Catchin'the Greenwave
¦ Gaffney battles Summerville for trip to title game
By LARRY HILLIARD Ledger Sports Editor larry@gaffneyledger.com

Summerville's A.J. Green will be high on the Gaffney defense's list of people to stop tonight, but the senior receiver has a slew of other players to help take some of the pressure off him.

Most teams design something different for each opponent - a new coverage or a different offensive look.

Not 12-1 and second-seeded Summerville, which hosts Gaffney tonight in a Class 4A Division semifinal game.

The Greenwave does most of its damage through the air. Just ask last week's playoff victim, Fort Dorchester.

Greenwave quarterback and USC recruit Reid McCollum tied the state's single-game record with nine touchdown passes in the Greenwave's 78-47 playoff victory over Fort Dorchester. McCollum finished the night 29- of-47 for 518 yards. His five touchdown passes in the third quarter ties the national record for touchdown passes in a quarter.

Marcus Morris was the main beneficiary, as the senior receiver hauled in 10 receptions for 242 yards and five touchdowns. LaQuan Gilliard added 10 catches for 141 yards.

Receiver A.J. Green, one of the nation's top recruits who will play at Georgia next season, caught six passes for 80 yards and three scores. Green is No. 2 on the all-time high school receiving yardage list with 5,262 yards entering this Friday's game against Gaffney.

"They are a good solid football team," Gaffney coach Phil Strickland said. "They have an extremely talented quarterback with three talented wide receivers. They have two 6-4 receivers and a 6-2 (receiver) who runs well."

Strickland said what makes McCollum so dangerous is his ability to react well to blitzes.

"You can blitz, but they may burn you," Strickland said. "He's been there and done that. You have to confuse them."

And make them run the ball. Summerville has trouble moving the ball on the ground. All but 70 of last week's 588 yards came through the air against Fort Dorchester.

Unlike Summerville, the Indians will try to control the ball on the ground. Last week, the Indians used a dominating running game to dominate time of possession and beat a highpowered Sumter, 21-14.

Gaffney will try to duplicate that game plan today.

"We will try to sustain long drives and keep the ball away from (Summerville) as much as possible," Strickland said.

The Greenwave defense has struggled at times this season. Legendary Summerville coach John McKissick, who is the country's winningest high school football coach with more than 550 victories, candidly says his defense lacks quickness.

"We just don't tackle very well," he said.

But Strickland isn't buying it. He said the Greenwave have plenty of talented players on defense.

"They are talented," he said. "They won't sit in one defense all night."

Lineman Andrea Deweese and sophomore Demetrius Sherman anchor a strong defensive line.

Gaffney, which is seeking its 17th state championship, holds a 7-5-1 edge in the series with Summerville, which has captured 12 state crowns.

The last meeting might be the most memorable.

Gaffney turned around a disappointing first half by scoring two touchdowns in the final four minutes to earn the school's 15th state title with a thrilling 33-32 victory over the Greenwave in the 2005 Big 16 state title game.

Trailing by 12 points midway through the fourth quarter, the Indians marched 64 yards on just four plays to pull within 32-27 with 3:52 remaining.

Needing a touchdown to win, the Indians took possession at their own 10 with 2:12 left. Executing the 2-minute offense to perfection, Gaffney quarterback Malcolm Long calmly moved the Indians 90 yards in 11 plays for the winning score.

That game is still fresh in McKissick's mind.

"We were kind of in the driver's seat," McKissick said. "But you have to give Gaffney a lot of credit. They did what they had to."

For Strickland that game is a distant memory.

"You have to throw that game out," he said. "Both teams are trying to go to Columbia. It's just two football teams trying to reach their goals."
GAME AT A GLANCE
GAFFNEY 11-2 AT SUMMERVILLE 12-1
GAME TIME - 7:30 P.M.

Players to Watch - Summerville- QB Reid McCollum, WR Marcus Morris, WR A.J. Green, DL Andrea Deweese.

Gaffney - QB Joe Craig, RB Jeremiah Cochran, RB Steffen Foster, LB J.B. Shippy, S Johnny Woods.

What the Greenwave must do to win - exploit the weaknesses in the Indians' secondary and avoid costly turnovers.

What the Indians must do to win - keep the explosive Summerville offense off the field by controlling the clock with their running game.

GOING TO SUMMERVILLE...

Directions to the Gaffney- Summerville playoff game Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Take I-85 South from Gaffney to Spartanburg and take exit 70 toward Columbia. Take I-26 west and get off on the Summerville Highway 17-A exit. Take U.S. Highway 17-A three miles. Turn right onto South Main Street/U.S. 17 Alt/Boone Hill Road. The John McKissick Field stadium will be on the left behind the elementary school.