Photo by LARRY HILLIARD Gaffney running back Rodney Rogers finds some running room against Union County on Friday. Rogers scored on a 4-yard TD but was injured on the play. Talk about role reversal.

A week ago, the Indians entered halftime down by 16 points on the road at Greenville. On Friday, Gaffney led the overmatched Union County Yellow Jackets 21-0 at intermission.

In the end, though, the result was the same - a Gaffney win.

DeEdward Burris rushed for 124 yards, passed for 147 more and the Indian defense didn't allow the Yellow Jackets to cross midfield until late in the third quarter in a convincing 31-0 victory.

"We told the kids at halftime that we were in the same position that Union is at now and we didn't want them to get back into the game," Gaffney coach Phil Strickland said.

The Gaffney offense, defense and special teams all did their part to make sure that didn't happen. Josh Harris hit a 36-yard field goal midway through the third quarter and wide receiver Joe Craig scored on a 15-yard run early in the fourth quarter.

"We came out harder," Craig said. "Everybody was together this week. I thought we came out and got after it."

The Indians jumped out front early, marching 64 yards on just four plays. Rodney Rogers was a big factor in the drive, with a 30-yard reception and 4-yard touchdown run. Unfortunately, Rogers injured his groin on the play and didn't return.

Running back Kenard Lipscomb also had his night cut short with an ankle injury, forcing more of the running load on Burris and backup Robert Grandy, who gained 51 yards on 14 carries.

"It was kind of scary to watch our first two backs go down," Strickland said. "Especially since we eightquartered running back Robert Grandy Thursday night because he wasn't getting enough reps."

Gaffney went up 14-0 after stopping Yellow Jacket quarterback Nick Monroe on a fourth-and-1 at the Union County 37.

One play later, Burris found wideout Quinshad Davis, who spun away from his defender en route to a 38-yard TD with eight minutes left before halftime.

On their next possession, the Indians went up 21-0 on a 69-yard drive that ended with an 18-yard pass from Burris to a wide open Khris Brown. It was Brown's sixth TD catch of the season.

Gaffney outgained the Yellow Jackets, 367-173.

The Indians improve to 2-1.

"I think we are getting better," Strickland said. "The kids are believing in themselves."

Strickland said his young team showed maturity by not responding when things got chippy in the second half.

Gaffney hosts T.L. Hanna on Friday.