INDIANS GET BY YELLOW JACKETS!! The Indians were a little sloppy on offense and played a bend but not break style on defense but, the bottom line was a 27 to 14 victory over the Union County Yellow Jackets. QB Eddie Studyvance was 12 of 19 for 171 yards and two TD passes, WR Greg Ellis caught two TD passes and RB Hyleck Foster had 15 rushes for 99 yards and one TD to lead the offense. The defense was led by DB Jordan Shippy with a pick 6 from 52 yards to put the Tribe up 14 to 0 early 3rd quarter. The Tribe had to overcome 11 penalties for 118 yards. Like I said earlier it was sloppy but, it was a win and they are 2 and 1 heading to York this Friday night.

TRIBE FACTS..... QB Eddie Studyvance has been very efficient through the first three games of the season. He has not thrown an interception and he has completed almost 70% of his passes.

GAFFNEY @ YORK PREVIEW..... Like Gaffney the York Cougars lost 10 of their 11 defensive starters from last years team. The Cougars have played pretty well on offense through the first two weeks of the season. They scored 46 points last week against Boiling Springs but, they had to get a 32 yard field goal as time expired to get the win over the Bulldogs 46 to 45. The Cougars are very athletic and physical.

The Indians were sloppy at times last week but, they won an ugly game. I would rather win ugly than lose pretty. The Tribe had eleven penalties, had a TD called back and had some injuries. The offense done enough and the defense continues to improve. The Tribe will have to play better this week to leave York with a win.

THE ARMCHAIR COACH'S WEEK 3 FOOTBALL PICKS

High School Games

Gaffney @ York..... This one has the potential to be very entertaining. It should be pretty high scoring. It will be a 4th quarter game..... Gaffney 34  York 28

Byrnes @ Northwestern..... This game will probably be like playing a video game. two high powered offenses, number 1 vs number 2 and a lot of points..... Byrnes 42  Northwestern 35

Chesnee @ Woodruff..... Another high scoring game. These two rivals are ready to get it on. Chesnee lost a heart breaker last season and it will be close again this season..... Woodruff 42  Chesnee 31

College Games

Vanderbilt @ South Carolina..... This game will be closer than Gamecock fans think it will be..... South Carolina 24  Vanderbilt 17

Alabama @ Texas A&M..... What will Johnny Football do to Alabama this year? He beat them last year and he will give it the old college try this year..... Alabama 24  Texas A&M 20

NFL Games

Carolina @ Buffalo..... This is an early season must win for the Panthers. They can't afford to start off bad again this season. Do I see some heads rolling..... Carolina 20  Buffalo 16

Washington @ Green Bay..... Two good teams in need of a win. One of these teams will be 0 and 2 after Sunday..... Green Bay 30  Washington 24

Until Next Time.

WEEK 2 OF 2013 FOOTBALL SEASON

TRIBE DEFEATS RED DEVILS!!!! The Gaffney Indians defense forced four turnovers that led to 24 points, as they defeated Clinton 45 to 18. The defense recovered 4 Clinton fumbles and they had a bend but not break game Friday night at The Reservation. The Clinton offense ran their power running game for 65 plays for 301 yards and had the ball for 23 minutes longer than the Tribe. The Red Devils scored 18 points in the 2nd quarter but, the Gaffney defense shut them out in the 2nd half.

The Gaffney offense didn't have the ball much but it didn't matter, as they still put 45 points on the scoreboard. They had a balanced attack with 178 yards on the ground and 187 through the air. Hyleck Foster had a huge game with 9 carries for 130 yards and 3 TDs. He also had a 96 yard kickoff return for a score as well. Gaffney fans also saw the return of star Shaq Davidson as he came into the game at WR in the 1st quarter and made an immediate impact with 3 catches for 65 yards and a 27 yard TD catch. The Indians even their 2013 record at 1 and 1 with the Union County Yellow Jackets coming to The Reservation on Friday night.

UNION COUNTY @ GAFFNEY PREVIEW..... This rivalry game went down to the wire last season with Gaffney's Jo Jo McGill scoring on a 15 yard run with 3 seconds left to win the game for Gaffney 28 to 21. Both teams went on to play for their State Championships last season with Gaffney winning the 4A Division 1 Title and Union County finishing as the 3A runner up. Both teams lost a lot of players off those teams with Gaffney losing 10 starters off their defense and Union County losing a lot off their offense. Gaffney does have key offensive stars Shaq Davidson, Hyleck Foster, Jo Jo McGill and Eddie Studyvance returning on offense which makes the Tribe strong on that side of the ball. Union County's strength should be their defense early in the season. They do return WR T.J. Foster, a Louisville commitment and a big offensive line which should test the Tribe's young defense. I really do expect a game similar to last years game. It won't be decided until the 4th quarter.

TRIBE FACTS..... Gaffney's QB Eddie Studyvance continues to play well. He has passed 28 of 41 with 2 TD passes and 0 interceptions and he has scored 2 rushing TDs.

THE ARMCHAIR COACH'S WEEK 2 FOOTBALL PICKS

High School Games

Union County @ Gaffney..... This should be another close and entertaining game between these two rivals. It will go down to the 4th quarter..... Gaffney 34  Union County 27

Blacksburg @ Indian Land..... The Wildcats were overmatched by St. Joe's last week. They should have a chance to win this week but...... Indian Land 21  Blacksburg 13

Dorman @ Greenwood..... This one should be the game of the week in the upstate this week. We will get to see just how good Dorman might be..... Greenwood 16  Dorman 13

College Games

South Carolina State @ Clemson..... The Tigers coming off huge win over Georgia shouldn't even break a sweat in this one..... Clemson 63  SC State 7

South Carolina @ Georgia..... The Gamecocks have the tough task of playing a very good Georgia team after a loss. The Gamecocks have won the last three against the dogs. Can they make it four..... Georgia 24  South Carolina 20

NFL Games

Seattle @ Carolina..... The Panthers need to get off to a good start this season. They have finished strong the last two years. Tough opener but they have a chance..... Seattle 20  Carolina 17

Green Bay @ San Francisco..... This should be one of the best games in week 1 of the NFL season. THe 49ers beat the Packers last season twice and the Packers are ready. Can they do it..... San Francisco 24  Green Bay 20

The ArmChair Coach went 5 and 1 in football picks last week. Can I do better this week. I think so.

DID YOU KNOW?..... Clemson's 38 to 35 victory over Georgia this past Saturday has moved the Tigers to Number 4 in the AP Rankings. This is the highest ranking for Clemson since 1988.

Until Next Time.

WEEK 1 OF 2013 FOOTBALL SEASON.

We have made it through another football off season. As hard as that was for us to bear..... IT IS FOOTBALL TIME AGAIN!!!! The Gaffney Indians played last week in Week 0 of the High School Football season falling at Northwestern 51 to 19. The Tribe has Division 1 prospects Shaq Davidson and Hyleck Foster back on offense but, they are replacing 10 starters off their State Championship team's defense. They are very very young and inexperienced on that side of the ball to start the season. They also had to start the season with their most explosive offensive player Shaq Davidson on the bench with an injured and surgically repaired thumb on his passing hand. He could miss as few as 2 games or as many as 6 games. We here at Tribe Blitz are hoping for the minimum 2 games missed scenario. With Shaq out the Indians had first time starter at QB Eddie Studyvance manning the very important QB position. He done a pretty good job considering  it was his first start as a QB in his life and it came on the road at Northwestern in a stadium that has been a "House of Horrors" for Gaffney over the years. Studyvance passed 16 of 25 for 149 yards and zero interceptions. He also rushed for 37 yards and 2 TDs. The Trojans were keying on Hyleck Foster and they held him to 15 rushes for 74 yards and 1 TD. The Tribe's defense had a lot of problems with Northwestern's Air Raid offense. The Trojans had 10 starters back on offense and it showed. So it is time for the Tribe to put the Week 0 debacle behind them and do what Gaffney football teams do, GET BETTER EACH WEEK and become a team that nobody wants to play later in the season. Remember last season 3 and 3 through the first six games then turning it around and winning not only the Region but the State Championship as well winning their last 9 games to do it. That is what Gaffney Indians football is all about WINNING STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS as we have 17 and counting.

WEEK 1..... Clinton @ Gaffney.....Preview.....The Tribe has their home opener this week as the Clinton Red Devils come to The Reservation. Clinton is another program rich in tradition. The Indians went down there and defeated the Red Devils 41 to 7 last season. Clinton is a power running football team that will try to surprise you with play action out of their passing game. It will be another kind of a test for the young Gaffney defense.I am looking for improvement on both sides of the ball for the Tribe this week.

TRIBE FACTS..... Northwestern defeated Gaffney 49 to 19 last season and 51 to 19 this season. We all know how Gaffney's season played out.

TRIBE FACTS..... This is Dan Jones 4th season as Head Coach of the Tribe and he has a 1 and 3 record in season openers.

Tribe Blitz will have the weekly football picks from The Armchair Coach each week this season. We will also have a new feature from time to time called Sports Views from The ArmChair Coach which will be views not only about Gaffney Indians sports, but other sports topics as well. I think Tribe Blitzers will be kept informed about the sports world.

THE ARMCHAIR COACH'S WEEK 1 FOOTBALL PICKS 

High School Games

Clinton @ Gaffney..... In this battle between traditional powers, I see Gaffney showing some improvement and getting their first win of the new season..... Gaffney 34  Clinton 17

St. Joeseph's @ Blacksburg..... The Drew Chisholm era in the Iron City gets off to a rocky start..... St. Joesephs 27  Blacksburg 14

Chapman @ Chesnee..... This one has a chance to blow some bulbs in the scoreboard. I see the Eagles with win number 2..... Chesnee 37  Chapman 24

Rock Hill @ Dorman..... On paper this looks like a good game. Heck, on the field it should be one..... Dorman 24  Rock Hill 17

College Games

Georgia @ Clemson..... The renewal of this once classic rivalry should be a dandy. The scoreboard at the Valley should be lighting up..... Clemson 38  Georgia 34

Virginia Tech vs Alabama..... Another ACC vs SEC match up this weekend. This one in Georgia Dome for the Kickoff Classic..... Alabama 28  Virginia Tech 10

DID YOU KNOW? Clemson and Georgia haven't met on the football field since 2003. This once classic rivalry from 1977 through 1987 was one of the best in the country. Through that eleven game stretch it was 5 wins Clemson and 5 wins Georgia and 1 tie. And it had last second wins by both teams and both teams won National Championships during that time as well.

Tribe Blitz posts will be on Friday mornings at 10 AM.

Until Next Time.