Turning the page

Photo by LARRY HILLIARD Gaffney quarterback Joe Craig releases a pass while pressured by a Spartanburg defensive lineman on Friday. Craig completed 8 of his 27 yards for 99 yards. The beginning of the region schedule brings optimism.

And, hopefully, a few more wins for the Gaffney Indians.

After posting a disappointing 3-3 region mark, incluiding three losses at home, the Indians open the region schedule Friday against 2-4 York.

Gaffney coach Phil Strickland said it's a chance to reverse the team's recent fortunes.

"I'm very optimistic," Strickland said. "We proved that would have beaten some very good teams. With a bounce of a ball, we could be 4-1."

"I would feel worse if we didn't move the ball at all, but we could move the ball," he added. "And that's the light at the end of the tunnel."

The light will brighten if leaders emerge - and soon.

"Some of the kids have to turn into leaders," he said. "Successful teams not only have good athletically, but they always have a few seniors who are leaders."

Those leaders can express themselves in words or through actions, Stickland said.

His other top priority is to breath life into a struggling passing game. Against Spartanburg on Friday, quarterback Joe Craig completed only 9 of his 27 passes for 99 yards. But Strickland said the blame can be shared by a number of individuals.

"You can't put the blame on any one person," he said.