After Missing Two Games Due To “Helene” Gaffney Top Ranked Gaffney Preparing To Host Byrnes

By Billy G. Baker

Publisher

Gaffney — Feeling the effects of Hurricane Helene, the Div. II AAAAA top ranked Gaffney Indians are 4-0, so far in the 2024 season, as they prepare to play rival Byrnes High this week in a key region game.

Head coach Dan Jones said while Gaffney High School has been closed for two weeks, he was fortunate that at his house he only lost power for less than a day. He said the team only got back, as a unit, this past Friday for some weight lifting and they managed to go out on the field for about an hour to practice mainly on 7-on-7 passing drills.

“Monday will be a teacher work day at Gaffney High and then the students are expected back on Tuesday,” said Coach Jones. “We are excited to be resuming our season this week against Byrnes. 

“This was supposed to be a home game for Byrnes this week, and even though they are coming over to our place they will be considered the home team,” said Coach Jones. “They are making major renovations to their football stadium right now. so, they are having to play all of their games on the road this season.

“This is a typical Byrnes team on defense and they fly around and get after you from every direction,” said Coach Jones. “They are not quite as explosive on offense but they are a well-coached teams and they beat us for the region championship last year, and that game is still fresh in our minds.

“We have lost seven key players from Spring drills due to injuries, or transfer, so we are very proud to be 4-0 going into the game with Byrnes this week,” said Coach Jones. “We have lost our top running back Jaiden McDowell (5-11, 175) who tore some ligaments in his ankle in the JL Mann game at the start of the season and we have no idea if he might get back before the end of the season,” said Coach Jones. “Chas Smith has stepped up in his place but we sure miss McDowell in the back field.”   

Junior quarterback Jayvon Gilmore (6-5,200) who is committed to Arkansas will miss the first half of the Byrnes game this week due to an altercation on the sideline during the Boiling Springs game. ‘It was a little about nothing,” said Coach Jones “It was something that happened on the sidelines, after a play, and it never got out of hand at all.”

Gaffney has defeated JL Mann (42-40-OT), Greenville High (54-14), Freedom NC (31-0) and recently Boiling Springs (28-22 OT).

Against Boiling Springs Gilmore completed 13-of-21 passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns. His top receiving targets in that game were Jamarcus JR” Smith who had five catches for 119 yards and one touchdown along with Chas Smith who had four catches for 90 yards. Shane Davidson caught a 64-yard bomb from Gilmore for a touchdown also.

Against Boiling Springs, the top rushers were J. Smith with 70 yards on seven carries with a touchdown.

Through four games Gilmore has completed 71-of--109 passes for 1,088 yards and 12 touchdowns. He is averaging 272 yards passing a game.

The top receivers to date are J Smith with 524 yards on 28 catches and four touchdowns along with C Smith who has 195 yards in receptions on 11 catches and three scores. Davidson has seven catches for 189 yards and five touchdown catchers.

As a team Gaffney has passed for 1,098 yards on 69 plays. On the ground they have tallied 677 yards on 121 carries. With McDowell sidelined the Indians have relied a little more on the pass.

Blake Martin has punted six tines for 38,3 yards average.

On defense, the tackle index is led by DL Sherman Tate (6-2, 200) with 19 tackles and five TFLs to date along with junior LB Zyon Ratchford (6-2, 205) who has 17 tackles, 8 TFLs and three sacks coming into the Byrnes game. Senior DL Josh Corry (6-2, 225) is third on the tackle chart with 14 tackles and seven TFL. Sophomore LB Kendarious Bailey (5-11, 205) has contributed 12 tackles and two TFLs.

 Senior Karmello Grant (5-10,265) can play all three positions on the defensive front when needed.

Three-year LB starter Andrew Ruppe, who calls the defense from the middle, has missed two games and he has four tackles and two TFLs on the season. Three defensive players have one pick each led by senior DB Imari Foster-Boyd along with Dawkins and senior DL Nathan Herrera.

Depth in the secondary is provided by senior Jayden Sims (5-11, 170), senior Viante Robbs (5-10,160), Foster-Boyd, along with senior Demontia Duff (6-1, 190).

The defensive front returns Kelic Harris (6-3, 280) along with defensive end Sherman Tate (6-0,220) Josh Corry (6-3, 245) was limited with a broken hand last year but he will add depth at defensive end. Corry could be an H-back some on offense. Senior Karmello Grant (5-10,265) can play all three positions on the defensive front when needed. Sophomore Kendarious “Peanut” Bailey (5-11, 215) also provides depth at linebacker and he ran a 4.5 forty over the summer. 

Other players competing for playing time at linebacker include DaQuan Coker (5-11, 188) and Aaron Littlejohn (5-11, 180).

Gaffney is fortunate to have two of the best tackles playing in the state in senior USC commitment Shedrick Sarratt (6-4, 300) and junior Scotland Dover (6-4, 305) who has numerous offers including Tennessee and Kentucky. 

Other contributors in the offensive line include senior CJ Brooks (6-5,325), senior AJ Suttles (6-2, 2300) and junior Cam Shippy (6-1, 230).

A few other players making contributions so far this season include sophomore running back Trason Smith (6-1, 205), wide receiver Ty McGill, freshman corner Zion Dawkins (5-10,168), free safety Chad Smith 5-01,170,4,58), who impressed coaches at a recent Wake Forest camp along with Zorian Lanier (5-11, 180) who also competes at wide receiver.

Coach Jones, a Gaffney graduate, who once starred as fast moving 160-pound defensive end, has announced he will be retiring after this season. At a school rich in tradition with a state record 18 football titles he would certainly love to go out with a state title. 

After the Byrnes games, the Indians will have to make up lost region games with Eastside and Spartanburg due to Hurricane Helene. Gaffney has remaining regular season games against Riverside, Dorman, and Wade Hampton to conclude the regular season.

There is talk that the SCHSL League is meeting very soon and the fall sports season is expected to be extended two full weeks to make for lost games mainly in the upstate from the storm that caused serious damage all over the upstate. With that in mind Coach Jones said the schedule might vary in the near future.