Summerville Journal Scene
The Indians of Gaffney avenged a 22-23 loss to the Green Wave last November with an impressive 40-10 victory over Summerville Friday in the opening round of the 2008 Class 1-AAAA playoffs.
The Indians (7-5) mixed the powerful running of Jeremiah Cochran, the scrambling ability of QB Deedward Burris and some timely passing to gain 512 yards to Summerville’s 223. Summerville finishes the season with a 9-3 record.
Burris surpassed the 100-yard rushing mark in the game and also completed 12-of-20 passes for 250 yards and three touchdowns. Cochran rushed for 99 yards and a pair of first-half TDs.
“Well we just got beat on both sides of the ball,” Summerville coach John McKissick said. “They only punted the ball twice and the way they were moving the ball I don’t believe I would have punted then. We just got out manned and out played. But I do applaud my team for playing hard.”
Summerville fumbled the ball three times in the first half, but only loss possession on one and it didn’t lead directly to a score. However, an interception in the second quarter did lead to an Indian TD.
Gaffney got on the board first, driving 85 yards in seven plays on its first possession. Burris capped the drive with a 15-yard TD pass to Joe Craig. Josh Harris added his first of four successful PAT kicks for a 7-0 Gaffney lead.
Summerville answered with a 78-yard TD run by DeAngelo Henderson on the first play after the ensuing kickoff return. Dylan Zimmerman added the PAT kick for a tie and finished Summerville’s next drive with a 26-yard field goal for a 10-7 Wave lead.
From that point on, it was all Gaffney. The Indians answered with a 66-yard drive capped by a Cochran 1-yard spin into the end zone. Summerville’s Ronnie Kirven and Demetrius Sherman both got a hand on the PAT kick for the block.
On Gaffney’s next possession, Cochran scored from 2 yards out. Summerville brought the kickoff out to its 21 and got a first down. Then Gaffney DB Stephon Adams picked off a Summerville pass.
With 16 seconds remaining in the half, the Indians took the score to 27-10 with a 14-yard TD pass to Emison Hughes.
“I thought we were focused; we had a pretty good game plan and we executed well,” Gaffney coach Phil Strickland said. “I’m just real proud of what these kids did. Offensively this was our best and most complete game this year.”
In the second half, the Indians added a 30-yard TD pass to Jeffery Brown and a 4-yard TD run by Kenard Lipscomb. However, mostly Gaffney concentrated on chewing up the clock in the last two quarters. Lipscomb’s score was set up by a fumble in Wave territory.
Henderson led the Wave rushers with 91 yards. QB Donny McElveen was 11-for-24 passing for 125 yards. Tyler Veronee and Kevin Baker both finished with approximately 35 receiving yards.
Contact Roger Lee @ 873-9424 ext. 213 or rlee@journalscene.com.
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Dominance of the Upper State over the Lower state? No Lower state team has won a State Championship in 4A since 1999. All but Sumter (not really lower but we will take it) is left. Hey but Dubose won the Middle School championship! And 13 players played for Rollings this year!
Posted by: Granny
They should of gave Henderson the ball more espically after he score the only touchdown of the game which was a 78 yard run by a 10th grader. I think he is the player to watch next year as the Green Wave rise up and have a good season next year. I followed him since his JV year and he is a very talented person. I do agree with the other comment about Veronee running the ball. He is a very good player too. GOOD LUCK to the mighty Green Wave next year.
Posted by: Summerville's #31 biggest fan
you can disagree all you would like. that is your opinion and you are entitiled to it. i just feel that if they would have given veronee the ball from the begining we could have won. it just doesn't make sense to me that they give him the ball his sophmore, and junior year and then his senior year only give it to him during a few hard season games so you can get in a win against a tough team. its clear that he is good and can dominate so why stop giving him the ball? if i can have a good explanation for that i wouldn't have any doubt about the coaches, but i don't think ANYONE can explain it.
Posted by:
MAYBE YOU SHOULD LET SWITCH OVER TO FORT D...There coaching staff is the worse in the nation....
Posted by:
If someone had told me at one of the pre-season scrimmages we would go 9-3, 4-0 in the Region with road wins over Goose Creek and Beaufort (handily I might add)…I would have told them they were crazy. I applaud the coaches and the players for rising to the challenge and again, making Green Wave football something to be proud of. I support the PROGRAM 100% and look forward to the start of another season next fall. It’s time to turn our attention to Green Wave Basketball and Wrestling (both defending State Champions) and I urge everyone to do so. It’s the $5 best entertainment value around!
Posted by: Matthew Sullivan
I TOTALLY AGREE WITH PHILIP, I COULD NOT HAVE SAID IT ANY BETTER
Posted by: PAT
Gaffney is to be congratulated for coming to John McKissick field and playing a teriffic game. The Veronee/Henderson comment misses the mark by a mile! On that friday night Gaffney played better and won--bottom line. I bleed kelly green and gold, and it hurts when my Wave lose. But, win or lose, I am with them ALL the time!! I NEVER question the playcalling and have NO issue giving opponents their due. Summerville is the 15th winningest high school football program in history! John McKissick sits alone atop the all time wins category at ANY level of football! 9-3 just isn't good enough any more for some folks. 67 wins in the 50's, 86 in the 60's, 109 in the 70's, 112 in the 80's, 96 in the 90's, and 93 so far since 2000! We are the model by which all others have to be compared. Valdosta has had some low-win total seasons several times. For my money, Summerville High School, John McKissick, and his ENTIRE staff are THE best prep football program in the nation! Statistically, fan support wise, and where it really counts the most; winning and losing with class.... Superfan, Philip Fuentes
Posted by: Philip Fuentes
that's what happens when you don't let your best running back run the ball in one of your hardest games of the season. i don't understand the coaching staff. you let veronee run all over the teams in the "hard" season games, but in playoffs give it to your 10th grader that makes one good play a game? maybe the coaches need to take a football 101 class.
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