News - Sports

Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008

Gaffney 52, York 14

YORK — It did not take long for Gaffney coach Phil Strickland to figure out who will be his starting quarterback for the remainder of the season.

Sophomore DeEdward Burris, who suffered a broken hand early in the season, took over under the center on the second series and manufactured several big plays to spark Gaffney to a 52-14 road win over York in the Region 3-AAAA opener for both teams.

“We are working him back into the flow,” Strickland said of his talented quarterback, Burris. “He improvised and made many several big plays for us tonight. He took over the second series, but will be starting from now on.”

Burris ignited a 35-point first-half explosion with three touchdown passes along with a 58-yard touchdown run. For the game, he completed eight passes for 200 yards and gained 80 more on the ground.

York, which dropped its fifth in a row, matched Gaffney with a 7-7 deadlock after one quarter. Corey Dover scampered 54 yards to the Indians’ 6-yard line. On the next play, tailback Quastin Walker carried the remaining distance.

But from that point, it was all Indians. Burris took over under center and engineered an 11-play, 70-yard march that was capped by a 19-yard pass to Emison Hughes. The Indian defense blocked a field-goal attempt, and on the next play, tailback Kenard Liscomb broke several tackles for a 74-yard scoring run.

Leading 21-7, Gaffney put the contest out of reach quickly as Burris scrambled in the pocket and connected with Robert Davidson for an 86-yard scoring pass. On the next possession, Burris dropped back to pass and scrambled 58 yards into the end zone, putting the Indians in control, 35-7, at the half.

“They were able to consistently make the big play,” Cougar coach John Barrett said. “They turned three busted, where we thought we had them for losses; but give them credit, they turned those into big plays.”

GAFFNEY 52, YORK 14

Gaffney....7.....28.....7.....10.....—.....52

York.....7.....0.....7.....0.....—.....14

SCORING SUMMARY

G — Emison Hughes 48 pass from DeEdward Burris (Josh Harris kick)

Y — Quastin Walker 6 run (Logan Bass kick)

G — Jeffery Brown 19 pass from Burris (Harris kick)

G — Kenard Libscomb 74 run (Harris kick)

G — Robert Davidson 86 pass from Burris (Harris kick)

G — Burris 58 run (Harris kick)

G — Jeremiah Cochran 4 run (Harris kick)

Y — Walker 6 run (Bass kick)

G — Harris 37 field goal

G — Mike Wood 1 run (Harris kick)

TEAM STATISTICS

.....GHS.....YCHS

First downs.....18.....14

Rushes-yards.....34-298.....41-238

Comp-Att-Int .....11-16-0.....5-10-1

Passing yards.....256.....40

Fumbles-lost.....1-0.....3-3

Penalties-yards.....4-35.....2-10

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING —Gaffney: DeEdward Burris 7-80, Jeremiah Cochran 9-55, Robert Davidson 2-14, Kenard Libscomb 5-90, Rodney Rogers 8-44, Mike Wood 3-15. York: Quastin Walker 18-69, Nick Feemster 7-24, Travis McConnell 5-29, Matt Haynie 3-9, Jon Hardy 1-6, Vernon Mills 1-5, Logan Bass 2-5, Corey Dover 4-91.

PASSING — Gaffney: Joe Craig 3-5-0-56, DeEdward Burris 8-11-0-200. York: Corey Dover 5-8-0-40, Matt Haynie 0-2-1-0.

RECEIVING — Gaffney: Phillip Humphries 1-7, Robert Davidson 3-100, Jeffrey Brown 2-61, Joe Craig 1-7, Emison Hughes 4-81. York: Joseph Goins 2-20, 3-20.

RECORDS — Gaffney 4-3, 1-0 Region 3-AAAA; York 2-5, 0-1.