Gaffney High quarterback DeEdward Burris tries to elude Boiling Springs defenders during Friday's season-opener at Bulldog Stadium. Burris threw for two touchdowns as the Indians held on for the 21-14 victory. Photo by LARRY HILLIARD With flashy DeEdward Burris running the offense, it might be easy to overlook Gaffney’s unheralded defense.

Not Friday.

Sophomore Tyquille Byars bailed out the Indians, stuffing Tyler Leath in his tracks for no gain on fourth-and-goal at the Gaffney 2 with :33 left in the game as the Indians held on for a 21-14 victory before a packed house at Bulldog Stadium.

“I’m real proud of our defense,” said first-year Gaffney coach Dan Jones, who was presented with the game ball in the postgame huddle by athletic director Mark Huff. “We gave them a chance to get back into it. But I’m proud of the defense and the guys for not letting up and winning the game.”

As for the defensive stop, Jones expected a bootleg but what the Indians got was a power run up the middle. Fortunately for the Indians, Byars wouldn’t budge.

“I got down low like the coaches tell me to do,” Byars said.

Except for the last quarter when a combination of assorted physical woes and cramps forced the coaching staff to go even deeper into its depth chart, the Indians defense controlled the game.

Trailing 21-0, the Bulldog offense finally showed a spark, marching 76 yards on 17 plays to pull within 21-6 on Hunter Cummins 2-yard run with 11:48 remaining.

It took exactly nine seconds for Cummins to come up with another big play, as Burris threw an ill-advised pass into the hands of the running back turned linebacker for a 20- yard touchdown. Leath scored on the 2-point conversion to cut the deficit to 21- 14.

With the partisan crowd revved up, the pesky Bulldogs got the ball back with 6:18 and methodically marched down the field - converting a pair of fourth and shorts along the way.

But the Gaffney defense responded, giving up just five yards on three rushing plays to set up the pivolal fourthdown play and stop by Byars.

As the Bulldogs struggled in the first half, the Indians, in contrast, seemed to do most everything right. Gaffney gained 108 yards through the air and 71 more on the ground in the first half.

After Burris was stopped on a fourth-andgoal at the 4, Gaffney got on the board on its next possession when the quarterback connected with Quinshad Davis for a 39-yard score with 10:45 left in the second quarter.

After a 29-yard catch by Khris Brown and a 15- yard run by Burris, C.J. Miller made it 14-0 on a 3- yard burst with a minute left before halftime.

Gafffney sputtered out of the gate in the third quarter with Burris fumbling inside Bulldog territory. But the pugnacious Indian defense stopped the Bulldogs on a fourthand one to regain possession.

Ten plays later, Davis scored on a 7-yard slant to give the Indians a seemingly comfortable 21-0 lead.

Gaffney, 1-0, will host defending state champion and nationally ranked Dorman on Friday. The Cavaliers didn’t play in week zero.

Observations

RED ZONE - The red zone problems that plagued the Indians last year have yet to be solved. The Indians had a first-and-goal at the 8 in the first quarter but couldn't punch it in when DeEdward Burris was stopped on a fourth-and-goal.

KICKING GAME - Kicker/punter Caleb Knight looked comfortable and in charge despite a revved up stadium. Although one was helped over the cross bar by a Bulldog, he was 3 for 3 on extra points. He also averaged a respectable 26 yards on four punts.

QUINSHAD DAVIS - The wideout boldly claimed he wanted the ball thrown his way this season and he produced with a team-high six catches for 111 yards and two touchdowns. However, Khris Brown had just one catch and the dangerous wideout needs to become more of a factor in the offense.

RUNNING GAME - The Indians picked up a solid 160 yards on the ground, an average of 4.3 a rush, even though the Bulldogs were crowding the line of scrimmage.

DEFENSE - What can you say about a unit that, due to injuries - was playing with key reserves during the crucial fourth quarter. The defensive line of Jaylen Miller, Shaq Wilson, Russell Hughes, Tyquille Byars and Ron Best deserve a game ball.

DeEDWARD BURRIS - Started the third quarter completing 9 of 15 attempts for 150 yards and two touchdowns. But he also made a critical mistake by throwing an ill-advised interception in the fourth quarter. Burris must keep his confidence up if the Indians want to achieve their goals.