Photo / SCOTT PHILLIPS Gaffney High Head Football Coach Phil Strickland gets the traditional ice bucket dousing as the clock winds down on the Indians' Class 4A Division I title game victory over Irmo on Saturday in Columbia. Step aside Byrnes. There's a new dynasty - the Gaffney Indians.

Malcolm Long tossed three touchdown passes and rushed for two more as the Indians captured their third Class 4A Division I title in four years and 16th state championship overall with a stunningly easy 45-0 victory over Irmo on Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium. Gaffney, which has now won 22 games in a row, snapped Byrnes' streak of four consecutive state titles in the second round of the playoffs.

The Indians, who finished the season at 15-0, did it in the title game with a balanced offense that produced nearly 500 total yards and a stingy defense that limited the Yellow Jackets to just 139 yards and five first downs.

Long capped his brilliant career by completing 16 of 20 passes for 262 yards. For his career, Long has thrown for 6,437 yards.

"Malcolm just had an excellent game," Gaffney offensive coordinator Greg Lawson said. "He's gotten better and better of checking down to his second and third receiver. And even, one time today, he checked down to his fourth receiver."

SIX MORE ON THE BOARD - Steffan Foster dives into the end zone at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia on Saturday for Gaffney High's second touchdown against Irmo in the Class 4A Division I state championship game. The potent Indians attack found the end zone early and often in routing the Yellow Jackets 45-0 to claim their second consecutive state title. (Ledger photo / LARRY B. LITTLEJOHN) The Indians were almost as productive on the ground, rushing for 197 yards, including a seasonhigh 69 yards by senior tailback Anthony Tyus. Steffen Foster added 59 yards, including a 26-yard touchdown that made it 12-0 on the first play of the second quarter.

The Indians used a 4-3 look on defense to stop Irmo running back Mario Carter, who was averaging 151 yards a game. Carter gained just 75 yards on 17 carries.

The normally subdued Gaffney coach Phil Strickland had no problem talking about his team's performance.

"They were the most enjoyable team to coach in my 25 years," Strickland said. "They just like to play the game."

Strickland, who has now won five state titles, including two with Batesburg-Leesville, praised his offense and defense.

"Both were pretty impressive," he said. "We executed on both sides of the ball. We said all week that if we could get up by a couple of touchdowns, we'd get (Irmo) out of its game plan. And the defense just played great. (Carter) is a quality running back. We challenged them all week. Stratford ran on them in the first half last week, but they were determined not to let that happen again."

The Indians scored on four of their first five possessions. The Indians' opening series began inauspiciously when Long was sacked for a five-yard loss. But Long hit Mark Tate for a first down on a 3rd-and 9 from the Gaffney 41. Nine plays later, Jeremiah Cochran scored from the 2 to put the Indians up 6-0 with 5:16 left in the first quarter.

On its next possession, Gaffney drove 69 yards on nine plays to lead 12-0 on Foster's 26-yard run. Tyson Petty caught the 2-point conversion for a 14-0 Indians advantage.

Kendrick Tate's interception set up the Indians' next score - Tyson Petty's 59-yard touchdown reception. It took the Indians just four plays to go 90 yards. Petty, who finished with a game-high six receptions for 166 yards, also had a 27-yard reception on the drive.

With 1:29 left before halftime, Gaffney extended its advantage to 26-0 on Long's 4-yard pass to tight end Richard Good, who had four catches for 45 yards.

Good, who is better known for his blocking, was eager to contribute as a pass catcher.

"We just saw that (Irmo) didn't cover the tight end," Good said. "All the teams they played, the tight end would catch two or three touchdowns. I just found an open spot behind Tyson (Petty).

Irmo had its deepest penetration of the first half when receiver Mustafa Greene had the ball stripped at the Indians' 28.

In last year's title game, the Indians rallied from a 26- 7 halftime deficit to beat Summerville. But the Indians snuffed out any hopes of an Irmo comeback when Larevus Dawkins recovered Carter's fumble at the Yellow Jacket 25 on Irmo's first play from scrimmage of the second half. Five plays later, Long scored from 3 yards out.

The Indians built a 38-0 cushion when seldom-used wideout Rodney Love caught a 5-yard pass from Long with 4:39 left in the third quarter.

Long finished the scoring with a 5-yard run midway through the fourth quarter.

Game notes ... Gaffney linebacker J.B. Shippy had an interception and a gamehigh 12 tackles ... The Gaffney crowd was estimated at 8,000 by a South Carolina High School League official ... Tyson Petty finished the season with 1,550 receiving yards ... Malcolm Long also surpassed the 3,000 yard passing mark for the season ... This year's team became the first Gaffney High squad since 1963 to finish the season undefeated.