Gilmer, China Spring play Friday for 4A Division II state championship
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By ELWYN HENDERSON
The Gilmer Buckeyes will go where no Gilmer team has ever gone this Friday afternoon when they go to AT&T Stadium in Arlington for the second year in a row to play in the Class 4A DII State Championship Game against the China Spring Cougars. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. This will be Gilmer’s eighth appearance in the State Championship. They have three wins and four losses in their previous seven trips to the finals.
Coach Tommy Waggoner took the first Gilmer team to the finals where they lost to Cameron Yoe 26-3 in Waco in 1981. The second appearance was when Coach Jeff Traylor took the 2004 team to the finals and they won the school’s first state title in Nacogdoches at SFA with a thrilling 49-47 victory over Jasper.
Coach Traylor took the Buckeyes back in 2007 where they lost again in Waco to Liberty Hill. Traylor’s 2009 team defeated Abilene Wylie at SMU’s Ford Stadium for the second championship. They returned again 2012, losing to Navasota and captured the third title in 2014 with a come from behind 35-25 victory over West Orange Stark.
Just last year Coach Alan Metzel led the Buckeyes to the Championship Game where they lost to the Carthage Bulldogs. He becomes the FIRST Gilmer coach to take a Buckeye team to back-to-back State Championship appearances and is the first to take his team to the finals his first two years as a head coach.
This will be the first-ever meeting between Gilmer and China Spring. The Cougars are 15-0 on the season. They began with a 49-15 win over Trinity Christian in Addison and followed that up with a 21-13 win over Lorena, a 57-21 win over Brownwood, a 47-7 win over Lampasas, a 56-7 win over Mexia, the ONLY common opponent the two teams have had in 2021.
Then they hammered Jarrell 74-0, beat Gatesville 41-10, Salado 48-7, Waco Robinson 52-21 and closed out the regular season with a 48-7 smashing of Waco Connally.
In the playoffs they trounced Madisonville 50-7 and then hammered Sealy 48-7 before knocking out the 8-time State Champion Carthage Bulldogs 27-17 on November 26th. They moved on with a 31-14 victory over West Orange Stark before winning their Semi-Final match over Cuero 34-9 last Friday night in Round Rock.
The Cougars return 4 offensive and 7 defensive starters and 30 offensive and 21 defensive players from 2020’s 10-3 Regional Finalist team. They were picked by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football to finish first in District 9-4A DII.
The magazine says about the Cougars, “The varsity roster will be bolstered by talent from a junior varsity squad that went 8-2 last season. QB (Major) Bowden (1,534 yards rushing, 21 TDs rushing) is a major threat with his legs. DL (Dawson) Exline (104 tackles, 4 sacks) plays with an extremely high motor. LB (Brayden) Faulkner transitioned from to defense from QB as a junior.
We talked with China Spring Coach Brian Bell Monday morning to get his thoughts on the game for all the marbles. We began by asking him based on what his JV did last year if he anticipated his team could make the State Championship Game this year.
“We felt like we were going to be successful this year. It was just kind of depending on who stepped up. Our guys got a lot of playing time on JV last year. We had a really good senior class last year and we had a lot of the pieces of the puzzle to fix. Our guys really worked hard in the off season and we had a lot of guys step up and they’ve been getting playing time right now. They’ve been kind of critical for us this year.”
We also asked him what he was most proud of his team for this season, to which he replied, “I think the word that kind of describes everybody is trust. I’m just so proud of our guys for trusting us as coaches and trusting our game plans. And on the reverse side I’m so proud of our coaches for trusting our guys and allowing them to have some freedom on the field and to play to the best of their ability with some confidence. That also goes in the coaches’ office, trusting each other as coaches, and in the locker room players trusting players. I’m going to remember this group forever just how they trust each other, trust their coaches, and I think that’s gone a long way for us this year.”
We asked the coach what he felt the strongest suits of the Cougars were coming into the game.
“I think on offense just running the football. Our line has done a phenomenal job and been consistent and also (Quarterback) Major (Bowden) has been able to throw it. He’s been real dynamic with his legs, obviously, but at the same time we feel like any given time if they start trying to take away the run too much we’re able to hurt you in different areas. That’s something that’s been really good for our progress this year. Also, the same thing on defense, you know. Our defense has been real physical and fast and made a lot of plays. As you well know, we’re going against the best offense and best defense we’ve seen all year. We’ve done a good job this year of being consistent and staying true to who we are, but like you guys in the Gilmer community know, it’s no short task. We’ve got to bring out “A” game because we’re going against our best opponent, not even close, that we’ve played all year.”
“It’s going to be a great football game. It’s unbelievable what you guys have put together over there year in and year out. It’s truly remarkable. Just the respect for your program is unbelievable.”
We finished our visit by asking him what his team would need to do to avoid an upset in light of the fact they are favored going into the contest.
“We’re used to being the underdog, you know. It’s interesting everybody’s picking us. No one’s ever picked us most of this year, so it’s kind of crazy if that’s the case. We’re going to have to come out and kind of do what we do and hopefully we can compete. Gilmer’s just go so much speed and they’re so fast and physical on the defensive side of the ball. It’s a tough matchup for us. Obviously, they’re going to put us in a lot of positions that create a lot of problems for us offensively and defensively. It’s just crazy; it’s going to be a great matchup though!”
When we talked with Buckeye Coach Alan Metzel we began by asking him if it had sunk in that the Buckeyes have made school history by getting to back-to-back title games and just how special that accomplishment is.
“It’s just amazing, I mean it really is. I try not to think on that too much yet just because we’ve got so much we’ve got to do this week, but yeah, that’s a very special accomplishment; a lot of hard work, a lot of big plays, a lot of great tackles, a lot of adversity to be overcome to be able to pull all that off. We recognize how blessed we are. When you think of all the great teams and the legacy the way it is each year, year in and year out, and to be a first in anything is pretty awesome!
We then asked the coach what it will take for the Buckeyes to control the speedy quarterback Bowden in the game and preventing big plays by him on offense.
“You know, when you watch him run, he’s such a gritty player. He’s fast, he really is, but he’s not overly big or anything. It’s just that he plays so hard. He’s able to break tackles because of that grit and uses his blockers well. We have to match that level of intensity. I think you saw that by our defense last Friday and we’re going to have to replicate that this Friday in order to keep him from taking over the game.”
We also brought up the disappointing finish to the 2020 season and mentioned an interview with Ashton Haynes after the win over Celina last week when he said last year the team didn’t really think they belonged in the championship game but this year they know they do. We asked his thoughts on Ashton’s statement, to which he replied, “I would agree completely. I think that’s a great statement by Ashton to be able to recognize that and then verbalize it. That shows you the level of intelligence he has, and I think it’s very, very true. Last year we went to a place that maybe the team didn’t think they could get to. It was a stretch. I think this year every one of them made up their minds in January that they wanted to get back and you know, they’ve done it! I told them today, I said you’re reaping the fruit of all your hard work and enjoy it, but we’ve still got work to do.”
Coach Metzel gave us his overall assessment of the Cougars as well during our conversation.
“I would say really when I’m looking at them right now the thing that jumps out at me is they beat Carthage, they beat West Orange-Stark, they beat Cuero to get where they are. You’re talking about that’s three storied programs that have played in state championships, so that lets you know they’re the real deal. I think personally that you respect your opponent. Then when you turn on the tape and you look at them, very fast team speed-wise. They have defensive linemen that run like 4.5, 4.6 in the 40. They’ve got large players on their offensive line, very gritty in the way they play, play with a lot of passion. To me, I recognize the talent they have, the relentlessness style that they play with and we’re going to have to match that.”
Additionally, we asked if he agreed that China Spring would be an even tougher challenge than Celina was.
“Well, I think yes. I think that’s part of when you go from Round 5 to Round 6 you know it’s going to get harder; typically it does. Here’s the reason: I think that their defense is very similar to Celina, not necessarily in its style or scheme, but in the physicality and effort that they play with. Then I believe on offense, you know they’ve got just some real weapons in their quarterback’s ability to run, their running backs speed at that position, and then the quarterback is very timely in his throwing. That’s not really their forte but he has a knack for making a big throw when he needs to.”
We finished our final pregame interview of the season by asking the coach if he had any additional thoughts about the Championship Game.
“Well, we get to go back to Cowboys Stadium and play in a game that all of us that went through last year’s game would love to have redemption. There’s a fire that’s been burning since last year’s game in us and we’re ready to go put it all on that field. Cannot wait to see the Buckeye army up there in the stands roaring. Just know that our guys are locked in and ready to go.”
Hats off once again to the Scout Team Players of the Week. The offensive accolades went to both Dhrvey Smith and Will Grosz and the defensive award winner was Jayden Edmond. All the young men who have won this award week after week this season have contributed mightily to the success of the 2021 Gilmer Buckeyes!
We want to acknowledge the passing of Dave Campbell, the founder of Texas Football magazine, known as “The Bible of Texas High School Football. He passed away last Friday at the age of 96 a couple of days after suffering a stroke. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Campbell family. Dave Campbell was a legend as big as the State of Texas and he and his knowledge will be greatly missed.
OK, Army of Buckeyes, this is the LAST game of the 2021 season and it doesn’t get any bigger than this game. Please find a way to make to AT&T Stadium Friday afternoon for the State Championship Game at 3 p.m. and cheer your beloved Gilmer Buckeyes on to victory as they attempt to bring back another State Championship to G-Town!