PHIL STRICKLAND The Broome offense probably thought they had to produce a lot of points to keep up with the potent Gaffney offense.

Instead, the Centurions defense turned up the pressure on the high-scoring Indians to post a 7-0 victory in the American Community Bank Kickoff Classic Friday at Brumbach Stadium.

It was a nightmarish game for the Indians offense, which gained just 45 total yards and blew two early chances deep inside Centurion territory.

“We got in the red zone and we went backwards with penalties,” Gaffney coach Phil Strickland said. “We had the ball first and goal at the five and that’s when you have to get hungry to score.”

Ledger photo by LARRY HILLIARD Gaffney quarterback Malcolm Long fires a pass against Broome at Friday’s jamboree. The jamboree might have showed the importance of center Brett Irvin and wide receiver Cameron Tate. Both players missed the game with nagging injuries. They are both expected to play when the Indians open the season Friday at Dorman.

“Injuries are part of the game and you have to overcome them,” Strickland said.

Charles Smith was the leading Indian rusher with just 14 yards on seven carries. Because of tackles for losses, the Indians had zero rushing yards. They weren’t much better through the air.

Malcolm Long completed 6 of his 11 passes for 45 yards and an interception.

Offensive coordinator Greg Lawson said the jamboree showed there is still a lot of work to do.

“I’m disappointed that after all the time we spent, we can’t step up to the plate,” he said.

The Centurions, the defending Class 2A state champion, played with more cohesion than the Indians but still had trouble moving the ball, especially on the ground where they gained just 27 yards.

Broome quarterback Andrew Weathers had an impressive showing, completing 8 of his 11 passes for 71 yards.

But he wishes he had his second throw back. That toss resulted in an interception by Aaron Harris, who returned it 45 yards to the Broome 28. A pass from Long to Julian Fowler, plus a subsequent personal foul penalty, moved the ball to the 14. That started the Indians’ red zone woes. Long recovered his own fumble on a third down before an offside call pushed the Indians to the 11, where Charles Smith was stopped short of the first down on a fourth-and-9 screen pass.

The Indians regained possession at the Broome five after a botched snap to the punter. But the Indians failed to score after three plays produced no yards and Justin Harris missed a 22yard field goal.

The Centurions scored the game’s only touchdown on their first possession of the second quarter, moving 47 yards on 10 plays before Jerrial Brannon capped the drive with a short fourth down run. The Indians never mounted a serious scoring drive in the second quarter.