The Dorman Cavaliers erased a 21-point deficit on Thursday night and staved off a Hail Mary pass at the horn to escape the Reservation with a 48-45 victory over the Gaffney Indians. The Tribe accumulated 666 yards of offense on the night and allowed the Cavaliers 423 yards, 310 of which came through the air. Gaffney falls to 5-2 on the season and 0-1 in Region 3-5A play as the Cavaliers improve to 5-2 and 2-0 in region competition.

Gaffney scored early and often in the first quarter, jumping out to a 21-0 advantage thanks to D.J Logan’s two touchdowns, one rushing the other receiving, and another score on a touchdown pass from Tyshun Sarratt to Dennis Smith.

“We jumped out to a big lead like that in the first quarter, and there’s no doubt we let up a little bit after that, but Dorman is a good football team.” said Gaffney head coach Dan Jones.

The second quarter would be owned by Dorman as quarterback Jalen Fowler found the end zone on three occasions to cut into the Gaffney lead. Gaffney held the 28-21 lead at halftime as Tyshun Sarratt found Dennis Smith from 27-yards out.

The third quarter saw very little scoring with the only points coming on a Marcos Mosqueda 37- yard field goal that pushed the Gaffney cushion to 10 at 31-21.

The final 12 minutes of play will go down as one of the most exciting quarters played at the Reservation. Dorman captured its first lead of the game 34-31 at the 11:04 mark in the final quarter as Jalen Fowler found the end zone from three yards out after Sarratt was intercepted by Tylen Fowler. Gaffney would answer on the following drive with Cameron Rice taking it in from 14-yards out to put the Tribe back on top 38-34. Fowler struck again, connecting with Chase Tinsley two plays later, handing the lead back to the Cavaliers 41-38. The Indians ensuing drive was stalled at the Dorman 28-yard line as Sarratt was unable to find a receiver, turning the ball over to the Cavalier offense. The Gaffney defense forced a three-and-out and Micah Buckley punt. The Tribe had one final hope, starting at their own 32-yard line. The Indians mounted a six play 68-yard drive as Rice capped it off, scoring on a 9-yard run off the right side to give Gaffney the 45-41 lead with just 1:04 remaining in the game. Dorman took the kickoff from their own 26-yard line and returned it to the Gaffney 15-yard line after Addison Wilkins recovered Eli Buckley’s fumble.

“Certainly a kickoff return down to our fifteen yard line was big and we knocked the ball loose and they still advanced it.” said Gaffney head coach Dan Jones,”It was a game full of big plays and our kids played hard.”

The Cavaliers would make good on the return as Fowler struck once more regaining the lead 48-45 on his seventh touchdown of the night. The Indians would be unable to score on their final possession as Sarratt heaved a pass at the horn that was caught by Myell White who was brought down at the 5-yard line to end the game.

With only five teams in the region each region game this season is extremely important concerning the playoffs,

“Well that’s why you’ve got to play each game to the best of your ability and hopefully things will work out for us and we will make the playoffs.” Said Dan Jones, “I’ve never been involved in a game much better than this, I just wish we’d been on the 48 instead of the 45 side.”

Gaffney looks to even their region record next Friday traveling to take on Boiling Springs.