Photo by LARRY HILLIARD Gaffney quarterback DeEdward Burris scrambles out of the pocket during first-quarter action on Friday against York. The York Cougars won the turnover battle. But that’s about all they won against the Gaffney Indians on Friday. Or all season, for that matter.

The Indians lost two fumbles and had an interception but still rolled over the 1-6 Cougars, 55-7, at the Reservation.

“We still have to cut out the turnovers,” Gaffney coach Phil Strickland said. “But what I’m proud of is that the kids who don’t play a lot, did well.”

Like backup quarterback Joey Copeland, who had touchdown runs of 30 and 67 yards.

But the starters weren’t bad either.

Gaffney (5-2, 1-0) piled up a season-high 616 total yards of offense, with quarterback DeEdward Burris guiding the Indians to touchdowns on their first two possessions. Burris was equally dangerous with his arm and legs. He rushed for 128 yards on nine carries and two touchdowns. He also completed 10 of his 18 passes for a whopping 288 yards and three touchdowns.

The only mistakes he made were a first-quarter fumble and interception.

Strickland said Burris was much sharper than his recent performance against Spartanburg.

“He had a better game,” the Gaffney coach said. “He came off his first receiver too quick last week (against Spartanburg). This week, he did a lot better.”

The Gaffney defense also got things done, holding the Cougars to 215 total yards and 13 first downs. Freshmen defensive end Jaylen Miller continues to come on, with several tackles behind the line of scrimmage and a fumble recovery.

Rodney Rogers capped the Indians’ opening possession with a 4-yard run. Burris had long completions to Tim Ellis and Joe Craig on the drive.

After the Cougars couldn’t move on their opening drive, they capitalized on a fumbled punt to tie the game at 7 on Matt Haynie’s 25-yard strike to running back Quastin Walker with 6:25 left in the first quarter.

The Indians went on top for good on their next possession, marching 63 yards in just three plays with Tim Ellis hauling in a 37-yard touchdown pass from Burris.

After turnovers on two consecutive possessions, the Indians held onto the ball to go up 21-7 on Burris’ 27-yard scoring toss to Tim Ellis.

York gambled and lost on a fake punt, giving the Indians a short field with time waning in the second quarter. It took the Indians only five plays to build its lead to 28-7 on Burris’ 16-yard run.

The sputtering York offense came to life on the opening possession of the second half, but a fourthand 13 pass at the Indian 28 fell incomplete.

Two plays later, the Indians were celebrating again when Burris hit a streaking Khris Brown on a 63-yard touchdown pass.

Burris scored on the Indians’ next possession before he and the rest of the starters spent the remainder of the game on the sidelines.

Gaffney travels to Nation Ford on Friday.