Indians grind out win

Photo by LARRY HILLIARD Gaffney running back Jeremiah Cochran runs for a first down against Maulin on Friday. The Indians rushed for asason-high 241 yards. Note to Region II-4A defensive coordinators - the Gaffney Indians have finally found their offensive identity.

The Indians piled up a season-best 241 rushing yards, including 148 yards by Steffen Foster, in a hard-fought 35-21 victory over winless Mauldin in the region opener for both teams on Friday.

The Indians attempted just three passes in the second half, taking control of the game by keeping the ball on the ground.

"We just challenged the kids at halftime," Gaffney coach Phil Strickland said. "We just told them to bow their heads. We are going to run the ball. I guess we won't be running a lot of four wide receivers."

For the second straight week, the Indians' tandem of quarterbacks, Bo Davidson and David Dewberry, struggled. They combined for only 68 yards through the air. Dewberry completed just one of his nine passes for 18 yards. He was picked off twice.

The normally hard-hitting Gaffney defense also had an off day, giving up big plays to Mauldin quarterback Josh McKie, who passed for 201 yards. Most of his big plays came when he scrambled out of the pocket and hit open receivers.

"We gave up too many big plays," Strickland said. "But the offense played a little better. That's why they call it a team."

Early on, it looked like Gaffney would blow the Mavericks off the field. On the Mavs' first play of the game, Gaffney defensive back Eddie Jefferies returned a McKie pass for a touchdown.

Things didn't get any better for the Mavs on their second play from scrimmage when they fumbled at their own 25. Five plays later, Dewberry plowed his way into the end zone from the 1 to make it 12-0. Dewberry was on the receiving end of the 2-point conversion to make it 14-0 just four minutes into the game.

Gaffney was lethargic for the rest of the half, allowing Mauldin to pull within 14-9 at the half on a Sean Wright touchdown reception and a Shane Hoover 27-yard field goal.

Foster gave the Indians some separation at the start of the second half on a 1-yard run that capped a 52-yard drive. Foster had a 21- yard run to open the drive and a personal foul penalty on the Mavs put the ball at the 15.

McKie kept the Mavs in the game by eluding Gaffney rushers and hitting Austin Wiebel on a 38-yard pass to the Gaffney 11. After a run lost two yards, McKie hit Wright for the score to cut the deficit to 21-15 late in the third quarter.

Foster did most of the damage on the Indians' 78-yard drive that resulted, fittingly, in a 3-yard Foster run to push the Indians' lead to 27-15 with 9:45 left in the game.

After converting a fourthand four on a pass from McKie to Cameron Townes, Stedman Bonner scored from a yard out to pull the Mavs within 27-21.

The Indians finally sealed the win when Cochran scored from 10 yards out with 1:03 left in the game.

Gaffney (4-1,1-0) hosts Boiling Springs on Friday.