Gaffney quarterback De'Edward Burris looks for a hole en route to the Indians' first of many touchdowns Friday night against T.L. Hanna. The junior signal caller finished the night 12 of 15 for 174 yards and two touchdowns passing, as well as 155 yards on the ground, and two more trips to the end zone. In the days leading up to his team's game vs. T.L. Hanna, Gaffney head coach Phil Strickland stressed how important it was that the Indians get off to a fast start.

"We want to set the pace early, and if we're able to do that I think we can force them into some mistakes," Strickland said. "Hopefully, those things can happen for us tonight (Friday)."

All it took was two plays for Strickland to get his answer.

Gaffney quarterback De'Edward Burris' 19- yard touchdown was the first of many scores Friday night in the Indians' 54- 26 rout of visiting T.L. Hanna.

Continuing to prove he's one of the state's more dangerous players, the junior signal caller caused problems for the Yellow Jackets by air — completing 12 of 15 passes for 174 yards — and on the ground, rushing for 155 yards on 10 carries.

BURRIS Burris, who played one series into the third quarter before being relieved by backup quarterback Joey Copeland, ended the night with four touchdowns, rushing and passing for two apiece.

"He keeps showing everyone why he's going to be something special," Strickland said.

Part of the reason for Strickland's optimism for the young quarterback is his patience in the pocket, something Burris struggled with last year, his first under center for the Indians.

"He's being a lot more patient," Strickland said. "There were times that he could've tucked it and ran; but instead he kept looking downfield and we were able to get some big plays."

Playing without two key cogs in their offensive gameplan in running backs Kenard Lipscomb and Rodney Rogers, sophomore Robert Grandy received the bulk of the carries for the Indians Friday night.

However, things didn't start off to his liking, fumbling his first touch of the contest deep in Gaffney territory.

T.L. Hanna would recover the fumble and quickly capitalize on the miscue as running back Will Gay scampered into the end zone for the score. The extra point was blocked though, preserving the Indians' lead at 7-6.

Gaffney running back Robert Grandy tries to stiff arm a T.L. Hanna defender during Friday's game. The sophomore ball carrier finished the night with 66 yards on seven carries. The Indians won the game, 54-26. A little more than two minutes later Gaffney struck again, this time by air as Burris found dual threat Khris Brown for a 12-yard touchdown pass.

Burris would add two more touchdowns to his stat line in the next three possessions, helping the Indians extend their lead to 35-6 at halftime.

Though the score did not indicate it, the Yellow Jacket offense moved the ball effectively in the first half, using a good mix of high percentage passes and the hard running of Gay, who finished with 163 all-purpose yards.

When it mattered most however, the Indians' defense was able to get off the field and allow their explosive offense to put the game out of reach.

"You have to give T.L. Hanna a lot of credit, their boys played hard," Strickland said. "Our defense did give up some yards, which concerned us, but we're happy with how they are coming along."

Gaffney's scoring barrage continued in the third quarter as senior speedster Joe Craig scored on a 4-yard run midway through the stanza. Jaylen Miller would add to the lead not long after, returning a fumble by T.L. Hanna quarterback Drew Hankins 64 yards for a touchdown, pushing the Indians' advantage to 48-6.

T.L. Hanna would score three late touchdowns off the arm of Hankins, who threw for 275 yards in the game. The Gaffney defense kept Clemson commit Martavis Bryant relatively quiet, ending the night with nine catches for 106 yards and two touchdowns, much of which was gained after Strickland pulled starters out of the game.

"T.L. Hanna's been struggling, and it was important we got on them," Strickland said. "Doing that gave our reserves some playing time. They deserved to play."

Among the top priorities for Strickland and the Indians this week is getting healthy.

At the moment, Lipscomb is listed day-today with the high ankle sprain that left him inactive against the Yellow Jackets. Beside him for much of the night was his backup, Rogers, who is nursing a pulled groin.

Strickland has listed Rogers as day-to-day.

But it is likely Strickland and his coaching staff will spend hours looking at tape of Gaffney's next opponent, rival Byrnes.

"They're a mighty fine team with a lot of good players," Strickland said. "The way that (Byrnes) has been putting up points you wonder if anyone could stop them.

"All I can say is that we're going to take our shot and see what we can do."

Byrnes, one of the top high school teams in the nation according to some, has outscored opponents 235-35, including an 85-8 romp over Class 2A foe Woodland in week 4.

However, in the past four years only two teams have beaten the Rebels — Gaffney is one of them; and Strickland let his team know that after the game.

"We're one of the few teams that have beaten them," Strickland said. "But we have to put in a whole week of work."

A RIVALRY RENEWED

GAFFNEY at
BYRNES
FRIDAY, 7:30 P.M.
NIXON FIELD, DUNCAN
LAST 5
MEETINGS:
2008: Byrnes 42,
Gaffney 14
2007: Byrnes 49,
Gaffney 14
2006 (state playoffs):
Gaffney 16, Byrnes 13
2006 (regular season):
Gaffney 28, Byrnes 15
2005: Byrnes 30,
Gaffney 10