Gaffney 42 JL Mann 40 (overtime)
In the premier matchup of the week, the Indians started their stretch of 10 straight weeks after having a bye on week zero. Gaffney came into the season with high expectations as the favorite in region 2-5A, but despite returning a loaded roster with such key pieces as running back Jaiden McDowell, Linebacker Andrew Ruppe, Wideouts Shane Davidson and Jamarcus Smith, that doesn’t mean they were void of any question marks.
Over the offseason, Jayvon Gilmore, who played at Ben Lippen School in Columbia last season, transferred in. He had high remarks, considered to be the top QB in South Carolina as well as the number 4 overall player in the state. He had multiple Power 4 offers, and just recently made his commitment to Arkansas. But, to state the obvious, the transition from SCISA to the top level of football in the state is a leap even for the most talented of players. So, the question is how would he perform in a trial by fire against one of the favorites in 5A division I – the JL Mann Patriots.
This game was similar to the Clinton-Woodruff matchup last week in that it was a ‘narrative flipper.’ The game started out with the storyline being about special teams. Gaffney forced a three and out on Mann’s first series. On the ensuing punt, the fielder tried to catch it almost at his shoe tops, resulting in a muff that was recovered by the Patriots inside the 5. They scored shortly thereafter to take the early lead.
Gaffney took advantage of a great kickoff return plus a penalty to start in plus territory, and would later answer on a 4th down gamble for a 27 yard TD from Gilmore to Shane Davidson, but the PAT was partially blocked, rendering the Indians chasing points the rest of the way.
Gaffney later took the lead after Andrew Ruppe blocked a punt that set the Indians up at the Mann 3. On third down, Jaiden McDowell capitalized on it with a 4 yard TD rush to give the Indians the lead, but the 2 point try was stopped short.
After Mann cut the deficit to 12-10, Gaffney answered with by far their best offensive drive of the game. Facing a 3rd and 30, the Indians converted it with a long pass to the middle of the field on a post play. Shortly after. Gilmore pitched at the last second to McDowell, who went for another big chunk of yards down the sideline. The drive ended in a 30 some odd yard TD pass from Gilmore to Chas Smith to go up 2 scores, taking a 19-10 lead to the break.
The Indians kept it a 2 score game until the 4th quarter, thanks in part to some stellar red zone defense. On three different occasions, JL Mann drove the ball to the 1 yardline, but failed to punch it in on 2 of them as Gaffney’s run defense was like a stone wall. The one time Mann did convert a 4th and goal, it tied the game late.
In the end, GHS took the ball first in overtime and scored quickly on one of 2 rushing TDs by Andrew Ruppe out of the heavy package. A personal foul on the PAT attempt made an obvious gamble for Dan Jones.. Go for 2. And do it with the same play. A direct snap to Ruppe. He got it with ease and that put the pressure on JL Mann to have to match it to force a 2nd OT. Mann did score quickly on a 10 yard LaDainnian Martin (who was not a huge factor in this game. Gaffney contained him well) run. But on the conversion attempt, they ran a play action fake to Martin, but rolled right and threw to the back of the endzone. The pass was off the open receiver’s fingertips, sealing the win for Gaffney.
What cannot be said of this game is that Gaffney choked or let Mann hang around. The Indians did everything a team up 2 scores late against a good team on the road should do. They ran the ball and fed Jaiden McDowell. Credit has to go to JL Mann for keeping them from being able to move the ball to melt the clock. They forced 3 consecutive three and outs and allowed their offense to chip back into it. Tip the cap to the Patriots. All in all, this was a playoff atmosphere and a fantastic football game. But unfortunately one that won’t be replicated in the postseason with these 2 being in separate divisions.
Gaffney will look to go to 2-0 next week as they host Greenville with a 7:30 kick.
Dutch Fork 24 Spartanburg 7
The Vikings took to their home field for the first time this season with a tall task ahead. They would face the defending 5A state champion and perennial contender Dutch Fork Silver Foxes. The task would be tall enough with a healthy roster. But, add in the myriad of injuries the Vikes are dealing with and that mountain seems taller than 2 Mount Everests.
The Vikings were unable to establish a running game, carrying the ball 19 times as a team for just 11 net yards. Trey Burke went 50% (12 for 24) with 119 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. The lone TD was on a 12 yard strike from Burke to Justin Rice, who led the team with 5 receptions for 71 yards. In total, Spartanburg mustered only 130 yards of offense.
To make all that short and simple.. They were injured and outmatched and the result reflects that.
Spartanburg will get a slight break in the schedule next week as they make the short trip down 29 to take on the Broome Centurions.
Boiling Springs 31 Mauldin 12
The Mauldin Mavericks came into Friday night having lost 20 of their last 22 games, most recently a 39-20 week zero loss to Riverside. Thus, the expectation here was that the Bulldogs would win this one with ease and have their starters out before the half. That was pretty much the case.
Boiling Springs drew first blood on a 32 yard TD pass from Lincoln Huskey to Kyle Patterson on 4th and 8.
Mauldin answered with a fieldgoal, but Jeremiah Favorite returned the ensuing kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown. Later on, Husky and Patterson connected again on a 20 yard TD pass across the middle and the rout was on after Tristian Horsey-Johnson added on with a 59 yard pick six.
Boiling Springs’ defense tallied 5 sacks from 6 different players. Gavin Calhoun led the way with 7.5 tackles and 2 sacks. Parker Tapp added 7 tackles of his own with 1 sack. Dennis Glenn, Jymire Wright, and Bobby McBeth also got in on the party in the backfield.
On the offensive side of the ball, Lincoln Huskey finished 13-23 with 218 yards and a pair of TDs. Eli Mobley was the leading receiver with 5 snags for 84 yards. Patterson tallied 4 catches for 61 yards to go with his 2 scores. Grayson Crowe hauled in 2 balls for 38 yards, while running back Ta’majae Williford led the ground game with 10 carries for just 28 yards.
Boiling Springs will look to make it a 3-0 start next week as they make the run up Old Furnace Road and 176 to Inman to take on the Chapman Panthers in the renewal of the “friendliest rivalry in local sports”.
Irmo 35 Byrnes 27
For the 2nd straight week, the ‘Road Rebels’ would be dealing with some key injuries, not unlike Spartanburg. And despite them, for the 2nd straight week, the Rebs kept it close and lost by just a score. They found themselves down 21-7 at the half, but never gave up and chipped all the way back into it. The question that remains for Byrnes is just what the ceiling could be for them whenever they get to the healthiest they can be. They will take another crack at getting into the win column Friday as they travel to Dooley Field to take on the Greer Yellow Jackets.
Grayson 53 Dorman 0
The Cavaliers took a trip down to Georgia this week to battle a foe that has become familiar to our airwaves. They faced the Grayson Rams, a team that has played Spartanburg each of the last 2 seasons. The most frequent phrase said about the Rams all week? “Georgia football is just built differently.”
Take nothing away from Dorman. What we have learned is that we still don’t know how good they really are. Beating Greenville last week was big, but doesn’t give us a good gauge since it is clear the Red Raiders are down. Grayson is also a bad barometer as the Rams just outmatched the Cavs in every facet.
This game was over from the opening whistle. Grayson jumped out to a 14-0 lead not even 5 minutes in and just kept adding on. By the end of the first quarter, it was 28-0. At the half, the final margin was made, as it was 53-0. Dorman mustered just 7 first downs and 97 yards of total offense. They ran the ball 27 times for a whopping net total of 1 yard. They had 96 passing yards. Makorean Anderson started at QB, going 11-25 with 96 yards and a pick. Keenan Arcega-Whiteside was the leading receiver with 33 yards on 2 catches.
Nothing Dorman can do but quickly just put this one behind them and be thankful for the experience. They will hit the road once again Friday to take on Greenwood.
Belton Honea Path 37 Greer 7
BHP is loaded. They will be a bad match for anyone they line up against. Seems Greer is taking the same approach they always do to non-region. Play tough teams, take some lumps on the chin, and then try and run the table to a region championship. Historically that has been their M.O. of late.
They definitely took another one on the chin this week as the Bears jumped out to a 30-0 lead over the first 3 quarters behind star tailback Marquise Henderson, who ran it 9 times for 145 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Greer had some success running the ball late in the game, in the end tallying 168 net yards on 37 attempts. Nick Holmes ran for the bulk of those with 23 touches for 124 yards and the Jackets’ lone TD. QB Kaden Rowland went 7 for 18 with 89 yards, the bulk of which went to receiver Mikey Williams.
Greer is still in search of their first win, and they will have a shot at it in a rivalry matchup with Byrnes at home.
Chapman 35 St Joe’s 21
The Panthers continued their brutal non-region slate as they made their home debut against the Saint Joe’s Knights.
Chapman had to fight back from behind early after St Joe’s went up 6-0. But they overcame the slow start, striking back on one of five rushing touchdowns on the day by Justin Dawkins early in the 2nd stanza.
The 2 sides traded blows the rest of the way, with the Knights eventually tying things at 21 by the end of the 3rd quarter before the Panthers scored 14 unanswered in the final 12 minutes to put the game on ice.
There was not much passing, which would be a crazy thought a year ago for this Chapman offense. Josiah Moore was just 5 of 9 for 61 yards through the air to go with his 7 carries for 53 yards. Justin Dawkins accompanied his 5 TDs with 202 yards on 26 carries whole Josiah Copeland added 118 yards on 20 touches.
Defensively, Tripp Simmons logged 7 tackles and 5 assists with 1 tackle for a loss and Darien Burgess added 6 tackles of his own.
Things get even tougher for Chapman in week 2 as they host cross-town 5A rival Boiling Springs with a 7:30 kickoff.
MVP 49 Southside Christian 7
Last week, the obvious had to be stated. The Stars way overmatched Atlantic Collegiate and that game is no barometer of how good they are. This week, they had a chance to prove any skeptics wrong and they did just that.
The Sabres drew first blood, but Mountain View tied it with about 7:30 to play in the first quarter. Bryson Drummond took over from there. The Stars scored 35 unanswered from there to cruise to the win.
Drummond went 11 for 16 with 368 passing yards and 4 TDs. He also ran for a touchdown. Jaylen McGill tallied 135 yards on 12 carries with a TD while catching 3 passes for 100 yards and a score. KD Hainsworth led the aerial attack with 3 touchdown snags (out of his 4 total catches) and over 150 yards.
MVP goes on the road for another chance to further dissuade doubters with a test against Saint Joe’s Catholic on Friday with a 7:30 kick.
Woodruff 30 Fountain Inn 27
After a thrilling win over Clinton last week, it would be easy to say from looking at the score that the Wolverines experienced a bit of a hangover this week and slipped up against a team that is in just their third season of varsity football.
That isn’t necessarily true, although it did take a last second fieldgoal. Woodruff’s offense tallied 423 yards– 222 on the ground, and 201 passing. TJ Morris went 20-27 through the air with a TD and rushed 6 times for 17 yards. Hunter West caught all 4 passes thrown his way for 72 yards to lead the receiving corps. Kam Taylor had the lone receiving score, but hauled in 4 of 7 targets for 57 yards. Kori Moates hauled in 6 snags for 44 yards. Aiden Gibson led the rushing attack with 33 carries for 168 yards and 2 TDs. Tre Rodgers also had a rushing TD in a 3 carry, 29 yard night.
The Wolverines look to keep the offense rolling as they take on Emerald at Willie Varner Stadium with a 7:30 kick.
Broome 34 Chesnee 27
Last year, an understandably so with McGill and Kamajay Brackett-Brannon in the backfield, the Centurions seemed to consistently put up 500 or more rushing yards per game.
Now, with McGill at MVP and KBB graduated, the reins are handed to QB Jameson Dearybury – who is a bit of a gunslinger.
Last night, he shined against Chesnee, passing for 332 yards and a pair of TDs with one interception. That’s not to say they don’t still have a ground game. Preston Thrift led the way on the ground with 16 carries for 109 yards and 2 touchdowns. In total, they accumulated 175 rushing yards as a team. Brayden Simpson was the leading receiver with 5 snags for 188 yards and a TD.
Chesnee, having gone back to an identity as a running offense, had a lot of success with 342 yards on the ground. Kyle Thrift logged 139 yards on 15 carries with a touchdown while KJ Proctor ran 21 times for 108 and 3 scores.
Broome will host Spartanburg next while Chesnee will have a tough one hosting the Walhalla Razorbacks.
Elsewhere in 3A, Union struggled in a 52-6 loss to Fairfield Central at home. Landrum took care of business on the road against Berea
46-6.
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