Gaffney (8-3) opens the playoffs on Friday at home aganst Stratford. The Indians would travel to Summerville for a second-round matchup. Photo by LARRY HILLIARD In addition to taxes and death, you can add Gaffney playing its best football in the playoffs to one of life’s certainties.

“In my six years here, the kids have stepped it up in the playoffs,” Gaffney coach Phil Strickland said.

And he expects this year to be no exception.

“The team has been resilient this year,” he said. “And I think they’ll play (on Friday).”

The Indians begin their quest for a state championship at home Friday against (7-4) Stratford, the No. 10 seed. In the second round, the Indians would likely travel to Summerville, a team they routed in a first-round playoff matchup last year.

But before the Indians begin making plans for Columbia, they must put Friday’s loss to Northwestern behind them. The Indians led 16-14 at intermission but the momentum shifted the Trojans’ way in the second half.

“We didn’t play our best game but we have to wipe everything out and put that game in the past,” he said.

Strickland said the Indians didn’t play with enough emotion during the second half of the Northwestern game.

Although the defense took its share of knocks for the loss, Strickland said the offense must take its share of the blame in the third quarter when the Indians had three straight three and outs.

“We didn’t do a good job of executing in the third quarter and we have to come out ready to play in the second half,” the Gaffney coach said.

But Strickland said his main message to the team has been to play with intensity.

“I told the guys that when we play with a lot of emotion we aren’t a bad football team,” he said.

Notes for Friday's playoff game ... Reserved parking and seating will still be honored for the playoff game. Season ticket holders will have their reserved seats if they bring their stub. But they must purchase a ticket for the game.

Tickets will be sold at the school on Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The tickets will cost $6.