Jaiden McDowell's 186 yards, 2 TDs the silver lining in Gaffney football's loss to Northwestern
GAFFNEY — In Week 0 of the 2022 season, then-freshman running back Jaiden McDowell was one of the few positives Gaffney coach Dan Jones and his team could take away from a 47-26 loss to South Pointe.
Jones said after that game McDowell would be special by the time he graduated.
The longtime coach was right. His workhorse running back has become that player in just his second season of varsity football, and despite Gaffney (3-2) losing 49-24 on Friday to Rock Hill power Northwestern (3-1), McDowell fought for every yard when given the ball.
"He had a great performance tonight . . . everybody can see if you give that guy a crease, he might go the distance," Jones said. "He's very elusive, very strong. When he makes contact, he turns what should be a tackle into a lot of yards. We have to rely on him more, but we also have to get better up front, so we can give him a chance to have some really big nights."
On a night the Trojans were able to slow down the Gaffney offense, McDowell still managed to gain 186 total yards with two touchdowns on 27 touches. Despite the effort, he wasn't happy with the outcome.
"I felt that we got too comfortable coming into this game. We beat them last year and we came in thinking we had the upper hand," McDowell said. "They're a good team that fought hard. It was a good game on their end."
One of the aspects of McDowell's game that Jones said pops out is how he fights for every yard. In his first-ever varsity start and in Friday's game, the ferocity he runs with becomes even more evident when his team is behind and needs to get something going offensively.
McDowell's mentality is what one could point to for an explanation of that.
When asked why he runs so hard when his team is behind, he said, "You never know how a game's going to go, things can always take a turn for the best, so you always have to fight and put everything you have into each game."
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That maturity and perspective is also a factor in why he has been able to grow as a player so quickly. Through five games this season, he has gained 734 total yards with nine touchdowns, both more than his production last season in 11 games of 696 yards with seven TDs.
"I've just gotten more comfortable with my team, knowing that they can trust me and I can trust them. Being in the weight room in the summer too, putting in the work," McDowell said.
Jones has seen his development too, and knows if Gaffney wants to win a championship this season, his offense has to feed No. 2 in every way possible.
"We're getting it to him a lot more in the passing game this season too, whether it be on flair routes or on screens, which is helping our offense. We also put him out at receiver when we go empty," Jones said.
This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: SC high school football: Jaiden McDowell stars for Gaffney in loss
