the week before. He was rolled out in his wheelchair. (3) It appeared that Dutch Fork was not going to let Hyleck Foster beat them, as they were keying on him all game. That led to QB Shaq Davidson having a monster game as, he passed 7 for 10 for 153 yards and 2 TD passes and he ran the ball 11 times for 105 yards and 2 TDs. (4) The Gaffney defense was ready for the Dutch Fork passing game. We had played the likes of Byrnes twice, Dorman, Boiling Springs and Northwestern during the season and it prepared them. (5) I saw DE Jaylin Miller have another big game an he came within 2 sacks of tying Jadeveon Clowney's state record of 29 sacks in a season. Miller finished with 27 sacks. (6) I SAW THE GAFFNEY INDIANS WIN THEIR STATE RECORD 17TH STATE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP!

TRIBE FACTS..... Gaffney Head Coach Dan Jones just completed his 3rd year as Head Coach of the Tribe. He has a 35 and 8 record, 2 consecutive Region Championships, a State Championship runner-up last season and a State Championship this season. Gaffney had not won back to back Region Championships since the 1980 and 1981 seasons.

This will be my last Tribe Blitz of 2012. I will be back in January of 2013 to look and see if Gaffney can repeat as 4A Basketball State Champions. IT SURE IS FUN BEING A GAFFNEY INDIANS FAN!

Until Next Time.

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME 2012 PREVIEW

BLACK FRIDAY FOR THE REBELS..... In the retail world Black Friday is a great thing but, it was a bad thing for the Byrnes Rebels last Friday, as the Tribe defeated the Rebels 21 to 19 to win the Upper State Championship. It was the second time that Gaffney had beaten Byrnes at The Reservation this season having defeated them 22 to 18 during the regular season.

The 1st half was a defensive battle, as both teams were held scoreless by the other teams defense. The Tribe did threaten to score a couple of times and missed a field goal. The 3rd quarter started with the Byrnes' defense holding Gaffney to a three and out. Byrnes got the ball in Gaffney territory and drove down and scored to go up 7 to 0. On Gaffney's next possession they were forced to punt and Byrnes blocked the punt and scooped upthe ball and scored another TD. With the Rebels up 13 to 0 midway in the 3rd quarter one of the key plays of the game for Gaffney occurred when Jaylin Miller blocked the extra point to keep the door open for Gaffney. The 3rd quarter ended with the Tribe behind 13 to 0. Early in the 4th Gaffney returned the favor by blocking a Byrnes punt giving them possession on the Rebels' 18-yard line. Hyleck Foster scored on the next play on an 18-yard run to cut the lead to 13 to 7. The Byrnes offense would get the ball back and lightning would strike again for Gaffney when O'Bryant Davidson intercepted a Shuler Bentley pass and returned it for a TD. The extra point by Victor Ramirez gave the Tribe their first lead of the game. The game had changed for the Tribe from a 13 to 0 deficit to a 14 to 13 lead in a span of 52 seconds. The Gaffney defense would force another punt and the Gaffney offense would drive 66-yards, all out of the Chop formation with Hyleck Foster getting chunks of yards and eventually scoring from 3-yards out to put Gaffney up 21 to 13. The Rebels would get the ball and drive down and score with 1 minute and 4 seconds left to cut the lead to 21 to 19. The Rebels needed a two point conversion to tie the game and send it to overtime but, Gaffney's O'Bryant Davidson deflected the pass and it fell incomplete. The Rebels would try the onside kick which was recovered by the Tribe and then Gaffney took two knees and they had survived to play in the State Championship game in Columbia on Saturday. FINAL SCORE GAFFNEY 21 BYRNES 19.

My View From The Stands..... (1) I witnessed probably the largest crowd at The New Reservation Friday night. (2) I saw the Indians overcome the adversity of being down 13 to 0 in the 4th quarter to beat Byrnes. Most teams would have folded their tent and went home with a loss. (3) I saw dominating performances from RB Hyleck Foster and DE Jaylin Miller. (4) I saw the Indians extend their home playoff winning streak to 41 in a row.

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME PREVIEW

Dutch Fork vs Gaffney..... Both of these teams are playing their best football of the season at the right time. Gaffney started the season 3 and 3 but, they have won 8 games in a row heading into the showdown for the 4A Division 1 State Championship. Dutch Fork started 2 and 3 and they have won 9 in a row heading into this game. Both Gaffney and Dutch Fork come into this game with 11 and 3 records. Dutch Fork has a very balanced offense, as they average over 200 yards a game passing and rushing. They are led on offense by QB Derek Olenchuk, WR Jordan Berry, RB Matt Colburn and RB Trey Greg. They run a multiple offense with a lot of looks and motion. They like to utilize the TE and sometimes two of them at once. The Silver Foxes' defense possesses a huge defensive front but, their defense has been their teams weakness at times this season, as they have given up the big play.

The Indians need to use their speed to get to the outside of their big but slow defensive front. They need to do what they do best run the football and run some more. They also need to get some plays from the passing game. Gaffney needs big games from RB Hyleck Foster, RB Jo Jo McGill and QB Shaq Davidson. The Indians also need another huge game from their defense. There is a large number of the Gaffney players that remember the disappointment of losing the State Championship to Byrnes last season. Their experience of playing in this game could be a major factor. Two things Gaffney can't do is turn the ball over, as that was what doomed them last year in this game. The other thing is they can't have the mindset that they won the State Championship last week by beating Byrnes. Dutch Fork is a good football team that is playing their best ball of the season and they are capable of winning the game.

Game Prediction..... I look for a very good football game. Dutch Fork is a very good team but, I have a hard time seeing Gaffney lose this game after they were able to beat Byrnes twice this season. Their experience and defense will be the difference..... Gaffney 35  Dutch Fork 24

TRIBE FACTS..... Gaffney is trying to win their 17th State Championship and Dutch Fork is playing in their 1st State Championship Game.

Until Next Time.

3RD ROUND PLAYOFFS 2012 PREVIEW

TRIBE OUT PHYSICALS KNIGHTS..... Gaffney used a strong physical defense and a strong physical running game to defeat the Stratford Knights 28 to 12 to advance to the Upper State Championship Game this Friday night at The Reservation. Jr. RB Hyleck Foster continued his strong running with 103 yards and two TDs. Jr. QB Shaq Davidson had a strong game with 92 yards rushing and 100 yards passing. The Gaffney defense was led by Sr. DE Jaylin Miller with 2 sacks and the defense also had 2 interceptions. The Tribe is where they wanted to be in the Upper State Championship Game and practicing on Thanksgiving. The Indians will face rival Byrnes for the second time this season.

My View From The Stands..... (1) There were not a lot of fans that made the trip up from Goose Creek in support of the Stratford team. (2) The Indians defense played very well against the highly recruited QB Jacob Park. They put a lot of pressure on him and held him to a bad completion percentage, as he went 15 for 44 in the game. (3) After a slow start the Gaffney running game took over the game in the second half, as they outscored Stratford 21 to 6.

3RD ROUND PLAYOFFS PREVIEW..... BYRNES @ GAFFNEY..... All we can say about this game is BRING IT ON! Two hated rivals, the two best programs in the state, a combined 27 State Championships, Gaffney with 16 and Byrnes with 11, and two rabid fan bases. It don't get any better than this in High School Football. Gaffney has won 3 of the last 4 games between these two rivals including a 22 to 18 victory at The Reservation about 6 weeks ago. The only game that Byrnes has won in the last 4 meetings was in the State Championship Game last December.

Keys To The Game For Byrnes.....  (1) Get off to a fast start. The Rebels feed off of a fast start and their fans feed off of it as well. (2) They must get more production from their running game. Can't be pass pass pass all the time. (3) Force some turnovers. In the State Championship Game last season turnovers were the difference in the game.

Keys To The Game For Gaffney..... (1) Keep the Rebels from getting off to a fast start. The Indians have done a good job of this in the previous 4 meetings. (2) Gaffney must make some plays in the passing game. The Rebels will be keying on the run. (3) Gaffney must win the turnover battle. (4) Put pressure on Byrnes QB Shuler Bentley. (5) Make Byrnes one dimensional. Don't let them get yards on the ground.

Game Prediction..... Something has to give in this game. It is hard to beat a very good team twice in one season. The Indians have won 40 home playoff games in a row. The last time Byrnes lost to a team twice in one season was to Gaffney back in 2006 and both of those games was in Gaffney as well..... Gaffney 24  Byrnes 21

Until Next Time.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM TRIBE BLITZ!!

2ND ROUND PLAYOFFS 2012 PREVIEW

INDIANS ADVANCE TO 2ND ROUND..... The Tribe let the 16th seed Ashley Ridge hang around longer than the home fans wanted but, they took care of business and defeated Ashley Ridge 35 to 17. The Tribe got another huge rushing night from Jr. RB Hyleck Foster as he ran for 300 yards and 3 TDs. It was the second time in the last three games that Foster has rushed for more than 300 yards. The Tribe also got a TD pass from Shaq Davidson to OB Davidson. The Gaffney defense was led by Jaylin Miller with 3 sacks and 4 QB hurries. It is on to the 2nd round of the playoffs, as the Indians host a very good Stratford team.

My View From The Stands..... (1) There were very few fans that drove up from the Summerville area to cheer on the Ashley Ridge team. (2) The Swamp Foxes won the time of possession battle by a wide margin. (3) The Tribe let Ashley Ridge hang around, as they only led 21 to 17 in the 3rd quarter after a turnover. (4) Sr. DE Jaylin Miller continued his strong season with three more sacks. He now has a school record 19 sacks on the season.

2ND ROUND PLAYOFFS PREVIEW..... STRATFORD @ GAFFNEY..... The Knights come into this game with a 10 and 2 record and the number 9 seed. They defeated Dorman at Dorman last week 28 to 17. They have scored 382 points for an average of 31.8 points per game. They are led on offense by a big physical offensive line and Sr. QB Jacob Park. He is a Division 1 college prospect with a big arm and very good scrambling ability. The Knights defense is led by their big, strong and physical defensive front. They held a good Dorman running game to 44 yards last week. The Knights are 4 and 2 on the road and they have to travel to the upstate for the second week in a row.

The Tribe comes into this game at 9 and 3 and riding a 6 game winning streak. They are the number 1 seed in the playoffs. They have scored 367 points for an average of 30.6 per game. During the six game winning streak since inserting Shaq Davidson at QB they have averaged 39.3 points per game. The Indians' defense has given up 223 points for an average of 18.6 per game.

The match ups to watch in this game is the strong rushing defense of Stratford against the strong running game of Gaffney. The other match up is Gaffney's pass rush against the Knights QB Jacob Park. Gaffney must pass the ball better this week as well.

Game Prediction..... These teams have had some very good battles over the years and this one should be another one. Turnovers and penalties will be a key to victory in this game. I see the home playoffs winning streak to continue for the Tribe..... Gaffney 21  Stratford 14

Until Next Time.

1ST ROUND PLAYOFFS PREVIEW 2012

INDIANS WRAP UP THE REGION 2 CHAMPIONSHIP..... The Tribe got off to a slow start last Friday night against old rival Spartanburg. A couple of interceptions by the offense, including a pick six, had them trailing the Vikings 12 to 7 four minutes into the second quarter. Up until then Gaffney's only score came on a 99-yard kickoff return by Cobby McDowell. With about eight minutes left in the 1st half RB Hyleck Foster scored on a long run from the Chop Formation to put the Tribe up for good 14 to 12. They finished the half very strong with two more TDs to lead 28 to 12. The second half was more dominating defense by the Tribe, as they added one more TD to win going away 35 to 18. Hyleck Foster followed up his 302 yard 5 TD performance with another strong game with 158 yards and 3 more TDs. The Gaffney defense was strong all night holding Spartanburg to 179 total yards.

 My View From The Stands..... (1)The first thing I saw Friday night was the lack of fans that came over from Spartanburg to follow the Vikings. It is a little sad to see how this once great program has fallen over the last ten years. (2) The Indians came out a little flat and making mistakes early but, the light finally came on in the 2nd quarter. (3) The Indians are going to have to cut down on their penalties and turnovers during the playoffs. They had 13 penalties Friday night and had a TD called back. (4) The defense continues to be very good and they will have to keep it up through the playoffs.

1st Round Playoffs Preview..... Ashley Ridge @ Gaffney..... The Swamp Foxes come into this game 4 and 7 and the number 16 seed in the 4A Division 1 Playoffs. They are a very young program, as they have only been around since 2008. Longtime Spartanburg Head Coach Doc Davis started the program and was their coach for two seasons before retirement. Ashley Ridge made a run in the 4A Division 2 Playoffs last season losing in the semifinals to Greenwood. They are led by Shrine Bowl RB Romelo Doctor whom is strong and fast. He had 230 yards and 5 TDs in their win over Fort Dorchester last week in a game that they had to win to get into the playoffs. Their other main offensive weapons are QB Jacob Thompson and WR Vernon Moree. They can score points but, they give up points as well. Their offense also shows you a lot of misdirection. They're running game will be a test for the Gaffney defense.

The Indians need to come out focused and ready to play. A lot of these early round match ups lack in emotion for the heavily favored team. Gaffney is not good enough just to show up and go through the motions, just remember six weeks ago against Wade Hampton. When Gaffney comes out focused and ready to play they can beat anyone, just remember Byrnes a few weeks back.

Game Prediction..... I see the Tribe coming into this game with momentum and taking care of business. They leave this game with even more momentum. The Tribe wins..... Gaffney 35  Ashley Ridge 10

TRIBE FACTS..... The Gaffney Indians have not lost a home playoff game since 1984. They have won 38 straight with the last team to beat them at home in the playoffs being Orangeburg-Wilkinson in 1984 by a score of 12 to 8.

Until Next Time.

SPARTANBURG @ GAFFNEY 2012 PREVIEW

TRIBE TAKES CARE OF BUSINESS AT THE DOG POUND..... The Tribe used a powerful ground game to pound the Boiling Springs Bulldogs 48 to 35. The Indians rushed for 444 yards with 302 yards and five TDs coming from Jr Hyleck Foster. The Indians also got a TD pass from QB Shaq Davidson to Eddie Studyvance. The Indians improve to 7 and 3 overall and 5 and 1 in the region and they will host rival Spartanburg with a chance to win the Region 2 4A Championship Friday night.

My View From The Stands..... (1) I was thinking during the game Friday night just how amazing it is to see the improvement this team has made since the loss to Wade Hampton. A few lineup changes and a change in attitude has made a huge difference. (2) The score was closer than the game was on the field. Three Gaffney turnovers and a boat load of penalties, that kept Bulldog drives going, kept the Dogs in the game. The Tribe dominated the total yardage stat. (3) The Tribe did what they needed to do, take care of business and win the game to set up a chance to win the region this week at The Reservation against Spartanburg.

Spartanburg @ Gaffney Preview..... The Spartanburg Vikings come into this game at 4 and 6 overall and 3 and 3 in the region. The Indians come into this game 7 and 3 overall and 5 and 1 in the region. The odd thing about this game is both of these storied programs lost to Wade Hampton this season. The Vikings lost a couple of weeks ago 7 to 6 and Gaffney lost five weeks ago 17 to 10. The Vikings have been an up and down team all season and the key to their success in this game is which Spartanburg team shows up.

The Indians come into this game on a roll, as they have not lost since losing to Wade Hampton and are riding a four game winning streak. They have found their identity as a team that must win with strong defense and a strong running game. They have to let their offensive play makers make plays. The Indians can win the Region 2 4A Championship with a win over the Vikings.

Game Prediction..... I see the Indians continuing their roll toward the playoffs. They will have a battle for awhile but, will pull away in the 4th quarter to claim the Region 2 4A Championship..... Gaffney 31  Spartanburg 14

TRIBE FACTS..... Gaffney is trying to win their second Region Championship in a row and their third since 2006.

Until Next Time.

GAFFNEY @ BOILING SPRINGS 2012 PREVIEW

INDIANS TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS AGAINST RIVERSIDE..... The Tribe scored early and often against the Riverside Warriors last Friday night. They led 28 to 0 after the 1st quarter and 49 to 0 at the half. The offense scored five TDs in the first half and the defense scored two on two fumble returns. Shaq Davidson threw 3 TD passes and he ran for 2 TDs to lead the offense. Head Coach Dan Jones called off the dogs after halftime, as all starters took the second half off. It was a very fast second half, as it was played with a running clock. The Tribe did add one more score on a 64-yard punt return by JoJo McGill to make the final score 56 to 0. Gaffney out gained Riverside 318 to 67 for the game.

My View From The Stands..... (1) The football field at Riverside had a bad crown and the goal posts were leaning toward the field. You can tell that they don't take football to serious. (2) The Tribe did what they had to do, come into the game and get off to a good start and put the game away early. (3) It was good to see early season starter at QB Luke Lancaster catch an 11-yard TD pass in the second quarter. (4) This was the first game that I had been to that the second half was played with a running clock.

GAFFNEY @ BOILING SPRINGS PREVIEW..... The Bulldogs and Indians played twice last season. They opened the season together with the Tribe winning big and they also played in the 4A Division 1 Upperstate Championship Game also won big by the Tribe. Both games were played at The Reservation. The Bulldogs always play hard against the Indians especially at home. The last time Gaffney played at Boiling Springs the Indians jumped to a 21 to 0 lead only to see the Bulldogs rally in the 4th quarter to get back in the game. It took a goal line stand at the Gaffney one yard line on the games final play to preserve the Indians' 21 to 14 victory.

Boiling Springs comes into this game with a 5 and 4 record overall and 2 and 3 in region play. They could very easily be 7 and 2 and 4 and 1 in region play because they lost two heart breakers the past two weeks. They lost a 3 point game in overtime to Spartanburg two weeks ago and a 3 point game to Dorman last week in a game that they had the lead in the 4th quarter.

The Tribe comes into this game on a roll, as they have won three in a row since their loss at Wade Hampton. They have a 6 and 3 overall record and 4 and 1 region record. The Tribe owns victories over both Dorman and Byrnes and they control their own destiny to winning the Region 2 4A Championship. They win this week at Boiling Springs and next week at home against Spartanburg and they win the region. They own the tiebreakers over Dorman and Byrnes. The Tribe's offense continues to get better each week since the insertion of Shaq Davidson at QB. The Tribe's defense has played well in all but two games and has been very dominant at times.

Game Prediction..... I look for a tough hard fought game between these two teams. The Bulldogs are playing to get a playoff birth and Gaffney is playing to have a chance to win the Region 2 4A Championship. It should be a 4th quarter game and I see the Indians making enough plays to win the game..... Gaffney 24  Boiling Springs 20

Until Next Time.

GAFFNEY @ RIVERSIDE 2012 PREVIEW

STUNNER AT THE RESERVATION..... The Gaffney Indians, left for dead just three weeks ago after an embarrassing loss to a bad Wade Hampton team, pulled off a stunner Friday night at the Reservation by defeating the nation's 3rd ranked team the Byrnes Rebels 22 to 18. The Tribe got an outstanding defensive performance with 8 sacks of Rebels' QB Shuler Bentley and they also had several hurries and knock downs as well. The defense also intercepted the Jr. signal caller twice. They were very disruptive in knocking off the timing of the Byrnes offense. The Gaffney offense got another strong rushing performance from their offense with 221 yards and three rushing TDs. QB Shaq Davidson had another strong game with 155 yards rushing and 1 TD run which came on an electrifying 47-yard run in the 4th quarter. Davidson was also able to keep plays alive with his elusiveness all night and he was able to pass for 116 yards on 12 of 21 passing attempts. RB Hyleck Foster had a very good game also with 63 yards rushing and 2 TD's including the game winning score with 44-seconds left in the ball game. Foster also ended the game with an interception of an overthrown pass while playing deep safety in the Indians late game prevent defense.

My View From The Stands..... (1) The Reservation was rocking Friday night. (2) The Gaffney team, especially the offense, is playing with more passion and confidence since the change at QB. The threat of the athletic Shaq Davidson at QB has really opened up the rushing game for Gaffney. (3) The short yardage "Chop" formation the Indians use has really started  to pay dividends, as they scored two TDs with it Friday night. (4) The Rebels had no answer for the Gaffney defense or QB Shaq Davidson on Friday night. (5) The Indians now control their own destiny for winning the Region 2 4A Championship. They win out and they are the champs, as they hold the tiebreaker with Dorman and Byrnes.

GAFFNEY @ RIVERSIDE PREVIEW..... The Riverside Warriors come into this game with a record of 1 and 7 and struggling big time. They run an option offense and a 4-2-5 set on defense. Their big problem this season has been turnovers. They average four a game. One positive I can say about them is they play hard even though they don't have the talent to compete day in and day out in 4 A football.

The Tribe comes into this game with a record of 5 and 3 and 3 and 1 in region play. They control their destiny for winning the region championship. They have turned their season around when people were saying three weeks ago that they might not even make the playoffs. I know that after a huge win like they had Friday night there is always a chance for an emotional let down. The Tribe has been through this already this season. After their big win over 6th ranked Dorman they were not emotionally ready to play at Wade Hampton and they were upset 17 to 10. I know the coaches have talked to the kids about this but, as we know 15, 16 and 17 year old kids tend to not listen. I do expect a let down but, what I also expect is for the Tribe to take care of business and come out of this game with a win.

Game Prediction..... I really expect the Indians to come out and play well and take care of business this week. They are playing with a chance to reach their goal of winning the region. Since they fell flat against Wade Hampton they will get it done this time..... Gaffney 42  Riverside 0

TRIBE FACTS..... Friday night was not the first time a Nationally 3rd ranked Byrnes team came to Gaffney and left with a loss. At the old Reservation in 2004 a Willy Corn led Byrnes team came in with the lofty ranking only to go home with a loss. The same thing happened in 2006 as well. This was the biggest win for Gaffney at The New Reservation.

Until Next Time.

BYRNES @ GAFFNEY 2012 PREVIEW

INDIANS BOUNCE BACK WITH ROUT OF MAVERICKS..... The Indians made some changes and so far so good with the results. The Tribe used a dominating ground game, as they rushed for 361 yards to rout the Mauldin Mavericks 40 to 7. Shaq Davidson started at QB and rushed for 122 yards and 1 TD and RB Hyleck Foster rushed for 181 yards and 4 TDs. The Tribe only attempted 7 passes and completed 2 for 35 yards for the game. The Gaffney defense was on their game holding the potent Mauldin offense to 195 yards and a late TD, which came against the subs.

My View From The Stands..... (1) I saw Gaffney come out and take care of business and get an easy homecoming victory. (2) They actually looked like they were excited to be playing. There have been games this season when that was not the case. (3) I saw an offense that was sparked by the QB change and an offensive line that played much better as well. (4) The QB position is definitely more athletic with Davidson at QB. I expect as he gets better at QB the offense will get better as we head down the stretch toward the playoffs.

BYRNES @ GAFFNEY PREVIEW.....  As we all know, these two teams and their fans don't like each other. There is respect but, no love lost. The Indians have won two of the last three games between the two rivals. The two teams split games last season with Gaffney winning in Duncan during the regular season 35 to 13 on their way to a 14 and 0 record and number 2 National ranking. Then the Tribe had to play the Rebels in the State Championship Game back in December. On that heartbreaking day in Clemson's Death Valley, the Tribe out gained the Rebels almost 2 to 1 but, four costly turnovers, two returned for TDs by the Byrnes defense, proved costly, as the Rebels upset the unbeaten Indians 31 to 24. 

The Byrnes Rebels come into this game unbeaten at 7 and 0 and ranked as high as Number 3 in the nation. The Rebels haven't lost since Gaffney beat them during the regular season last year. They are led by QB Shuler Bentley and WR Akia Booker. They have their same explosive big play offense with numerous play makers. They rely on the passing game the most. The Rebels defense has gotten better as the season has moved along. They are pretty good but, they appear to not be as big and fast as they were last season.

The Tribe comes into this game 4 and 3 and they have had an up and down season. The upside was a big win over Dorman three weeks ago and the down side was the shocking loss at Wade Hampton two weeks ago. Intensity should not be a problem for the Indians this week. The offense needs to move the football and score some points and the defense needs an even better performance that the Dorman game. The Gaffney offense can not turn the football over and the defense needs to force some turnovers for Gaffney to win. The Tribe will need to get some production from their passing game this week, as running only will not get it done against Byrnes.

Game Prediction..... I really expect the Indians to play an inspired good football game. The defense can keep them in the game. An upset would not be shocking but, unlikely. The Indians won't have enough offense to score enough points to win..... Byrnes 28  Gaffney 14

TRIBE FACTS..... This time last season the Indians were ranked Number 3 in the Nation. The Rebels are this season.

Until Next Time.

MAULDIN @ GAFFNEY 2012 PREVIEW

I want to apologize to my Tribe Blitz followers whom I like to call Tribe Blitzers for not having a Gaffney @ Wade Hampton Preview last week. I had computer issues and could not publish the blog. Since the game was such an embarrassing debacle I am going to move on to a brief recap of the game and preview the Mauldin @ Gaffney game this week.

Gaffney @ Wade Hampton 2012 Recap..... I am going to be short and and to the point. GAFFNEY HAD AN INEXCUSABLE LOSS TO AN INFERIOR FOOTBALL TEAM IN WADE HAMPTON LAST FRIDAY NIGHT!! THEY LOST 17 TO 10!! IT WAS EMBARRASSING, UNCALLED FOR AND SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED!!

My View From The Stands..... (1) The Indians were not ready to play emotionally and it showed big time. I blame the players and the coaches for this. (2) It was the worst play calling I HAVE EVER SEEN!! (3) The coaches need to get off of their arrogant high horses and make some changes to shake things up! You don't have to be a rocket scientist to see WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS NOT WORKING!!! (4) The coaches and the players think they can win based on how they played last season AND THEY CAN'T! THIS IS NOT LAST YEARS TEAM!! (5) I still think this team has enough talent to be a pretty good team but, they have to start being held accountable if they are not getting the job done. (6) The players and coaches need to start remembering the Pride and Tradition that is Gaffney Indians football.

Mauldin @ Gaffney Preview..... The Mauldin Mavericks and the Gaffney Indians both come into this game with 3 and 3 overall records. They both come in with 1 and 1 records in Region 2 4A. The Mavericks have beaten Wade Hampton 64 to 37 and lost to Dorman 49 to 14. Gaffney has beaten Dorman 14 to 0 and lost to Wade Hampton 17 to 10.

The Mauldin offense has scored more points than any other team in Region 2 4A this season. They have scored 241 points for an average of 40.2 per game. They are led by their elusive and athletic QB Dre Massey. He can beat you with his legs as well as his arm. He will remind Gaffney fans of former Shrine Bowl QB DeEdward Burris who starred in Gaffney.

The Mauldin defense has had its problems stopping opposing offenses this season. They run a 4-2-5 defense that is very similar to Gaffney's.

It should be an interesting game for the Indians. We are looking for some line up changes with Shaq Davidson playing more at QB and some changes on the offensive line as well. We will probably see Hyleck Foster and Jo Jo McGill in the game together more often too. We might even see Sr. DBs Cobby McDowell  and OB Davidson some at WR. We might even see QB Luke Lancaster playing some at WR. The Indians not only have to deal with these personnel changes but, with the distractions of homecoming as well.

I think it is long over due for some changes by the Indians but, you know what they say, " It's better late than never".

The Tribe's defense needs to play inspired football and they must contain Mauldin QB Dre Massey in order to win this ball game. He went off two weeks ago against Wade Hampton and the Mavericks scored 64 on the same Generals defense that Gaffney struggled against last Friday night.

Game Prediction..... At times Gaffney struggles to focus on playing football on homecoming. They must focus Friday night because of the way they are playing right now. They are no gimme wins for Gaffney this year. They should be excited to start the game and they need to maintain it for the whole ball game because Mauldin would like nothing better than to come into The Reservation and beat the Indians on homecoming. I see the Indians bouncing back and getting a hard earned win..... Gaffney 28  Mauldin 20 

TRIBE FACTS..... Gaffney is 4 and 0 all time against the Mauldin Mavericks.

Until Next Time.

DORMAN @ GAFFNEY 2012 PREVIEW

The Tribe went into their Open Date with a disappointing 2 and 2 record. Hopefully they have fixed their problems and will actually look like a football team this week against Dorman. Let’s look at this match-up of Region 2 4A rivals as they meet at The Reservation in the first Region game of the 2012 season.

Dorman @ Gaffney

The Cavaliers come into this game with a 3 and 1 record. They had a very convincing win over Dutch Fork last week. They are led on offense by QB Trey Robinson. He is completing 77% of his passes this season and he is a very good runner. The Cavaliers have a very strong running game and a much better passing game than last year.

The Dorman defense runs a 3-4 scheme and are very fast and aggressive. They have the ability to put pressure on the QB and they force turnovers. 

The Tribe has worked very hard during their open date making adjustments from a technical standpoint. They have worked on correcting their mistakes in execution. They probably will not have many personel changes.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR….. I look for the Indians to play much better this week and I expect a capacity crowd at The Reservation Friday night.

Game Prediction….. The Cavaliers come in on a roll and the Indians come in with a lot of questions. I look for a better performance by the Tribe but, I look for them to come up short….. Dorman 24  Gaffney 21

Until Next Time.

YORK @ GAFFNEY 2012 REVIEW

INDIANS FALL HARD AGAIN!!

The Tribe fell to 0 and 2 at The Reservation this season falling to York 34 to 19. Penalties, turnovers, missed opportunities and a lack of execution doomed Gaffney Friday night. The Game was tied at 13 to 13 at the half only to have the Tribe to draw first blood in the 3rd quarter to go up 19 to 13. It should have been a sign of things to come, as they missed the PAT. Things went down hill from there for the Indians, as York out scored them 21 to 0 the rest of the way to leave Cherokee County with a big win over the Tribe and an unbeaten record. Gaffney falls to 2 and 2 on the season as they go into their open date.

My View From The Stands..... (1) I saw a very good effort from the Gaffney team Friday night but, they are still making way to many mistakes and they are not executing on offense. (2) I saw an offense still looking for an identity and a young defensive secondary struggling to make plays. (3) I saw a dominating performance from the Gaffney defensive front seven, as they forced five turnovers and had eight sacks. It was another dominant performance from Jaylin Miller with 4 sacks and several QB hurries. (4) I saw a Gaffney passing game that continues to struggle. It was their worst game of the season so far. QB Luke Lancaster went 9 for 28 for 147 yards and 2 INTs with 1 TD pass. I also saw receivers dropping passes, the QB not seeing open receivers and receivers running bad routes. (5) I saw Gaffney trying to be a running football team out of a shotgun spread offense. IT IS NOT GOING TO WORK!! To be a good running team out of the spread you have to have a threat of a passing game. WE DON'T HAVE THAT RIGHT NOW!!

WHAT SHOULD GAFFNEY DO NEXT?

The team, coaches and fans can't panic and give up on the season. They're is still time to fix it and get better. I think the players and coaches need to be held accountable for what they are not doing. Instead of talking about fixing the problems DO IT! I also think they need to try someone else at QB. I think Luke Lancaster has the talent to be a good High School QB but, he needs to sit and watch and try to learn from his mistakes. The coaches need to coach better as well. Hopefully we will see a better product on the field next Friday night against Dorman.

GAFFNEY HAS OPEN DATE

Since the Indians opened the season in week 0 they have an open date this Friday night. In my opinion the open date has come at a good time so they can try to find some answers and regroup to get ready for the start of Region 2 4A play next week against Dorman at The Reservation.

Until Next Time.

YORK @ GAFFNEY WEEK 3 PREVIEW

INDIANS WIN A THRILLER IN UNION!! The Tribe won a game in the closing seconds for the first time in a while, as they escaped Union with a 28 to 21 victory over the Union County Yellow Jackets. The Tribe led 21 to 7 with about a minute and a half left in the game when Union County scored but, had their extra point blocked by Jaylin Miller and trailed 21 to 13. Union County would then recover the onsides kick and then score again in three plays and then got the two point conversion to tie the game at 21 to 21. The Tribe got a good kick off return from Hyleck Foster out to the Gaffney 44 yard line. With less than a minute left the Tribe went to work. After a running play, QB Luke Lancaster threw his best pass of the night when he connected with Eddie Studyvance in stride for a nice gain down to the Union County 21-yard line. After a short gain on a pass to Shaq Davidson, reserve RB JoJo McGill took a hand off which was suppose to go to the left to put the ball in the middle of the field to set up a possible game winning field goal but, he cut back to the right and got a great block from WR Bryce Spurlin and went in untouched for the game winning TD with 3 seconds left. The Tribe won a thriller 28 to 21 over Union County.

My View From The Stands..... (1) Gaffney DE Jaylin Miller had a dominating game against the Jackets. He had several tackles, batted down 6 passes, had 1 sack and blocked a PAT. (2) It was good to see life pumped back into the Union County program from new Head Coach Steve Tanneyhill. (3) I saw a tremendous game from Gaffney's reserve RB JoJo McGill, as he had 150 yards rushing and 2 TDs including the game winner with 3 seconds left. (4) I saw the best atmosphere for a Gaffney and Union game since the consolidation of the Union County schools.

YORK @ GAFFNEY PREVIEW

The York Cougars come into The Reservation unbeaten and confident and looking to knock off the Tribe. York has a new offensive coordinator whom has installed the spread offense that is very similar to Gaffney's. They are led on offense by their QB Spencer Carroll their coach's son. He has been starting since the 9th grade.

The Cougars strength is their strong and aggressive defense. They are experienced with 10 seniors starting. They play an aggressive 3-4 defense that thrives on forcing turnovers. They ran two INTs back for TDs last week against Boiling Springs and had another that they ran back deep into Bulldogs territory to set up another score.

The Indians need to continue to improve on offense and try to get the ball into their play makers hands. Try to get Foster and McGill on the field at the same time. Luke Lancaster needs to spread the ball around manage the game and not turn it over.

The Gaffney defense has looked better the past two weeks. They need to get even better and try to play with more intensity. They need another big game from Jaylin Miller and the others on the defensive front. Put pressure on Spencer Carroll and force some turnovers. Gaffney needs to improve on their kicking game.

Game Prediction..... I see the Cougars giving the Tribe all they want. The Reservation home crowd will be a factor and I see the Tribe getting the win..... Gaffney 24  York 17

Until Next Time.

GAFFNEY @ UNION COUNTY WEEK 2 PREVIEW

Gaffney @ Clinton Week 1 Recap..... The Tribe got a character building bounce back victory last Friday night against the Clinton Red Devils at Wilder Stadium in Clinton. The Tribe unleashed a very balanced offense rushing for 249 yards and three TDs and passing for 255 yards and three TDs. They used their 504 yards of total offense and strong defensive play to defeat the home standing Red Devils 41 to 7. Tribe QB Luke Lancaster passed 23 of 32 for 255 yards and 3 TDs two to Bryce Spurlin and one to Shaq Davidson. The Tribe also got a 15 carries 138 yards and one TD rushing performance from RB Hyleck Foster. The Gaffney offense had 29 first downs for the game.

The Gaffney defense was very impressive allowing only 211 yards and 7 points to the Clinton offense. They only allowed 11 first downs and picked off two passes.

My View From The Stands..... (1) It was my first trip to Clinton to see a football game. I thought Wilder Stadium was a pretty good facility. (2) I saw a Gaffney football team come out and play with more intensity and they executed much better than the previous week. They still have a way to go to get where they want to be in December. (3) I saw a rising star in the making in Soph DB Jaylin Sims, as he picked off a pass and made an amazing 99-yard return for a TD only to have it brought back out to the Clinton 30-yard line because of a penalty. Sims also had two punt returns for 85 yards.

Gaffney @ Union County Preview..... The excitement of the Gaffney and Union rivalry has been on life support the last ten years. It has been one sided in favor of Gaffney. The last seven meetings have all been routs in favor of Gaffney by an average score of 41 to7. Enter new Union County Head Coach Steve Tanneyhill who has energized the Union County community and has pumped new excitement into the Gaffney and Union County rivalry. The Tanneyhill led Yellow jackets already have an upset under their belts this season, as they beat Spartanburg last week.

The Union offense is led by SR. QB Keiston Smith who carved up the Spartanburg defense last week completing 21of 27 passes for 343 yards. They also have a lotof speed at the skill positions. The Jackets also showed they can run the football, as they rushed for 145 yards against the Vikings. You also have to look for the trick play from Tanneyhill, as he called a fake extra point, an onside kick and a fake punt last week.

The Union defense has depth on the defensive line but, they do have some questions on this side of the ball. They gave up 33 points to a Spartanburg offense that isn't that explosive.

The Gaffney offense looked a lot better last week against Clinton. They racked up 41 points and 504 yards total offense. They got big games from RB Hyleck Foster, QB Luke Lancaster, WR Bryce Spurlin and WR Shaq Davidson. The Tribe will need to improve even more this week because they will need to score some points against the Jackets.

The Gaffney defense played with more intensity, was more physical and tackled better last week. They will be tested this week and they will need to step it up another couple of notches.

Game Prediction..... I see this as a very exciting football game with the potential for a lot of points to be scored. The Yellow jackets will be fired up and the Indians must match their intensity. I think the difference will be the Gaffney defense..... Gaffney 35  Union County 21

TRIBE FACTS..... The last time Gaffney lost to Union was 2002 which was Joe Montgomery's last season as Gaffney's Head Coach. The score was 41 to 20.

Until Next Time.

GAFFNEY @ CLINTON WEEK 1 2012 PREVIEW

NORTHWESTERN @ GAFFNEY WEEK 0 RECAP..... What an embarrassing and disappointing opening to the 2012 football season for the Gaffney Indians. The Northwestern Trojans came into The Reservation and pounded the Tribe 49 to 19. They jumped out to a 28 to 7 lead at the half and never looked back. The Trojans avenged their 49 to 20 loss to Gaffney last season. Northwestern starts their season with a statement and the Tribe starts their season with questions of WHAT HAPPENED? The Tribe opens their season 0 and 1 for the first time since 2009.

My View From The Stands.....(1) What I saw last Friday night was a Gaffney team that WAS NOT READY TO PLAY EMOTIONALLY when they came on the field to start the game. The coaches didn't seam to be ready and neither did the fans! I believe the players were caught up in what the team did last season and they had the BIG HEAD and felt like all they had to do was show up and win. They took Northwestern lightly. (2) What I also saw was a team that appeared to be OUT OF SHAPE WITH THEIR CONDITIONING with all the players that had to be helped off the field with cramps. (3) I saw an offense that didn't execute and a defense that could not tackle. The special teams were even worse, as they gave up a long kickoff return to set up one TD, gave up another kickoff return for another TD, a 6-yard punt that set up another TD and we missed two PAT's. (4) There was no school on Friday so who knows what the players did that day. One thing was obvious, they did not get themselves ready to play a football game on Friday night. This is not acceptable anywhere especially in Gaffney. When you play football in Gaffney you have a responsibility to be ready to play football and give it your all.

GAFFNEY @ CLINTON PREVIEW..... Gaffney and Clinton are pride and tradition rich football towns. Both have numerous State Championships. They have not met on the football field since 1959. The Indians lead the all time series 3-1-1.

The Red Devils were State 3A Champs a couple of seasons ago but, they had a down year last season with a 4 and 7 record. They were a better football team than their record showed, as they lost all seven games by seven points or less. They are a football team that likes the power running game, as they probably run it about 85% of the time. They lull you to sleep and then they like to hit you with a big play with play action. They have a big and physical offensive line. Defensively they run a 4-2-5 which is very similar to Gaffney. They are a very disciplined defense that will fly around to the football. Two of their players play both sides of the ball.

The Indians need to learn from what they didn't do right last week and then put it behind them and not let it happen again. They had some bright spots last week, as WR Eddie Studyvance made an impact on offense and QB Luke Lancaster played well at times. They need to execute better on offense this week and get the ball to Shaq Davidson to help him get his confidence back.

The Gaffney defense needs to tackle better and play with more intensity. They need to force some turnovers and stop the run to force Clinton to pass.

Keys To The Game For Clinton.....(1) Establish their running game to take time off the clock. (2) Hit a couple of big plays in the passing game. (3) Force some turnovers.

Keys To The Game For Gaffney..... (1) The big key for Gaffney is to come out with intensity to play football. They need to be emotionally ready to play. (2) Execute on offense and get an early lead. (3) Hit some big plays on offense.

Game Prediction..... I really do expect the Indians to come out with a better effort this week. I look for them to execute better and tackle better. If they do these things they will take care of business and come back down I-26 with a win..... Gaffney 34  Clinton 14

Until Next Time.

NORTHWESTERN @ GAFFNEY WEEK 0 2012 PREVIEW

Tribe Blitz is back after a few months hiatus and it is time for SOME GAFFNEY INDIANS FOOTBALL! The Tribe had a great season in 2011 going 14 and 1 but, it ended in disappointment losing the State Title Game to Byrnes back in December. Some of the hurt from losing the Title Game to Byrnes went away when the Gaffney basketball team won the 2012 4A State Championship back in March. There will always be disappointment about the way the 2011 season ended but, we have to put it behind us and try to finish the job this season. We are hungry for Gaffney's 17th State Football Championship. It is finally football time again and the Tribe opens their 2012 football season Week 0 at The Reservation against Northwestern. Let's look at this match-up.

Northwestern @ Gaffney..... The Trojans and Indians were Region 3 rivals the last few seasons and they usually found themselves playing for the Region Championship. This season finds these two old rivals playing Week 0 as non region opponents. The Trojans, to their standard, had a disappointing record of 8 and 5 last season and they lost to the Tribe big at The Reservation.

The Trojans are led by Jr. QB Mason Rudolph and they have a group of athletic receivers in Mustaffa Love, Dupree Hart, Ahmad Dewese and Torrie Adams. They like to throw the ball all over the yard. The Trojans have a new defensive coordinator and will run a 3-3-5 defense and will probably blitz more than they have in the past.

The Tribe will be trying to replace the offensive firepower they lost with the graduation of QB Joey Copeland, Quinshad Davis and C. J. Miller. They will be starting a new QB in Jr. Luke Lancaster and they have a number of play makers back in RB Hyleck Foster, WR Shaq Davidson, WR Brandon Bevis, WR Bryce Spurlin and a new offensive weapon Eddie Studyvance. The Tribe will probably run the ball more this season and try to be more balanced. The Gaffney defense has the potential to be very dominant again this season. They have one of the best D-lines in the state. The line consist of DE Jaylin Miller, DE Rod Ogelsby, DT Ty Byars and DT Russell Hughes. The LB's are strong and led by Quan Weeks and Reco Smith. Sr. CB Cobby McDowell anchors the secondary. This has the potential of being a great game.

Game Prediction..... Both of these teams need to win this game for different reasons. Northwestern needs it to make a statement that last season was a fluke and they are back among the state's elite teams. Gaffney needs this game to help put the disappointment of the State Title game behind them for the players, coaches and fans. I see this as a very good early season showdown and the team that makes the fewest mistakes will win. I see..... Gaffney 27  Northwestern 20

I will be posting a New Tribe Blitz every Friday morning at 10 AM throughout football season and a few others periodically through the season. I hope you enjoy and find them informative.

Until Next Time.

BASEBALL UPDATE NUMBER 2 (2012)

Tribe Slumping Down The Stretch..... as they have dropped 5 of 6 games to fall to 8 and 8 overall and 5 and 3 in Region 3 4A. This bad streak started when they lost a heart breaker at home to Region 3 leader Northwestern and continued through the Southeastern Baseball Classic in Hartsville, South Carolina where they lost 3 of 4 games. The Tribe limped home from their disappointing performance in Hartsville to host rival and State Runner-up Byrnes on Monday. The Rebels had their way with the Indians, winning 18 to 8.

What Is The Problem?..... The pitchers throwing strikes has been a big problem. The pitching staff only gave up eleven hits in the four games at the Southeastern Baseball Classic but, they lost 3 of 4. Their inability to win the close game has also been a problem. They are finding ways to loose games instead of finding ways to win them. They just didn't play well in the game against Byrnes.

Can They Salvage Their Season?..... They stand at 8 and 8 overall and 5 and 3 in Region 3 but, they still control their own destiny and can finish second in Region 3 4A with wins in their two remaining region games this week against Rock Hill on Tuesday and Spartanburg on Friday. Both games are at home at Commissioner's Field. If they split the two remaining games they will need some help to finish second.

My View From The Stands.....(1) I really expected this Gaffney team to win more games this season. They have a lot of talent. They just haven't gelled as a team. Ace pitcher Micheal Wright has not had the senior season on the mound that most people expected. They have lacked the ace pitcher to win the big game when they had to have it. (2) I do expect them to win their two remaining games this week and finish in second place in the Region 3 standings. (3) They can win a game or two in the playoffs but, I see their playoff run ending sooner rather than later.

Until Next Time.

BASEBALL UPDATE NUMBER 1 (2012)

The Gaffney Indians are off to a pretty good start to the 2012 baseball season. They currently have a record of 6 and 3 overall and 4 and 2 in Region 3 4A. They have beaten Boiling Springs and Dorman in non-region play and they also fell to Dorman as well.

The Tribe is currently sitting in second place in Region 3 4A with a 4 and 2 region record. They have beaten Spartanburg, Lancaster, and Clover twice in region play. Their region losses have been to Lancaster and Region 3 4A's first place team Northwestern.

The Tribe has had a pretty good week thus far this week with an 8 to 3 win over Dorman and a 9 to 3 region win over Lancaster. Both of these wins avenged losses earlier this season to the Cavaliers and Bruins. The Indians travel to Rock Hill to face the Rock Hill Bearcats, for the first time this season, on Friday March 30th. This is a region game that the Tribe needs to win to stay in contention for the Region Championship.

Standout Players So Far This Season..... have been Josh Tate on the mound, as he has a couple of wins. He has been a pleasant surprise this season. Micheal Wright of course, he is just now getting into pitching shape and will become the ace that everyone expects down the stretch heading toward the playoffs. He has already been a standout hitter for the Tribe getting key hit after key hit. Josh Mata has had a very good start to the season both handling the pitching staff and swinging the bat. Jaylin Miller, Bryce Spurlin, Ryan Frock and Clay McKowen have also swung the bat well for the Tribe in the early part of the season. Sophomore Luke Lancaster pitched a great ballgame against Dorman on Monday pitching a two hitter over five innings to get the win. Josh Sereno and Kellon Stanley have also played well at times for the Tribe.

Outlook For The Rest Of Season..... I really expect the Tribe to make a run for the Region 3 Championship. They need to keep winning and have some help to catch Northwestern. They could really be a dangerous team come playoff time.

TRIBE FACTS..... The Tribe has already won the Region 3 Championship in football and basketball this school year. If they can catch Northwestern they could get the Championship in all three major sports in the same school year for the first time.

The next Tribe Blitz blog will be on Monday April 9th.

Until Next Time.

4A BASKETBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME (2012) RECAP

UNBELIEVABLE FINISH to the 4A State Championship Game! The Gaffney Indians are State Champions again! Another Title for Title Town,SC! The headlines in the area newspapers said "Drama in Columbia" and "Wow"! I couldn't have said it any better. There was tremendous Drama in Columbia and Wow what a finish. The Tribe defeated the Lexington Wildcats 58 to 55 in overtime to win the State Championship of 4A basketball. Let's recap this classic Championship game.

Lexington Wildcats vs Gaffney Indians..... The game started slow with both teams struggling to execute offensively. Both teams were playing very good defense and the score at the end of the 1st quarter was Gaffney 7 and Lexington 6. The score looked more like a football score than a basketball score.

The Tribe built an early 2nd quarter lead of 11 to 6 but, Lexington would end the quarter with a 9 to 3 run to lead by 15 to 14 at the half. Gaffney's L.J. Peak would only score 3 points in the 1st half.

The offensive production picked up in the 3rd quarter with Lexington outscoring Gaffney 18 to 16 to lead 33 to 30 after the 3rd quarter. Quinshad Davis and L.J. Peak scored all of Gaffney's 3rd quarter points. Peak really came out being more aggressive in the 3rd quarter, with his jump shot not falling he was taking it to the hoop. Davis and Peak ended the 3rd quarter in foul trouble and Lexington's star Shaq Roland was also in some foul trouble. The foul trouble added to the dramatic finish to the game.

The Tribe trailed the entire 4th quarter until the waning seconds and were down by as much as seven points with 2:35 left to play. With the score 46 to 39, the Tribe started storming back behind some clutch baskets and their press causing a couple of turnovers. Gaffney cut the Lexington lead to 47 to 45 behind a couple of baskets by Peak and a couple of free throws by Kerry Williams. Then with 10.7 seconds left and Lexington leading 50 to 48, Gaffney's Quinshad Davis fouled Shaq Roland and it put Roland on the line for two shots and it fouled Davis out of the game. All Roland had to do was hit both free throws and Lexington probably wins the game but, he misses both free throws and then fouls Peak in frustration, as Peak was driving the ball passed half court with 7.1 seconds left. Peak calmly swished both free throws and the Tribe had tied the game up at 50 to 50. Another dramatic point in the game was the foul of Peak by Roland which sent Roland to the bench with his 5th foul. Lexington still had one last try to win the game in regulation, as Sam McDermott missed on a drive to the basket and also missed a put back by Nygel Gates as time expired in regulation. So we were headed to overtime tied at 50 to 50. We are also headed to overtime with Gaffney's Quinshad Davis having fouled out and Lexington's Shaq Roland had fouled out as well. Lexington's Sam McDermott also had an injury at the end of regulation.

The overtime started with Lexington going up 52 to 50 and then Gaffney got the lead for the first time since the 2nd quarter on an old fashioned three point play by Peak that put the Tribe up 53 to 52. Peak then added to the drama by fouling out with 2:48 left. Lexington went back in front 54 to 53 before the tribe got a basket and a free throw from Cobby McDowell and a free throw from Keenan Littlejohn to put Gaffney up 57 to 55. Gaffney's Kerry Williams then went to the line with the Tribe up 57 to 55 with 19.8 seconds left and made one of two to put Gaffney up 58 to 55. Lexington came down and tried to get off a three point shot but, had to call timeout with three seconds left. Lexington put three point specialist Sam McDermott back in the game and he tried an off balance three pointer that was missed and the Tribe had escaped with an unbelievable overtime victory 58 to 55 over Lexington.

My View From The Stands..... (1) It was a tremendous crowd in the Colonial Life Arena on Friday night. Gaffney had a great turnout as did Lexington. (2) There was an outstanding atmosphere for a tremendous basketball game. (3) If you would have told me that both Quinshad Davis and L.J. Peak would foul out and Micheal Wright would not score and Gaffney would win the ball game I would have thought you were crazy. (4) Davis and Peak were outstanding in the 2nd half before fouling out. (5) The Gaffney bench came up big late in the 4th quarter and overtime. (6) I have never seen a team handle adversity as well as this Gaffney team did this season. They just found a way to win ball games when things were stacked against them. (7) I saw 39 fouls called in this game. There were several questionable calls.

INDIVIDUAL STATS

L.J. Peak..... 22 points
Quinshad Davis..... 15 points
Kerry Williams..... 12 points
Cobby McDowell..... 6 points
Tee Smith..... 2 points
Keenan Littlejohn..... 1 point
Micheal Wright..... 0 points
Tee Hardy..... 0 points
Ron Best..... 0 points

The next edition of Tribe Blitz will be on April 1st.

Until Next Time.