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.