Gaffney thumps Falcons

Photo by LARRY HILLIARD Gaffney wideout Joe Craig heads upfield after catching a pass for a 9-yard gain from quarterback DeEdward Burris. Craig had two catches for 59 yards and a touchdown. Gaffney celebrated homecoming Friday in the best possible way - with an impressive victory.

Sophomore DeEdward Burris continued to lay claim to the starting quarterback job with three touchdowns and the Indian defense allowed a scant 148 total yards in a 44-6 victory over visiting Nation Ford.

In his first varsity start, Burris was sharp and aggressive, rushing for 64 yards, including a 2-yard TD, and completing 6 of his 10 passes for 115 yards and two touchdowns.

"He's got a lot of talent," Gaffney coach Phil Strickland said. "He is still making mistakes, but he came out a little more relaxed this week."

So did Jeremiah Cochran, who rushed for 84 yards on 13 carries - the same number of combined carries he had in the previous two games.

Cochran was particularly effective on the Indians' second touchdown drive, accounting for 36 of the 52 yards.

While the Indians were running roughshod, the Cougars appeared to be running in place. The Falcons rushed for only 49 yards on 26 attempts. The Falcons weren't much better through the air, gaining 99 yards.

"I thought we came out ready to play," Strickland said. "We have to get better each and every week."

The Indians (5-3, 2-0) seem to be doing just that, winning their region games by a combined score of 96-20.

Like last week's lopsided win over York, the Indian offense took command from the start, scoring on their first four possessions.

There was nothing flashy about the Indians' first two drives.

Jeffery Brown hauled in a 15-yard touchdown pass to cap a 70-yard, 10-play methodical march on the Indians' opening series.

The Indians drove 87 yards in 15 plays on their next possession with Burris scoring from the 2-yard line.

The Indians then showed their quick-strike potential with a 50-yard pass from Burris to speedy Joe Craig, who took a short swing pass and outraced Falcons to the end zone.

Cochran scored from 7 yards out to make it 27-0 with 2:50 left before halftime. The defense created points when Quincey Jackson returned a fumble 44 yards to make it 34- 0 at the half.

The action slowed considerably in the second half with the Indians playing their reserves. Kenard Lipscomb scored Gaffney's lone secondhalf touchdown on a 3-yard run. Josh Harris did nail a 40- yard field goal early in the fourth quarter to complete in the Indians' scoring.

The Falcons avoided the shutout when Daniel Couchenour caught a 15-yard TD pass from backup quarterback Thomas Condron with 4:11 remaining.

Rain showers made the field conditions sloppy but the Indians didn't turn the ball over. The Falcons had an interception and fumble.

Nation Ford's charter bus arrived late, delaying the start of the game by 15 minutes.

Gaffney travels to winless Fort Mill on Friday.