Strickland: We're in the right offense

DeEdward Burris returns next season to lead the Indians' no-huddle offense. The question swirled around the Gaffney High football team this season: "Was the move to the nohuddle offense the right one?

Gaffney coach Phil Strickland gave the answer this week.

"It took us a while to get clicking and understand the new offense, but I think we're in the right offense."

The team's season stats supports his statement. The Indians averaged more than 30 points a game and put up solid numbers on the ground, averaging 210 yards a game. The Indians were effective through the air, as well, averaging nearly 150 yards a game.

The Indians offense really came to life when DeEdward Burris was inserted at quarterback. With Burris under center, the Indians averaged more than 40 points a game. Burris rushed for more than 500 yards and threw for more than 1,000 yards.

But Strickland said he is comtemplating tweaking the no-huddle a little in shortyardage situations.

"The only change will be to go under center on short yardage," he said. "But it's not like we moved the ball between the 20s and couldn't score in close."

Strickland's message to the team this offseason is simple - hit the weight room.

"We have some good kids coming back, but we have to get to work in the weight room," he said. "They need to work. We fell behind a few teams who had a strength coach for several years."

Strickland said the team was close to playing for a state championship.

"A play here or a play there and we'd be playing this Saturday," he said. "We just came up a little short but it's something to build on. We'll miss our 30 seniors, they will be hard to replace."

The Indians will be hit hard by graduation along the defensive front as well at wide receiver. But Strickland said there are some talented underclarssmen ready to make an impact at those positions.

"We have some players," he said. "But everybody has to understand that we have to go to work. What we do now will be very important for next year. We can get a lot faster and stronger in the offseason."