Gaffney Rides the Green Wave to Round 2
Richard Sealy on one of his three touchdown carries as Gaffney defeats Easley
November 6, 2017
Gaffney’s victory over Easley on Friday night was not a fashionable win, but a win nevertheless.
Richard Sealy stepped in for an injured Kelvin Kirby and rushed for 141 yards on 21 carries; the Gaffney defense came up with two interceptions by No’Kinja Tate and DeAndrei Thompson Jr., and the Gaffney Indians advanced to the second round of the State Playoffs with a 33-14 win over Easley.
No’Kinjia Tate with great pass coverage against the Green Wave
The Gaffney offense came out flat compared to weeks past but still held the 13-0 advantage over the Green Wave at halftime thanks to a Sealy touchdown and Tyshun Sarratt’s connection with Dennis Smith. The third quarter saw the Indians put more distance between themselves and Easley as Sealy rattled off two touchdown runs. Easley finally found the scoreboard with under 2 minutes to go in the third quarter when Weston Black found Deandre Byrd on a 48 yard touchdown strike.
“We struggled a little bit tonight,” said coach Jones following the game. “Defense played great, we gave up a touchdown with a blown coverage but as a whole the defense had a great night.”
Quez Smith sealed the deal for the Indians when he crossed the goal line out of Gaffney’s heavy package with 6:26 left in regulation. The Green Wave would cap off the scoring with a 10 play 60 yard drive that ended in Cavario Cureton, taking it into the end zone from one yard out. Gaffney head coach Dan Jones told him team following the game,
“At this point in the season, it’s all about advancing.”
Gaffney will travel to Rock Hill to take on a familiar foe next Friday in Northwestern at District 3 Stadium. The Indians have won just two games at District 3 Stadium against the Trojans since 1991. One of those wins came last year in the opening round of the playoffs in double overtime. The Trojans edged the Indians 17-13 earlier in the season. Northwestern is coming off a huge 58-7 win over Laurens.
“We’ve got to execute on offense and maintain our emotion on defense. If we take care of the football against Northwestern and make them earn everything they get, it’ll be a great playoff game, ” said Jones.