JOE DODD: 2026 GILMER BUCKEYES FOOTBALL • GAME INFORMATION & NOTES – Gilmer Buckeyes (5-1) vs. Pittsburg Pirates (3-3)

Friday, Oct. 16, 2026 • Jeff Traylor Stadium • Gilmer, Texas • 7:00 p.m.

TEAM INFORMATION

GILMER BUCKEYES	PITTSBURG PIRATES
Class 4A Division II • District 8-4A DII	Class 4A Division II • District 8-4A DII
Enrollment: 879	Enrollment: 665
2026: Season Record 5-1	2026: Season Record 3-3
2025: 4-7 overall • Lost in Bi-District	2025: 7-4 overall • Lost in Bi-District
Head Coach: Alan Metzel • 7th season	Head Coach: John Huffstetler • 2nd season
At School & Career: 69-20	At School & Career: 10-7
Offensive Formation: Spread	Offensive Formation: Two-back Spread
Defensive Formation: 3-4	Defensive Formation: 3-4

2026 RESULTS TO DATE

Gilmer: 5-1

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
Sept. 25	Sunnyvale	W, 49-28
Oct. 9	Pleasant Grove	W, 33-27

Pittsburg: 3-3

Date	Opponent	Result
Aug. 27	Liberty-Eylau	W, 55-48
Sept. 4	at Gladewater	W, 52-41
Sept. 11	at Henderson	L, 27-42
Sept. 18	Van	W, 38-35
Sept. 25	at Jefferson	L, 14-41
Oct. 9	Carthage	L, 35-62

MAIN STORYLINES

• Gilmer faces an unusual combination of challenges: Yamboree Week distractions, the possibility of a letdown after its 33-27 victory over Pleasant Grove, and a Pittsburg team capable of scoring in bunches.
• Gilmer is No. 6 in Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Week 8 Class 4A Division II rankings and No. 7 in the PigskinPrep.com ratings, and No. 3 in the MaxPreps.com poll. Pittsburg is No. 32 in the PigskinPrep.com ratings.
• Gilmer (5-1, 1-0) has won five consecutive games; Pittsburg (3-3, 0-1) scored 35 points against top-ranked Carthage last week despite losing 62-35.
• PigskinPrep.com rates Gilmer’s schedule fourth-toughest and Pittsburg’s sixth-toughest among Class 4A Division II programs.
• Pittsburg head coach John Huffstetler and defensive coordinator Brad Britton are former Gilmer assistants.
• The Pirates’ top four offensive skill players also start in their defensive secondary, making the physical demands of Gilmer’s ball-control offense an important matchup consideration.

PITTSBURG PLAYERS TO WATCH

• #8 Kevin Johnson — QB/S. Through six games: 26-of-55 passing for 498 yards, five TD and no INT; 42 carries for 277 yards and five TD. Returned against Carthage after missing time with an injury.
• #2 Tamar Palmer — RB/S. Through six games: 71 carries for 612 yards (8.6 per carry) and six TD; 89 tackles and three fumble recoveries.
• #4 Seven Duffey — WR/CB. Through six games: 22 receptions for 348 yards and four TD; 17 rushes for 59 yards and a TD.
• #7 Cam Doddy — WR/QB/CB. Through six games: 12 catches for 288 yards and four TD; 13-of-24 passing for 184 yards and three TD; 125 rushing yards and two TD; four interceptions on defense.
• #0 Ke’Von Grant — RB/LB. Through six games: 25 rushes for 79 yards and five TD; 17 tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack.
• #24 Malachi Stewart — DL/LB. Through six games: 22 tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks and seven quarterback hurries.

GILMER PLAYERS TO WATCH

• #2 Zade Taylor — Sr., QB/WR, 5-6, 170. Through six games: 51-of-78 passing for 741 yards, seven TD and five INT; 70 rushes for a team-high 779 yards (11.1 per carry) and 12 rushing TD.
• #6 Tayveon Horne — Jr., RB/MLB, 6-0, 185. Through six games: 118 carries for 737 yards (6.2 per carry) and a team-leading 13 rushing TD; six kickoff returns for 165 yards and a TD.
• #5 Kipton Neighbors — Jr., WR/OLB, 6-2. Through six games: 18 receptions for 305 yards and two TD; 22 rushes for 190 yards and two TD; six punts for 197 yards.
• #10 Kaden Canady — Fr., WR/S. Team-leading 21 receptions for 325 yards and five TD; nine rushes for 48 yards; six kickoff returns for 129 yards.
• #9 Austin Blakeley — Jr., MLB/FB, 5-10, 180. Leads Gilmer with 50 combined tackles (34 solo, 16 assists), three tackles for loss and a 62-yard interception-return TD.
• #34 Ryan Blume — Jr., MLB, 6-0, 225. Through six games: 25 combined tackles, five tackles for loss and four quarterback hurries.
• #80 Aaden Borelly-Brown — Jr., DL. Through six games: 29 combined tackles, six tackles for loss, a nine-yard sack, three quarterback hurries and one forced fumble.

PITTSBURG SEASON NOTES

• Pittsburg has scored 221 points through six games (36.8 per game) while allowing 269 (44.8 per game).
• The Pirates have rushed for 1,176 yards and passed for 682, an average of 309.7 total yards per game.
• Pittsburg has recorded nine interceptions on defense, including four by Cam Doddy.
• Johnson and Doddy have both played quarterback this season; Johnson returned from injury against Carthage, allowing Doddy to return to his primary receiving role.
• Pittsburg operates a two-back spread offense emphasizing power and counter runs with receivers who threaten both downfield and underneath.

GILMER SEASON NOTES

• Gilmer has won five consecutive games after its season-opening loss at Longview Pine Tree.
• The Buckeyes opened District 8-4A Division II play with a 33-27 victory over Pleasant Grove on Oct. 9.
• Through six games, Gilmer has scored 288 points (48.0 per game) and allowed 226 (37.7 per game). The Buckeyes have gained 2,645 yards (440.8 per game), including 1,904 rushing (317.3 per game).
• Gilmer has 135 first downs, including 100 rushing, and has converted 37 of 53 third downs (69.8%). Its offense averages 7.97 yards per play and 7.50 yards per rush.
• Gilmer has scored 42 touchdowns (30 rushing, seven passing and five returns). The Season Book lists 23-of-25 red-zone scoring opportunities (92.0%) and 13-of-14 goal-to-go touchdown conversions (92.9%).
• Gilmer has committed eight turnovers (five interceptions and three lost fumbles) and forced eight (two interceptions and six recovered fumbles) through six games. The Buckeyes have 69 explosive offensive plays, defined as runs of 10+ yards or completed passes of 20+ yards.

PREVIOUS MEETING / SERIES HISTORY / ALL-TIME SCORES

Year	Result	Year	Result
1914	Pittsburg 51-0	1914	Pittsburg 33-0
1916	Gilmer 12-0	1916	Gilmer 7-0
1920	Gilmer 39-0	1921	Gilmer 28-0
1921	Gilmer 21-0	1922	Pittsburg 6-0
1923	Gilmer 18-0	1924	Gilmer 6-0
1928	Gilmer 28-0	1928	Gilmer 66-0
1937	Gilmer 7-6	1938	Tie 6-6
1939	Pittsburg 19-0	1940	Gilmer 19-0
1940	Gilmer 13-0	1942	Gilmer 13-7
1943	Gilmer 34-0	1944	Gilmer 7-0
1945	Gilmer 50-0	1946	Gilmer 46-13
1947	Gilmer 7-0	1948	Gilmer 14-0
1949	Pittsburg 26-0	1950	Pittsburg 21-0
1952	Gilmer 13-7	1953	Pittsburg 13-0
1954	Gilmer 7-6	1955	Gilmer 14-0
1956	Gilmer 28-0	1957	Gilmer 60-13
1958	Gilmer 39-6	1959	Gilmer 24-8
1960	Gilmer 14-6	1961	Pittsburg 20-6
1962	Tie 0-0	1963	Gilmer 20-6
1964	Gilmer 16-6	1965	Gilmer 20-7
1966	Pittsburg 7-0	1967	Gilmer 15-6
1968	Gilmer 32-6	1969	Pittsburg 14-8
1970	Gilmer 30-0	1971	Pittsburg 29-11
1972	Gilmer 33-14	1973	Gilmer 52-12
1974	Pittsburg 28-12	1975	Pittsburg 15-6
1976	Pittsburg 35-0	1977	Gilmer 20-8
1978	Tie 14-14	1979	Pittsburg 35-0
1984	Gilmer 12-0	1985	Pittsburg 25-14
1985	Pittsburg 22-20	1986	Pittsburg 35-0
1987	Gilmer 7-0	1988	Gilmer 37-0
1989	Pittsburg 14-9	1992	Pittsburg 46-19
1993	Gilmer 55-6	1994	Gilmer 16-13
1995	Pittsburg 19-0	1996	Pittsburg 21-14
1997	Gilmer 21-0	2003	Gilmer 22-18
2005	Gilmer 55-6	2010	Gilmer 42-17
2011	Gilmer 14-6	2013	Gilmer 48-0
2016	Gilmer 51-35	2017	Gilmer 37-22
2018	Pittsburg 48-15	2019	Gilmer 28-6
2020	Gilmer 41-6	2021	Gilmer 26-13
2022	Gilmer 44-14	2023	Gilmer 64-6
2024	Gilmer 49-0	2025	Gilmer 36-25

• Gilmer leads the series 56-23-3 through 82 meetings. Friday will be the 83rd meeting; the series began in 1914 with two Pittsburg victories.
• Gilmer won the 2025 meeting 36-25 at Jeff Traylor Stadium. Pittsburg is Gilmer’s most frequently played opponent; Gilmer has faced Gladewater 63 times through 2025, 19 fewer than Pittsburg.
• Pittsburg won a 1985 playoff meeting 22-20.

PITTSBURG HISTORICAL NOTES

• Pittsburg head coach John Huffstetler previously coached at Gilmer from 2017-19 and is a U.S. Naval Academy graduate.
• Pittsburg defensive coordinator Brad Britton is another former Gilmer assistant.
• Huffstetler guided Pittsburg to a 7-4 record in 2025, following a six-year stretch in which the Pirates went a combined 13-50.
• The Pirates and Buckeyes first met in 1914, Gilmer’s inaugural football season.

GILMER HISTORICAL NOTES

• Gilmer began playing football in 1914 and has never had a winless season.
• Gilmer is 765-410-39 all-time entering the Pittsburg game.
• The Pittsburg game will be the 1,215th game in Gilmer football history.
• Gilmer’s all-time victories rank among the 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 296-64 overall and 223-43 in regular-season games.
• Since 2000, Gilmer is 254-16 when scoring at least 30 points.
• Gilmer has lost only 19 games since 1980 when scoring at least 30 points.

GAME NOTES

• Gilmer is playing during East Texas Yamboree Week, with schools closed and a full schedule of pageants, parades, livestock shows, carnival rides and Thursday’s Queen’s Ball.
• Metzel said early-morning football practices will remain on their normal schedule, allowing players to participate in Yamboree activities.
• PigskinPrep.com rates Gilmer No. 7 and Pittsburg No. 32 in Class 4A Division II, and projects Gilmer to win by 26 points.
• Pittsburg has scored at least 35 points in four of its six games, including 35 against Carthage last week.
• Gilmer’s ball-control offense may test Pittsburg’s two-way players, including the four starters in its secondary who also contribute prominently on offense.

CURRENT STREAKS

• Gilmer has won five consecutive games since its 52-40 loss at Pine Tree on Aug. 27.
• Gilmer has rushed for at least 256 yards in each of its six games and has scored at least 33 points in every game.
• Pittsburg has lost two consecutive games, against Jefferson and Carthage, with an open date between them.
• Gilmer has scored in 108 consecutive games, extending the streak with its 33-27 win over Pleasant Grove.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Gilmer’s largest victory margin in the Pittsburg series was a 66-0 win in 1928.
• The highest-scoring Gilmer–Pittsburg game was Gilmer’s 51-35 victory in 2016, when the teams combined for 86 points.
• The series has produced three ties: 6-6 in 1938, 0-0 in 1962 and 14-14 in 1978.
• The series includes 38 shutouts, including the scoreless tie in 1962.
• Gilmer outscored Pittsburg 113-6 in their 2023 and 2024 meetings, winning 64-6 and 49-0.

NEXT GAME

• Gilmer — at Center, Friday, Oct. 23 in District 8-4A Division II play.
• Pittsburg — vs. Spring Hill, Friday, Oct. 23 in District 8-4A Division II play.