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JOE DODD: 2026 GILMER BUCKEYES FOOTBALL • GAME INFORMATION & NOTES Gilmer Buckeyes (3-1) vs. Sunnyvale Raiders (4-0)

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Friday, Sept. 25, 2026 • Jeff Traylor Stadium • Gilmer, Texas • 7:30 p.m.

TEAM INFORMATION

GILMER BUCKEYES SUNNYVALE RAIDERS
Class 4A Division II • District 8-4A DII Class 4A Division II • District 7-4A DII
Enrollment: 879 Enrollment: 745
2026: Season Record 3-1 2026: Season Record 4-0
2025: 4-7 overall • Lost in Bi-District 2025: 11-2 overall • Regional Semifinalist
Head Coach: Alan Metzel • 7th season Head Coach: Cody Stutts • 3rd season
At School & Career: 67-20 At School & Career: 24-6
Offensive Formation: Spread Offensive Formation: Spread
Defensive Formation: 3-4 Defensive Formation: 4-3

2026 RESULTS TO DATE

Gilmer: 3-1

Date Opponent Result
Aug. 27 at Longview Pine Tree L, 40-52
Sept. 4 at Tyler Chapel Hill W, 54-31
Sept. 11 Kilgore W, 64-50
Sept. 18 at Sulphur Springs W, 48-38

Sunnyvale: 4-0

Date Opponent Result
Aug. 28 at Paris W, 63-34
Sept. 4 Mount Pleasant W, 30-20
Sept. 11 Ferris W, 52-34
Sept. 18 Van Alstyne W, 36-24

MAIN STORYLINES

  • Two productive offenses with contrasting styles meet in the final nondistrict game. Through four games Gilmer has 1,881 yards of offense — 1,386 rushing and 495 passing — an average of 470.3 yards per game, with 73.7 percent of its yardage coming on the ground. Sunnyvale has produced 1,875 yards — 682 rushing and 1,193 passing — an average of 468.8 yards per game, with 63.6 percent of its yardage coming through the air behind senior quarterback Cayson Maupin.
  • Gilmer has won three straight after its opening loss at Pine Tree and is averaging 51.5 points per game. Sunnyvale is 4-0 and averaging 45.0 points per game.
  • Maupin gives Gilmer a familiar opponent at quarterback. As a sophomore in Sunnyvale’s 27-17 playoff win over Gilmer in 2024, he completed 6 of 20 passes for 151 yards with one touchdown and one interception and rushed 18 times for 34 yards and a touchdown.
  • Sunnyvale enters as a returning regional semifinalist. The Raiders finished 11-2 in 2025, losing 37-36 to Athens in the regional semifinal.

SUNNYVALE PLAYERS TO WATCH

  • #8 Cayson Maupin — Sr., QB, 6-0, 180. Through four games: 66-of-99 passing for 1,193 yards, 13 TD and 1 INT. He was 17-of-22 for 320 yards and three TD against Van Alstyne. Against Gilmer in the 2024 playoffs: 6-of-20 for 151 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT; 18 carries for 34 yards and a TD.
  • #1 Aydin Brown — Jr., RB/DB. Through four games: 55 carries for 403 yards (7.3 per carry), four rushing TD and five total TD. He ran 25 times for 115 yards against Van Alstyne. As a freshman against Gilmer in 2024, Brown had two carries for three yards and one kickoff return for six yards.
  • #4 Grayson Smith — Sr., WR/DB, 6-3, 190. Sunnyvale’s leading receiver at 86.3 yards per game through four games and the team leader with eight total TD. Smith was also on the field defensively against Gilmer as a sophomore in the 2024 playoff game and was credited with a pass defended.
  • #7 Logan Long — Sr., RB/LB, 5-10, 185. Defensive leader through four games with 40 tackles and five sacks. He had 14 tackles and four sacks against Van Alstyne.
  • #5 Eli Dlabaj — Sr., TE/DL, 6-0, 188. A two-way senior who had 14 tackles and two sacks through the first two games; the team statistical page also credits him with a forced fumble and two quarterback hurries through the first three games.
  • #44 Stephan Wilson — Sr., TE/DL, 6-0, 211. A defensive-front presence who was selected as Sunnyvale’s defensive player of the game against Van Alstyne. He entered that game as the team leader with seven quarterback hurries and had recovered a fumble earlier in the season.

GILMER PLAYERS TO WATCH

  • #2 Zade Taylor — Sr., QB/WR, 5-6, 170. Through four games: 28-of-51 passing for 495 yards and four TD; 37 carries for 494 yards and eight rushing TD. He ran for 128 yards and two TD and passed for 147 yards and two TD against Sulphur Springs.
  • #6 Tayveon Horne — Jr., RB/MLB, 6-0, 185. Through four games: 71 carries for 498 yards and eight rushing TD. He ran 10 times for 109 yards, including a 35-yard TD, at Sulphur Springs.
  • #5 Kipton Neighbors — Jr., WR/OLB, 6-2. Through four games: 18 carries for 177 yards and two TD; 13 receptions for 241 yards and two TD. At Sulphur Springs he caught five passes for 120 yards and two TD and added 46 rushing yards with a TD.
  • #10 Kaden Canady — Fr., WR/S. A big-play threat in the passing and return games. Through the first three games he had 10 receptions for 205 yards and two TD; he added a 51-yard kickoff return at Sulphur Springs.
  • #9 Austin Blakeley — Jr., MLB/FB, 5-10, 180. Gilmer’s leading tackler through the first three games with 26 combined tackles and a tackle for loss; he also returned an interception 62 yards for a touchdown.
  • #34 Ryan Blume — Jr., MLB, 6-0, 225. Through the first three games: 18 tackles, two tackles for loss and three quarterback hits.
  • #80 Aaden Borelly-Brown — Jr., DL. Through the first three games: 16 tackles, four tackles for loss, a nine-yard sack, a quarterback hit and a forced fumble. He is also used in Gilmer’s heavy offensive packages.

SUNNYVALE SEASON NOTES

  • Sunnyvale is ranked 13th in the Class 4A-II PigskinPrep.com power rankings and 15th in the MaxPreps.com 4A-II rankings.
  • Sunnyvale is 4-0 and has scored at least 30 points in every game. The Raiders have wins over Paris, Mount Pleasant, Ferris and Van Alstyne.
  • Through four games Sunnyvale has 1,193 passing yards and 682 rushing yards. The Raiders have averaged 468.8 total yards per game.
  • Maupin has thrown for at least 229 yards in every game, including 358 against Paris and 320 against Van Alstyne.
  • Sunnyvale is in District 7-4A Division II with Bonham, Farmersville, Paris North Lamar, Quinlan Ford and Wills Point.
  • Sunnyvale’s strength of schedule is rated 50th hardest in 4A-II according to PigskinPrep.com

GILMER SEASON NOTES

  • Gilmer is ranked 10th in the Class 4A-II PigskinPrep.com power rankings and 10th in the MaxPreps.com 4A-II rankings.
  • Gilmer is 3-1 after consecutive wins over Chapel Hill, Kilgore and Sulphur Springs. The Buckeyes have scored 206 points, an average of 51.5 per game.
  • Gilmer’s 51.5 points per game is 2nd in 4A-II to Canton’s 52.0 points per game according to PigskinPrep.com.
  • Gilmer has rushed for 1,386 yards through four games, an average of 346.5 per game, and has 1,881 total yards, an average of 470.3 per game.
  • Gilmer’s rushing totals by game are 282 against Pine Tree, 376 against Chapel Hill, 411 against Kilgore and 317 against Sulphur Springs.
  • Horne has 498 rushing yards and Taylor has 494, giving Gilmer two runners with more than 490 yards through four games.
  • Gilmer did not commit a turnover at Sulphur Springs. The Buckeyes have five offensive turnovers through four games and have forced eight, a plus-three turnover margin.
  • The Sunnyvale game concludes a five-game nondistrict schedule. Gilmer is open Oct. 2 before beginning District 8-4A Division II play against Pleasant Grove on Oct. 9.
  • Gilmer’s strength of schedule is rated 3rd hardest in 4A-II according to PigskinPrep.com.

 

PREVIOUS MEETING / SERIES HISTORY / ALL-TIME SCORES

  • Gilmer leads the series 3-1 through four meetings. All four previous meetings came in the playoffs; Friday will be the first regular-season meeting.
  • First meeting: Gilmer 38, Sunnyvale 24 in the 2018 bi-district playoffs at Greenville. Last meeting: Sunnyvale 27, Gilmer 17 in the 2024 area playoffs at Gerald Prim Stadium in Sulphur Springs.
  • Largest Gilmer win: 31-14 in 2020. Sunnyvale’s 27-17 victory in 2024 is its only win in the series.
  • The 2023 meeting was decided by Brayden Pate’s 34-yard field goal with three seconds remaining, giving Gilmer a 41-38 victory at Tyler’s Christus Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium.
  • In the 2024 meeting Gilmer led 17-13 at halftime, but Sunnyvale scored the only 14 points of the second half. The Raiders intercepted three Gilmer passes and held the Buckeyes to 220 total yards.

All 4 previous meetings

Year Result Year Result
2018 Gilmer 38-24 2020 Gilmer 31-14
2023 Gilmer 41-38 2024 Sunnyvale 27-17

SUNNYVALE HISTORICAL NOTES

  • Sunnyvale High School opened in 2009, and the Raiders played their first varsity football season in 2010.
  • In 2014, Sunnyvale posted its first undefeated 10-0 regular season, won its first district championship and made its first playoff appearance.
  • Through the program’s first 16 seasons (2010-25), Sunnyvale had only one losing season, three undefeated regular seasons, eight district championships, 12 playoff appearances and five seasons with at least 10 wins.
  • Sunnyvale reached the playoffs for the 12th consecutive season in 2025.
  • The Raiders finished 11-2 in 2025 and reached the Class 4A Division II regional semifinal.

GILMER HISTORICAL NOTES

  • Gilmer began playing football in 1914 and has never had a winless season.
  • Gilmer is 763-410-39 all-time entering the Sunnyvale game.
  • The Sunnyvale game will be the 1,213th game in Gilmer football history.
  • Gilmer’s 763 all-time victories is tied for 11th most in Texas high school football history, according to PigskinPrep.com.
  • Gilmer’s 1,212 games played is tied for 12th most in Texas high school football history, according to PigskinPrep.com.
  • Gilmer’s 39 district championships are tied for the 10th most in Texas high school football history, according to PigskinPrep.com.
  • Gilmer’s 28 seasons with 10 or more wins are tied for the 11th most in Texas high school football history, according to PigskinPrep.com.
  • Gilmer has recorded 15 undefeated regular seasons, tied for the seventh most in Texas high school football history, according to PigskinPrep.com.
  • The Buckeyes have won four state championships — 2004, 2009, 2014 and 2023 — and have appeared in nine state championship games.
  • Gilmer’s nine state championship-game appearances are the second most in Class 4A and tied for the 17th most among all classifications in Texas high school football history, according to the UIL.
  • From 2003 through 2023, Gilmer either won the state championship or lost in the playoffs to the eventual state champion 14 times.
  • Gilmer has reached the playoffs in 25 consecutive seasons entering 2026.
  • Since 2000, Gilmer is 294-64 overall and 221-43 in regular-season games.
  • Since 2000, Gilmer is 252-16 when scoring at least 30 points.
  • Gilmer has lost only 19 games since 1980 when scoring at least 30 points, with the Pine Tree opener becoming the latest such loss.

GAME NOTES

  • Gilmer is a 7 points favorite over Sunnyvale according to PigskinPrep.com which predicts a 30-23 victory for the Buckeyes.
  • Friday is Gilmer Homecoming.

 

CURRENT STREAKS

  • Gilmer has won three consecutive games, defeating Chapel Hill, Kilgore and Sulphur Springs after its season-opening loss at Pine Tree.
  • Sunnyvale has won four consecutive games to open the season, defeating Paris, Mount Pleasant, Ferris and Van Alstyne.
  • Gilmer has scored in 106 consecutive games. The Buckeyes’ last shutout loss was 14-0 to Pleasant Grove in 2018.
  • Gilmer has scored at least 40 points in each of its first four games this season.
  • Gilmer quarterback #2 Zade Taylor and running back #6 Tayveon Horne have each rushed for at least 100 yards in all four games this season.
  • Sunnyvale has scored at least 30 points in each of its first four games this season.
  • Sunnyvale quarterback Cayson Maupin has passed for at least 229 yards in each of the Raiders’ first four games.
  • Gilmer has rushed for at least 300 yards in three consecutive games — 376 against Chapel Hill, 411 against Kilgore and 317 against Sulphur Springs.
  • Gilmer has scored a touchdown on each of its last 12 competitive possessions — its final five against Kilgore and all seven against Sulphur Springs. End-of-game possessions in which Gilmer took a knee to run out the clock are excluded.

DID YOU KNOW?

  • Gilmer’s Jerzyri Johnson has returned two kickoffs this season — and both for touchdowns. Johnson had a 97-yard return against Pine Tree and a 95-yard return against Kilgore.
  • Zade Taylor and Tayveon Horne are separated by only four rushing yards through four games. Horne has rushed for 498 yards and Taylor for 494, giving them a combined 992 yards and 16 rushing touchdowns.
  • Gilmer has already scored three kickoff-return touchdowns this season. In addition to Johnson’s two returns, Horne returned a kickoff 68 yards for a touchdown against Chapel Hill.
  • Head coach Cody Stutts was a member of Mesquite High School’s 2001 15-0 Class 5A Division I state championship team and later was a two-year starter at middle linebacker for Abilene Christian University in 2006-07.

NEXT GAME

  • Gilmer — vs. Pleasant Grove, Friday, Oct. 9 at Jeff Traylor Stadium. The game is Gilmer’s District 8-4A Division II opener.
  • Sunnyvale — at Farmersville, Friday, Oct. 9. The game is Sunnyvale’s District 7-4A Division II opener.

2026_Gilmer_Buckeyes_Season_Book_Through_4_Games_FINAL

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