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No. 1 Byrnes has lived up to preseason hype
The USA Today's top-rated team has outscored its opposition 182-41 and has averaged 46 points a game. But Gaffney-Byrnes games are rarely one-sided, especially at the Reservation. In fact, the Indians (3- 1) hold an 11-8 advantage in the overall series. The Rebels (4-0), however, have won six of the last nine meetings. But the three Gaffney victories in that streak have been memorable. In 2004, the Indians snapped the No. 2 nationally-ranked Rebels' 29- game win streak. Two years ago, Gaffney ended Byrnes' 33-game unbeaten streak with a convincing 28-15 victory before a national television audience on FoxSports' Nike Game of the Week. A month later, Gaffney snapped the Rebels' string of four straight Division II state championships with a 16-13 victory before a crowd of about 14,000 at the Reservation. Simply put, Gaffney coach Phil Strickland said the Indians aren't in awe of the Rebels. "This is a different team (for us), but we aren't intimidated by them," Strickland said. "Our kids have worked hard." But that doesn't mean Strickland doesn't have the utmost respect for the Rebels. "Byrnes isn't ranked No. 1 for no reason," the Gaffney coach said. "They are solid through and through. But we've come up with a good game plan and we'll do the best we can." Strickland said the Indians haven't deviated from their normal preparations for the Rebels. "It's a non-region game and it doesn't have the playoff implications as it has in the past, but we prepare every week to win," he said. The Rebels might be the most explosive team in the country. Quarterback Chas Dodd is running the show, completing 55 percent of his passes for 961 yards and 10 touchdowns. Nick Jones is his top receiving threat with 18 catches for 228 yards and a touchdown, while Ricco Sanders is averaging a whopping 22 yards a reception. Add a veteran offensive line and the production of one of the top running backs in the country in Marcus Lattimore and you have a offense that can explode at any time. "They have one of the premiere backs in the country (Lattimore) and four good wideouts," Strickland said. "Usually you can find a weakness on film, but you don't see a weakness with them." Dodd is much improved from a year ago. "His arm has gotten stronger," Strickland said. "You can't give him all day to throw. You have to have control blitzes." The Rebels might not have any weaknesses on defense, either. "They just come at you," Strickland said. "They stunt gaps and have been real successful." The last two weeks, the Gaffney offense looked it was supposed to - explosive. The Indian offense pounded Union for 440 yards and six touchdowns - all on the ground - in a 49- 13 rout at Union County Stadium two weeks ago. Last week, Joe Craig replaced an ineffective Bo Davidson at quarterback and rushed for 153 yards and scored three times to help the Indians to an easy 44-13 victory over T.L. Hanna. Strickland was mum on who would be the starter at quarterback against Byrnes. But Byrnes head coach Chris Miller said it doesn't matter, because "Gaffney is Gaffney." "They are just like they always are," Miller said. "They are big up front. Their running back, wide receiver and quarterback are all very skilled." The game matches two of the top programs in the state. The teams have combined for 24 state titles, with the Indians claiming 16. "They feel like they have a great program and so do we," Miller said. Last year, Dodd threw for seven touchdowns in the Rebels' 49-14 rout of the Indians. Strickland said to be successful the Indians must keep the ball away from the Rebel offense. The Rebels, on the other hand, can't play giveaway. "I always feel like the team that makes the fewest number of turnovers is the team that will win," Miller said. |
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