GHS fumbles away chances in scrimmage

Ledger photo by LARRY HILLIARD Backup quarterback Drew Howard picks up yards during a scrimmage last Friday with Greenville. Gaffney offensive coordinator Greg Lawson wants to see progress more than touchdowns when he watches his unit at preseason scrimmages.

By that standard, Lawson thinks Tuesday’s scrim-mage with Greenwood was a success.

“We took a step forward today because we played a better team (than Greenville),” Lawson said.

That doesn’t mean Lawson was completely satis-fied with his unit’s performance. Although the Indians moved the ball consistently, the Indians failed to turn the marches into points because of turnovers.

“There was only one time that we didn’t drive the ball,” he said. “We drove the ball but we fumbled three times.”

One fumble, in particular, was costly. Wide receiv-er Marquis Young appeared on his way to the end zone when a Greenwood defensive back jarred the ball out of his arms near the goal line.

The Indians did score twice. Quarterback Malcolm Long found Cameron Tate for a 65-yard touchdown on the team’s initial drive.

“It was a good read on Malcolm’s part,” Lawson said. “(Greenwood) jumped the curl and let Cam open on the wheel route.”

The Indians’ other touchdown came near the end of the scrimmage when Tate scored from 26-yards out on a screen pass.

Lawson gave Long high marks for his throwing and running ability.

“He did well,” he said. “He was able to make good decisions. There are a lot of things I won’t know until I watch the films, but he threw to the backs on the flair and picked up the blitz. He also ran it well and was able to pick up three key first downs (by run-ning.).”

Lawson was also happy with the play of running backs Quinton Hemphill and Charles Smith.

“Charles had a fumble but he looked good,” he said. “Quinton showed good vision again.”

While Tate continues to per-form at wide receiver, Lawson said other receivers need to pick up the slack.

“We have to find who wants to step up,” he said.

Defensively, Clay Champion was a standout, who moved from tackle to end.

“We’ve kind of moved him around,” Gaffney coach Phil Strickland said. “He’s a good pass rusher.”

Strickland also said he thought Smith ran the ball effectively.

Strickland did express dis-appointment in the team’s intensity.

“I don’t know whether it’s been the two-a-day practices, but we were a little sluggish,” he said.

The Indians return to prac-tice today in preparation for Saturday’s jamboree against Crest.

Notes ... Cameron Tate suf-fered a hyperextended knee, but it’s not considered serious, the coaching staff said ... Crest coaching staff attended the scrim-mage. The Chargers play Gaffney in the jamboree at Gardner Webb on Saturday.