Gaffney holds off Rams

Gaffney running back Steffen Foster searches for running room against Hillcrest on Friday. Foster topped the 100-yard mark in the Indians win. The Gaffney Indians brushed aside homecoming distractions and pesky Hillcrest on Friday.

Jeremiah Cochran ran for 167 yards on 12 carries, Steffen Foster gained 112 yards and the Gaffney defense held the Rams to only 84 total yards in a 14-7 win.

Gaffney (7-1, 3-0) moved the ball with ease, piling up 415 yards in total offense but had trouble finishing drives. Gaffney quarterback David Dewberry, who wasn't as sharp as he has been in recent games, tossed an interception late in the second quarter that stopped a promising drive.

The Indians also came away without any points on their first drive of the third quarter when they failed to convert a fourthand three from the Hillcrest 4.

"It's the same old song and dance. We aren't getting it in from the red zone," Gaffney coach Phil Strickland said. "We have to get better. We moved the ball well between the 20s, but you have to score to beat good teams."

Strickland had no complaints about his defense that held 1,000-yard rusher Chris Merrill to 36 yards on 16 carries.

"We came out and stepped it up for our offense," Gaffney safety Johnny Woods said. "We knew we had to stop No. 5 (Merrill)."

Woods said the unit was also energized by linebacker J.B. Shippy, who returned after serving a 2-game suspension.

"J.B. came back with a bang," Woods said.

More aptly, Shippy came back with a game-saving sack.

Down by a touchdown, Hillcrest had a first down at the Indians' 30 with four minutes left to play. A first down pass fell incomplete before Merrill was held to no gain on second down. Shippy came untouched on a blitz on third down to sack Hillcrest quarterback Tony Jones for a big 14-yard loss. Cameron Smith sealed the win with an interception on fourth down.

On the Indians' first possession, Foster had a 45 yard run but Hillcrest held on downs at their own 22. It was Cochran's turn on the next possession, bursting up the middle and outrunning the Hillcrest secondary for a 52-yard touchdown with 4:57 left in the first quarter.

The Indians went on top 14-0 when Ty Dawkins made a leaping grab in the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown.

Gaffney moved to the Hillcrest 38 on its next series, but Patrick Neeley returned an interception to the Gaffney 13. Rams fullback Tony Thompson bulled his way into the end zone from the 5 to cut the deficit to 14-7.

It would stay that way for the rest of the game.

Gaffney travels to top-ranked Byrnes on Friday. Both teams are undefeated in the region.