The Buckeyes are now 4-0 in District 16-3A play and 7-1 overall while the Panthers are 2-2 and 6-2. The Panthers face a must-win situation to keep their playoff chances alive.
“We need to make sure everybody understands the importance of this ball game,” emphasized Gilmer head coach Jeff Traylor. “If you lose, you don’t want to have to beat Kilgore (in a game scheduled here on Nov. 9) to get into the playoffs. We need everybody to show up.”
The Buckeyes want to go into that final game undefeated in district and with their 12th straight playoff berth already in hand.
David Snow of the Buffalo Bills became the second former Buckeye now playing in the National Football League who took the time to fly down here during an off week to watch the Buckeyes play this season. He was an honorary captain and participated in the coin toss before the Spring Hill game.
Curtis Brown of the Pittsburgh Steelers came to see his former team play Gladewater on Sept. 28.
“I never lost any games with Curtis and David when I coached them, hardly, and now that they’re on my sidelines coaching, we don’t lose with them there either,” quipped Coach Traylor.
He said the fact that Buckeyes who have achieved the ultimate goal of any football player would still come back and want to help really made him feel good.
“That’s the way I wanted the program to be when I got here,” he said, noting that the current Buckeyes practically worship Curtis and David.
And if you grew up around here playing football, whether it was organized or not, you can probably remember yourself how much you idolized the pro players and how much this means to them.
In going over the Spring Hill game, Coach Traylor commented, “It’s the first time all year we’ve had every player on the field. Every player suited out and every player played in the game. We haven’t had that happen all year. So it’s a good time to be getting everybody back.”
The offense really clicked in both the running and passing games. DeVondrick Dixon returned a punt for a touchdown and nearly returned a kickoff for another. He also cashed in for another six by receiving a long ball from Tanner Barr.
The Spring Hill player who was feared to be seriously injured on Dixon’s long kickoff return, Waylon McFadin, fortunately turned out to just have a bruised back and was able to go home Saturday.
Barr also hooked up with Jaidon Parrish and Slade Morris for TD passes.
Defensive standouts in the 59-10 win included:
Demarco Boyd, seven tackles (six for loss), one assist, one forced fumble and two sacks;
Xavier Fluellen, five tackles, three forced fumbles;
Ardarius Johnson, nine tackles, one sack;
CJ Williams, five tackles (two for loss), two assists, one pressure, one fumble recovery;
John McPherson, five tackles, three assists and one forced fumble.
“We’ve got a big game this week, playing a heavy, heavy senior team,” said Coach Traylor of Bullard.
“It starts with their quarterback, Colton Mebane. He’s an unbelievable player. He can run. He can throw. Great field leader. He’s the heart of their team.
“Haden Bryant’s a fantastic wide receiver (88).”
Sal Guiliano (6) is also “fantastic.”
Brentavian Henderson (5) and Houston Alexander (20) are very good running backs.
Zack Holladay (42) is very good at both wide receiver and linebacker.
Bryant and Henderson are also good on defense. Bullard has a number of players going both ways.
“They’re just a very well-coached, disciplined, very good football team,” Traylor concluded.
Bullard head coach Shannon Wilson has taken his team’s placement in the District of Doom in stride.
“It’s all how you look at it. I look at it as whoever comes out of this district is going to represent East Texas very, very, very well. It’s kind of an honor to be placed in it, to be honest with you.
“I’ve been in that situation in the Metroplex, so it’s not something I’m not used to,” said the former Southlake Carroll defensive coordinator. The Lubbock native coached at Irving before that.
“Our goal is always to get better each day.
“We’ve got a bunch of very productive players and they’re not a bunch of limelighters. They’ll tell you it’s a team effort. Just a bunch of blue-collar workers getting after it.
“We have a bunch of kids that are collectively about the same, so it’s hard to single out anybody. I could list the whole team, to be honest with you.
“We preach ‘team’ and we’ve got guys who are unselfish. That’s the key to playing defense, in my opinion,” said the third-year coach.
Bullard runs a “3-4 shaded” defense.
On offense, he said, “We always try to push the envelope to do things that are going to be hard on the other team.
“The guys really know what we’re trying to do schematically and it allows us to play faster, and that’s huge for us,” Wilson said. “Our coaching staff does a great job in preparing them technically and with the game plan. I think it’s an overall team effort week-in and week-out.
“They know what they’re doing, so we’re able to capitalize a little more on people’s strengths this year. Basically we take that Carroll concept in the passing game and all that stuff where we’re from that’s hard to defend and so it’s a lot of stuff that’s going on. We at least make people study a lot,” he quipped.
“I felt like they played really hard,” said Wilson of his team after the Panthers lost to Henderson on the road, 24-14, last Friday night. “We had to play at a high level and make plays in all three phases. We missed a few tackles out on the edge, gave a few creases, but they played hard.
“Offensively, we kind of hurt ourself a little on first down. We got into some bad down and distance situations. When you’re playing a really good team like Henderson … you’ve got to play at a productive level in all three phases.”
The Panthers are going to “have a good time” and “keep plugging away,” he concluded.
“We’re just going to go out and play hard for four quarters.”
Bullard is not invincible at home, having lost 27-14 to Kilgore on Oct. 5. Gilmer is aiming to deal the Panthers their second home loss Friday night. Then, and only then, can we can focus on the big game here against Kilgore on Nov. 9.
(Bryan Houston of Bryan Houston’s Sports Radio Live on 99.3 Talk FM also contributed to this report.)
Gilmer Buckeyes Season to Date:
Atlanta, won 31-17
Plano Prestonwood, lost 42-12
Jacksonville, won 34-33
Daingerfield, won 43-14
Gladewater, won 21-13
Chapel Hill, won 50-28
Henderson, won 28-26
Spring Hill, won 59-10
Bullard Panthers Season to Date:
Quitman, won 58-6
White Oak, won 52-6
Diboll, won 14-0
Huntington, won 60-0
Kilgore, lost 27-14
Gladewater, won 26-6
Chapel Hill, won 42-41
Henderson, lost 24-14
MAP AND DIRECTIONS:
A Google map with directions to Panther Stadium in Bullard is online at GilmerMirror.com.
OTHER DISTRICT GAMES:
Kilgore hosts Henderson and Gladewater hosts Chapel Hill.
STATISTICAL LEADERS:
Tanner Barr has completed 127of 213 passes for 1523 yards with 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Kris Boyd has rushed for 723 yards on 74 carries and 12 touchdowns for an average of 9.77 yards per carry.
Chase Tate has 35 receptions for 285 yards and two touchdowns.
BUCKEYE TICKET LINE:
903-841-7777
LUNCH WITH THE COACH:
Noon Today, Buckeyes Booster Club meets at Gilmer Country Club.
LIVE WEBCAST:
http://www.gilmerbuckeyes.com/page10.html
DIRECT LINK:
http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/gilmer.portal#
VIDEO REPLAYS:
Etex, Channel 2, will replay Gilmer games at 10 a.m. Saturdays and 6 p.m. Wednesdays.
(This channel also carries the audio of the games live.)
New Diana games will be replayed 2 p.m. Saturdays and 6 p.m. Thursdays
Harmony games will be replayed 6 p.m. Saturdays and 6 p.m. Tuesdays.
GILMER BUCKEYES HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL APP:
http://buckeyesfootball.mobi
BUCKEYES BLOG:
http://gilmerbuckeyes.blogspot.com
MAXPREPS HOME PAGE:
http://www.maxpreps.com/high-schools/gilmer-buckeyes-(gilmer,tx)/football/home.htm
Bounty Hunter
of the Week:
CJ Williams
Special Teams
‘Cool Daddy’
Player of the Week:
DeVondrick Dixon
Scout Team
Players of the Week:
Colton Hendrix, Offense
Zach Hubbard, Defense
Nathan Jenkins, Special Teams
Game Info & Notes
By JOE DODD
November 2- @ Bullard
STADIUM: Panther Stadium
STADIUM OPENED: 2008
STADIUM CAPACITY: 5,500
STADIUM SURFACE: Real Grass (Turf)
STADIUM ADDRESS:
1000 S. Houston
Bullard, TX 75757
Mascot: Panthers
Colors: Blue/White/Red
District: 16-3A
Enrollment: 606
2011 Record: 8-5; 2-2 District
2012 Record: 6-2; 2-2 District
Week 0: won v. Quitman 58-6
Week 1: won @ White Oak 52-6
Week 2: won @ Diboll 14-0
Week 3: won v. Huntington 60-0
Week 4: Open
Week 5: lost v. Kilgore 14-27
Week 6: won @ Gladewater 26-6
Week 7: won v. Chapel Hill 42-41
Week 8: lost @ Henderson 14-24
Total Points For: 280 Average Points For Per Game: 35
Total Points Against: 110 Average Points Against Per Game: 14
Head Coach: Shannon Wilson (3rd season, 17-14, 17-14 overall)
Returning Starters: 8 Offense/9 Defense
Offensive Formation: Spread
Defensive Formation: 50 (3-4)
Players to Watch:
Colton Mebane, Sr. QB 5'10”, 180 lbs. (77 of 140 for 1,311 yards, 12 TD’s, 3 INT’s)
Hayden Bryant, Sr. WR/LB 5’10”, 170 lbs. (32 catches for 726 yards, 9 TD’s)
Brentavian Henderson, So. RB 5'10” 170 (78 carries for 615 yards, 12 TD’s)
Historical Stats, Records, and Program Information
YEAR W-L-T COACH
2000 1-9-0 Tom Talley
2001 6-4-0 Barry Bowman
2002 3-7-0 Barry Bowman
2003 5-5-0 Barry Bowman
2004 4-6-0 Rex Sharp
2005 0-10-0Rex Sharp
2006 4-6-0 Rex Sharp
2007 6-4-0 Jim Taylor
2008 3-7-0 Jim Taylor 2009 1-9-0 Jim Taylor 2010 3-7-0 Shannon Wilson 2011 8-5-0 Shannon Wilson 2012 6-2-0 Shannon Wilson
BY DECADES W- L- T
1980-89: 17-83-0
1990-99: 46-56-1
2000-09: 33-67-0 2010-12: 17-14-0
TOTAL: 113-220-1
Undefeated Seasons: 0
Winless Seasons: 6 (1980, 1981, 1982, 1995, 1996, 2005)
Consecutive Losses: first 31 games
Last District Championship: 1992 (Co-champion in 1993)
Last Playoff Appearance: 2011
Playoff Record: 2-5-0
Gilmer v. Bullard All-Time Series
Gilmer leads the series 4-0-0
35 – 1998 – 10
28 – 1999 – 14
48 – 2008 – 12
71 – 2009 – 0
STREAKS
Gilmer has a 4 game winning streak over Bullard
Gilmer has a 13 game district winning streak (last loss: 38-21 @ Carthage, 2010)
Gilmer has a 143 consecutive games scoring streak (last shutout: 10-0 @ Longview to Pleasant Grove, 2001)
NOTES
Jeff Traylor teams are 2-0 against Bullard
Jeff Traylor is 141-23 at Gilmer (86%)
Gilmer is 58-4 under Jeff Traylor in district games (94%)
Gilmer’s Jeff Traylor’s 86% winning percentage is the 2nd best among all active coaches in Texas
Gilmer has won more games (141) than any other 3A team in the state since 2000
Gilmer has either won the state championship or lost in the playoffs to the eventual state champion in 6 of the past 9 years
Gilmer is 114-14 under Jeff Traylor in regular season games (89%)
Gilmer is 92-6 (94%) in regular season games since 2003
Gilmer is averaging 412 total yards per game
Gilmer's 448 offensive plays consist of 213 passing attempts (48%) and 235 rushing attempts (52%)
Gilmer averages 191 yards per game passing (46%) and 221 yards per game rushing (54%)
Gilmer has rushing touchdowns by 5 different players
Gilmer has receiving touchdowns by 8 different players
Gilmer is ranked 11th in this week’s Associated Press Class 3A poll
Gilmer is ranked 9th in this week’s Class 3A Pigskinprep.com power rankings
Gilmer’s schedule is the 4th toughest in Class 3A according to PigskinPrep.com
Gilmer is a 9 point favorite over Bullard according to PigskinPrep.com
Did you know?
Every game between Gilmer and Bullard has come in district play
Bullard’s first ever playoff win came last season
View Larger Map
District 16-3A Game Five
Gilmer Buckeyes at Bullard Panthers
Panther Stadium, Bullard
Friday, Nov. 2
7:30 p.m.
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