Vikes pick off win against Gaffney

Photo by LARRY HILLIARD A Spartanburg lineman drags down Gaffney quarterback Joe Craig after a short gain Friday night at The Reservation. Spartanburg topped the Indians, 17-12. Youth will be served. Not necessarily in high school football.

The inexperienced Gaffney Indians turned the ball over three times, including twice in the game's last three minutes in a difficult 17-12 loss to archrival Spartanburg Friday at the Reservation.

The Indians, losers of two in a row, fall to 3-3. All three losses have come at The Reservation. Spartanburg, on the other hand, extended its win streak to three games to go to 4-2.

Boiled down, Gaffney coach Phil Strickland said his team was lifeless early on - and the Vikings took advantage of it to jump to a 10-0 lead midway through the first quarter.

"We were emotionless coming out," Strickland said. "I can read kids and we weren't ready to play."

Especially on offense. The Indians averaged less than three yards a rush, gaining 125 yards on 44 carries. The Vikings defense had been suspect against the run, giving up an average of 5.5 yards a rush.

The Gaffney running game got a boost from sophomore DeEdward Burris, who gained 70 yards on 15 carries.

Take him out of the equation, and the Indians ran the ball 29 times for 55 yards.

The Indians leading rusher, Jeremiah Cochran, ran the ball only four times for 32 yards. Gaffney's passing game was just as inept. Quarterback Joe Craig finished 8 of 27 for 99 yards and two interceptions.

"Penalties and mistakes," said Strickland in characterizing the ineffective offense.

A holding penalty did wipe out a first-quarter TD pass from Craig to Emison Hughes.

The Viking offense didn't put up big numbers, either. The Vikings rushed for 95 yards on 37 carries and gained 68 yards through the air.

First-year coach Freddie Brown knew who to praise for the win.

"It was an outstanding effort by our defense," Brown said. "We scored enough points to do what we needed to do."

Brown also could have praised his special teams, which took advantage of problems in the Indians' punting game.

A blocked punt led to the Vikings' first score. The Vikings recovered the ball at the Gaffney 13 and scored three plays later on Conelius Jones' 1-yard run.

On their next possession, a short punt set the Vikings up in favorable field at the Gaffney 40. They drove to the Indian 19, where the Gaffney defense stiffened and forced a 32-yard field goal from Chris Graham.

Josh Harris answered Graham's 3-pointer with a 21- yarder with 4:09 left in the second quarter to pull the Indians within a touchdown.

The defenses dominated in the third quarter. But the Viking offense finally got a drive going early in the fourth quarter. However, Graham came up short on a 42-yarder.

The Vikings took advantage of another short punt to punch in their final touchdown, a 7-yard run by Mykeel Jones that capped a 31-yard drive.

Gaffney had two attempts to tie the game but both drives ended in turnovers. After Kelvin Wilkins' interception, the Vikings ran time off the clock before taking a safety with :08 left.

Strickland concluded his postgame remarks with on an ominous note.

"We've just got to get some consistency on offense and defense," he said. "Until we do that, we'll be a mediocre team."

Gaffney opens its region schedule on Friday at York.

Right now, Strickland isn't concerned about the opponent.

"I'm concerned about Gaffney football," the Gaffney coach said.