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.