Offense hitting stride

Quarterback David Dewberry has been a key to the Indians' offensive improvement. The longer the season goes, the more potent the Gaffney Indians offense becomes.

And it's not by accident.

"More than anything we are just zeroing in on the plays that have worked," first-year Gaffney offensive coordinator Charlie Patterson said. "That's what we've done here and it seems to work."

This season is no exception. After sputtering at the start of the season, the Gaffney offense has been clicking with a mixture of the run and the pass.

In the past two games, the Indians have topped 100 yards in both passing and running. Previously, the Indians had relied on the run to move the ball. But the development of quarterback David Dewberry, who threw for 128 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in a 41-14 win over York Friday, has ignited the passing game.

The Indians are now averaging 25 points a game and nearly 200 yards on the ground and 130 through the air each game.

"At the start of the season, we played three quarterbacks, none of which had any varsity experience," Patterson said. "In the last few weeks, David has sparked us a little bit. He has responded and we are getting the ball down the field."

But Dewberry's play isn't the only reason the Indians have come alive offensively.

"There has been a combination of things," Patterson said. "We are getting better as we go. The offensive line is playing better. Coach (Donnie) Littlejohn is doing a great job with them. I think I'm getting more comfortable in seeing what we can do."

Patterson said the improvement in the passing game must continue.

"You can never be satisfied," he said. "We are getting better. But the decision-making and the reads must be a little quicker."

Especially with the likes of Dorman and Byrnes still on the schedule.

"Things will get faster down the road," he said. "The defenses will come at us quicker."