Indians feeling confident

File Photo Sophomore quarterback DeEdward Burris and the Indians travel to Sumter today for a second-round playoff matchup. Will the Gaffney Indians get the best of Sumter - again?

The Indians, who hold a 10-1 edge in the overall series, travel to Sumter today in a second-round Class AAAA Division I playoff matchup. The teams met in the second round last year with the Indians coming away with a 21-14 victory.

Sumter coach Paul Sorrells said last year's game hasn't been mentioned much this week.

"It's something we haven't harped on," he said. "The kids remember, but we haven't spent a lot of time talking about it. We really aren't worried about the other team. We are focused on how we perform."

And that hasn't been too bad. The Gamecocks enter the game with a 10-2 record. Their two losses have been by a combined five points. Spartanburg beat them by two points and Conway hit a 41 yard field goal in the last minute to escape with a 3-point victory.

The Indians (7-5), on the other hand, have been up and down this season. But they are coming off their most dominating performance of the season in a 40- 10 victory over perennial power Summerville this past Friday.

"It's a typical Gaffney team," Sorrells said. "They seem to get rolling in November. I didn't see much film on them from earlier in the season. But they seem to have things figured out. They are playing their best football of the year."

Sorrells traces the Indians' improvement to the insertion of DeEdward Burris at quarterback.

"He seems to do a little better when he's scrambling," the Sumter coach said.

For the season, Burris has completed 52 percent of his passes for 1,014 yards. He has 13 touchdowns and only two interceptions. Burris showed no jitters in his first playoff game, going 12 of 21 for 250 yards against Summerville. He also rushed for 100 yards on 20 carries.

Sumter quarterback Stephen Curtis also has avoided the costly turnover, throwing 22 touchdowns and only eight interceptions.

Curtis, who has completed 109 of his 196 passes for 1,774 yards, is part of the Gamecocks' two-pronged offense attack. Shrine Bowl running back and Clemson University commitment Roderick McDowell is just as explosive with 1,412 rushing yards.

"We try to be balanced," Sorrells said. "But some nights you have to rely either on the pass or the run."

Tyler Smith leads the Gamecocks in receptions with 27 for nearly 500 yards and seven touchdowns.

In last year's matchup, the Gamecocks couldn't rely on either.

The Indians limited Sumter to only 161 total yards. McDowell was held in check, finishing with just 55 yards on eight carries. Curtis, who was under pressure for most of the game, was 7 of 11 for a meager 54 yards.

Gaffney coach Phil Strickland said this year's Gamecock offense poses quite a challenge.

"Their quarterback doesn't make a lot of mistakes," he said. "And McDowell is outstanding."

Strickland also gives high marks to the Sumter defense, which is giving up an average of 16 points and 233 yards a game.

"They have a real solid defense," he said. "They are quick and athletic and beat Boiling Springs (last Friday) at the line of scrimmage."

Linebacker Quinn McClendon, a 4-year starter, is the leader of the defense with 122 tackles, four sacks and 17 tackles for losses.

Sorrells said today's winner will likely be the team that controls the line of scrimmage and makes the fewest mistakes.

"The closer the teams are the more crucial that becomes," he said.

Special team play also will be crucial, he added.