Joe Dodd: 2026 Gilmer Buckeyes Football • Game Information & Notes  Carthage Bulldogs (7-0, 3-0) at Gilmer Buckeyes (6-2, 2-1) 

Friday, Oct. 30, 2026 • Jeff Traylor Stadium • Gilmer, Texas • 7:00 p.m.

Team Information

GILMER BUCKEYES CARTHAGE BULLDOGS

Mascot: Buckeyes • Colors: Black & Orange Mascot: Bulldogs • Colors: Red & White Class 4A Division II • District 8-4A DII Class 4A Division II • District 8-4A DII Enrollment: 879 Enrollment: 761

2026: Season Record 6-2 • District 2-1 2026: Season Record 7-0 • District 3-0

2025: 4-7 overall • Lost in Bi-District 2025: 16-0 overall • Class 4A Division II State  Champions

Head Coach: Alan Metzel • 7th season Head Coach: Scott Surratt • 20th season At Gilmer & Career: 70-21 (.769) At Carthage & Career: 257-31 (.892) Offensive Formation: Spread Offensive Formation: Multiple Pro

Defensive Formation: 3-4

Defensive Formation: Multiple 4-2-5 (school lists 3- 4)

 

2026 Results to Date

Gilmer: 6-2 (2-1) — * District 8-4A Division II game

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 Texarkana Pleasant Grove* W, 33-27 Oct. 16 Pittsburg* L, 56-58

Oct. 22

at Center*

W, 67-29

 

Carthage: 7-0 (3-0)

Date Opponent Result Aug. 28 at Henderson W, 49-10 Sept. 4 Longview Pine Tree W, 67-36 Sept. 18 Spring Legacy School of Sport Sciences W, 41-14 Sept. 25 at West Orange-Stark W, 23-7 Oct. 9 at Pittsburg* W, 62-35 Oct. 15 at Longview Spring Hill* W, 63-13

Oct. 23

Texarkana Pleasant Grove*

W, 37-13

 

Main Storylines

• Two-time defending Class 4A Division II state champion Carthage (7-0, 3-0) brings a 38-game  winning streak to Jeff Traylor Stadium. Their last loss came against Kilgore in the first game of  the 2024 season.
• Gilmer (6-2, 2-1) is coming off a 67-29 win at Center on Thursday, Oct. 22. Its 67 points were a  season high.
• Friday is the first district meeting between the schools since 2011 and the 21st meeting overall.  Carthage leads the series 13-7, but Gilmer won the last meeting, 47-44, in the 2023 Class 4A  Division II state quarterfinals on the way to its 4th state championship. Gilmer is 3-1 against  Carthage in district games.
• Gilmer is the last team to end a Carthage season. Since that 2023 quarterfinal, Carthage has won  2 straight state titles and is 38-1.
• The 2 programs have combined for 15 state championships and 21 state championship-game  appearances. Gilmer’s 4 titles came in 2004, 2009, 2014 and 2023; Carthage’s 11 came in 2008,  2009, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2024 and 2025.
• Carthage is No. 1 and Gilmer No. 9 in the MaxPreps Small Town Top 25 released Oct. 23, a  national ranking of schools with fewer than 1,000 students in towns under 10,000 people.  MaxPreps ranks Carthage No. 16 in Texas among all classifications.
• Carthage head coach Scott Surratt has 257 career victories, all at Carthage, and is 11-0 in state  championship games.

Carthage Players to Watch

• #10 Jacob Dixon — Jr., QB, 6-1, 175. First-year starter who replaced Jett Surratt, the coach’s son.  112-of-176 passing (63.6%) for 1,702 yards, 22 TD’s and 5 INT; 243.7 passing yards per game.  • #1 JD Edwards — Jr., WR/FS, 5-9, 160. Team-high 36 receptions for 567 yards and 7 TD’s; 22  tackles, 2 fumble recoveries, 3 interceptions and an interception-return TD. Recruiting: offers  from Texas A&M and SMU.
• #2 Bryston Price — Sr., WR, 6-0, 165. Team-high 10 TD catches; 29 receptions for 578 yards  (19.9 per catch), with a long of 56. Recruiting: committed to Stephen F. Austin.  • #3 Jace Harris — Jr., WR/CB, 5-8, 160. 6 TD’s 3 ways: 4 rushing, 1 receiving and an interception  return. 26 rushes for 223 yards (8.6 per carry), 9 catches for 165 yards.
• #5 Jaden Jeffress — Sr., TE, 6-3, 205. 22 catches for 232 yards and 2 TD’s.
• Running backs by committee — #22 Javon Landers (Jr.) 57-398, 4 TD’s, long of 62; #4 Shawn  Bundy (Sr.) 53-374, 6 TD’s; #24 Kingston Jones (Jr., 5-10, 210) 45-297, 6 TD’s. Bundy and Jones  share the team lead in rushing TD’s. Carthage averages 6.8 yards per carry.
• #75 Vernon Pittman — Jr., OT, 6-6, 330. First-team all-district in 2025. Recruiting: 3-star 2028  prospect (On3/Rivals) with offers from Baylor, Houston, SMU, Louisiana Tech and UTSA.  • #11 Caleb Smith — Sr., DE/FB, 6-2, 230. 37 tackles, 10 TFL, 4 sacks and a team-high 13 QB  hurries.
• #44 Andric Kindle — Jr., NG/DE, 6-2, 200. 25 tackles, 10 TFL, 3 sacks and 9 hurries.  • #20 Aiden Bagley — Sr., MLB, 6-2, 220. Team-high 64 tackles (9.1 per game), 2 TFL, 8 hurries  and an interception.
• #72 Cooper Crawford — So., DL, 6-2, 280. 22 tackles, 7 TFL, 2 sacks and 12 QB hurries.

Gilmer Players to Watch

• #2 Zade Taylor — Sr., QB, 5-6, 170. Season stats: 61-of-95 passing (64.2%) for 914 yards, 9 TD’s  and 7 INT; 92 rushes for 974 yards (10.6 per carry) and 14 TD’s. Needs 26 yards for 1,000. Was 7- of-9 for 155 yards and 2 TD’s, and ran for a TD, at Center. Recruiting: holds 5 scholarship offers  from smaller programs.
• #6 Tayveon Horne — Jr., RB/OLB, 6-0, 185. 139 carries for 926 yards (6.7 per carry) and 15  rushing TD’s; a kickoff-return TD; 1,143 all-purpose yards and 16 total TD’s. Needs 74 yards for  1,000. Did not have a carry at Center. Recruiting: offers from Texas Tech, Houston, UTEP and  UTSA, plus others.
• #5 Kipton Neighbors — Jr., WR/S, 6-2, 195. 19 receptions for 311 yards and 2 TD’s; 42 rushes for  378 yards (9.0 per carry) and 6 TD’s. Ran 7 times for 75 yards and a TD at Center. Recruiting:  offers from Baylor, Kentucky, Kansas State, Oklahoma State and SMU, plus others.
• #10 Kaden Canady — Fr., WR/S, 5-7, 150. Team-high 23 receptions for 364 yards (15.8 per  catch) and 7 TD’s; 9 TD’s scored 3 ways. Caught TD passes of 16 and 23 yards at Center.  Recruiting: already holds an offer from UTSA.
• #1 Ismael Camara — Sr., FB/DL, 6-7, about 343. 5-star offensive line prospect committed to  Texas; chose the Longhorns over Oregon, LSU and SMU, plus others. 2 rushing TD’s and two 18- yard receptions this season.
• #9 Austin Blakeley — Jr., FB/ILB, 5-10, 180. Team-high 68 combined tackles, including 11 at  Center; 3 TFL and a 62-yard interception-return TD.
• #80 Aaden Borelly-Brown — Jr., FB/DL, 6-2, 290. 36 combined tackles, a team-high 6 TFL, a sack  and a fumble recovery.
• #44 Davion King — Sr., FB/DL, 6-2, 325. 26 combined tackles and 6 QB hurries. Recruiting: offers  from Air Force, Houston, North Texas, Stephen F. Austin, Texas State, UTEP and UTSA, plus  others.
• #54 Rashaad Buchanan — Jr., OL/DL, 6-0, 230. 26 combined tackles, a sack and a team-high 9  QB hurries. Recruiting: 5 offers, including Texas College and Howard Payne.
• #13 Keithan Johnson — Jr., WR/CB, 6-2, 195. Team-high 8 pass breakups; intercepted a pass at  Center. Recruiting: offer from North Texas, plus others.
• #17 Jerzyri Johnson — Jr., WR/CB, 5-11, 160. 7 kickoff returns for 376 yards (53.7 per return)  and 3 TD’s: 97 yards at Pine Tree, 95 against Kilgore and 80 on the opening kickoff at Center.

Carthage Season Notes

• Carthage has scored 342 points (48.9 per game) and allowed 128 (18.3 per game). The Bulldogs  have scored at least 37 points in 6 of 7 games and held 5 opponents to 14 points or fewer.  • The Bulldogs’ narrowest win was 23-7 at West Orange-Stark on Sept. 25, a rematch of the 2025  state championship game, which Carthage won 49-21.
• Through 7 games, Carthage has 3,317 total yards (473.9 per game), almost evenly split: 1,611  rushing (230.1 per game, 6.8 per carry) and 1,706 passing (243.7 per game).
• Dixon has 22 TD passes and 5 INT; Price (10) and Edwards (7) lead the receivers. No running back  has more than 398 yards, and 6 players have rushing TD’s.
• The defense has 19 sacks, 58 tackles for loss and 70 QB hurries through 7 games. It has forced  14 turnovers (6 interceptions, 8 fumble recoveries) and scored 3 defensive TD’s: 2 interception  returns against Pine Tree and a fumble return by Tashad Graham against Spring Hill.
• Compared with the 2023 team Gilmer beat in the quarterfinals, Carthage is scoring more (48.9  vs. 43.5) and allowing more (18.3 vs. 11.8).

Common opponents

Opponent Gilmer Carthage Longview Pine Tree L, 40-52 (away) W, 67-36 (home) Pittsburg L, 56-58 (home) W, 62-35 (away)

Texarkana Pleasant Grove

W, 33-27 (home)

W, 37-13 (home)

 

Gilmer Season Notes

• Through 8 games, Gilmer has scored 411 points (51.4 per game) and allowed 313 (39.1 per  game). The Buckeyes have scored at least 33 points in every game and at least 40 in 7 of 8.  • Gilmer’s 67 points at Center were its most this season and the 3rd most it has scored in the 14- game series with the Roughriders, behind 70 in 2016 and 69 in 2023. Gilmer led 55-7 at halftime.  • Gilmer has gained 3,647 total yards (455.9 per game), including 2,695 rushing (336.9 per game,  8.0 per carry). That rushing average is on pace for the 2nd-highest season average in school  history, behind the 1985 team’s 348 per game.
• Taylor (974) needs 26 yards and Horne (926) needs 74 to reach 1,000 rushing yards.  • At Center, 8 Gilmer players carried the ball and 5 different players scored rushing TD’s. Gilmer’s  10 TD’s that night were scored by 9 players.
• Gilmer has punted only 6 times in 8 games, did not punt at Center, and has not attempted a  field goal all season. The Buckeyes are 44-of-64 on third down (68.8%) and have scored on 32 of  34 red-zone trips (94.1%).
• Gilmer has scored 60 TD’s: 41 rushing, 10 passing and 9 on returns. The 9 return TD’s have come  from 6 different players; opponents have 1 return TD.
• Gilmer has 951 yards and 6 TD’s on 33 kickoff returns (28.8 per return), while its opponents  have 518 yards and no TD’s on 35 kickoff returns (14.8 per return).
• Turnovers have decided Gilmer’s season. The Buckeyes committed 8 turnovers and forced 1 in  their 2 losses, but committed 6 and forced 11 in their 6 wins. In the wins, Taylor is 48-of-67  (71.6%) for 777 yards with 1 interception; 6 of his 7 interceptions came in the losses.
• Gilmer averages 52.5 points in its wins and 48.0 in its losses. The difference is on defense: 33.8  points allowed per win and 55.0 per loss.
• Gilmer has outscored opponents in the first quarter (119-76), second (131-91) and fourth (106- 72) and trails only in the third (55-74). It was shut out in the third quarter at Center.  • Gilmer and Carthage both scored at least 56 points against Pittsburg. Pittsburg scored 58 at  Gilmer and 35 against Carthage.

Previous Meeting / Series History / All-Time Scores

• Carthage leads the all-time series 13-7 and has outscored Gilmer 669-427. Friday will be the 21st  meeting.
• Last meeting: Gilmer 47, Carthage 44 in the 2023 Class 4A Division II state quarterfinals at Tyler’s  Rose Stadium on Dec. 1, 2023.
• Gilmer is 3-1 against Carthage in district games (1996, 1997, 2010 and 2011) and 1-3 in the  playoffs (2008, 2020, 2022 and 2023). Carthage leads non-district meetings 9-3.  • By site, Gilmer is 2-5 against Carthage in Gilmer, 2-5 in Carthage and 3-3 at neutral sites.  • Friday is the first district meeting since Gilmer’s 39-36 win at Buckeye Stadium on Oct. 14, 2011,  and the first meeting of any kind since 2023.
• Carthage won 8 consecutive meetings from 2016 through 2022, including a 70-14 win in the  2020 Class 4A Division II state championship game at AT&T Stadium.
• Gilmer is 4-10 against Surratt-coached Carthage teams and 1-4 against Carthage under Metzel.  All 20 previous meetings

Year Result Game Site

1954 Carthage 21-0 Non-district Gilmer – Buckeye Stadium (Sept. 17) 1955 Carthage 39-7 Non-district Carthage (Sept. 16)

1996 Gilmer 10-0 District Carthage – Bulldog Stadium (Nov. 8) 1997 Gilmer 35-28 District Gilmer – Buckeye Stadium (Nov. 7) 1998 Carthage 35-7 Non-district Gilmer – Buckeye Stadium (Sept. 18) 1999 Gilmer 21-0 Non-district Carthage – Bulldog Stadium (Sept. 17) 2008 Carthage 31-28 State quarterfinal Nacogdoches – Homer Bryce Stadium (Dec. 6)

2010

Carthage 38-21

District

Carthage – Bulldog Stadium (Oct. 15)

 

Year Result Game Site

2011 Gilmer 39-36 District Gilmer – Buckeye Stadium (Oct. 14) 2014 Gilmer 58-21 Non-district Longview – Lobo Stadium (Sept. 27) 2015 Gilmer 18-15 Non-district Longview – Lobo Stadium (Sept. 26) 2016 Carthage 55-37 Non-district Carthage – Bulldog Stadium (Sept. 17)

2017 Carthage 48-28 Non-district Gilmer – Jeff Traylor Stadium (Sept. 23) 2018 Carthage 66-14 Non-district Gilmer – Jeff Traylor Stadium (Sept. 21) 2019 Carthage 24-15 Non-district Carthage – Bulldog Stadium (Sept. 20) 2020 Carthage 42-14 Non-district Gilmer – Jeff Traylor Stadium (Sept. 25) 2020 Carthage 70-14 State final Arlington – AT&T Stadium (Dec. 18) 2021 Carthage 28-7 Non-district Carthage – Bulldog Stadium (Sept. 24) 2022 Carthage 28-7 Regional Longview – Lobo Stadium (Nov. 25)

2023

Gilmer 47-44

State quarterfinal

Tyler – Rose Stadium (Dec. 1)

 

Carthage Historical Notes

• This is Carthage’s 103rd season of football. The Bulldogs have never had a winless season.  • Carthage entered 2026 with a 721-368-40 all-time record and is now 728-368-40.  • Carthage has 11 state championships (2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2022,

2024, 2025), the 2nd most in Texas high school football history behind Aledo’s 12. All 11 have  come under Surratt, in the 18 seasons from 2008 through 2025.

• Carthage has 12 state championship-game appearances: 1991 plus all 11 title years. Surratt is  11-0 in state title games; Carthage’s only title-game loss came in 1991, before Surratt.  • Carthage has 10 undefeated seasons: 1954, 1958, 1978, 1991, 2009, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2022 and  2025.
• Carthage is 106-30-1 in playoff games all time, and its 106 playoff wins are tied for 11th in Texas  high school football history. It has reached the playoffs 19 consecutive seasons entering 2026.  • Carthage has won 35 district championships, including 9 in a row (2017-2025).  • Carthage is 92-3 since 2020. Its only losses in that span: China Spring (27-17, 2021 playoffs),  Gilmer (47-44, 2023 quarterfinals) and Kilgore (20-15, Aug. 30, 2024).
• Surratt is in his 20th season at Carthage. Before that he was offensive coordinator at Texas High  for 8 years, winning a state title there, and at Linden-Kildare for 5 years, with stops at  Waxahachie, LCM and Redwater.

Carthage under Scott Surratt

Year Record Finish

2026 7-0 In progress

2025 16-0 Class 4A Division II State Champions

2024 15-1 Class 4A Division II State Champions

2023 13-1 Lost to Gilmer, 4A DII quarterfinals

2022 16-0 Class 4A Division II State Champions

2021 11-1 Lost to China Spring, playoffs

2020 14-0 Class 4A Division II State Champions (beat Gilmer in final) 2019 16-0 Class 4A Division I State Champions

2018 14-1 Playoffs

2017 16-0 Class 4A Division I State Champions

2016 13-2 Class 4A Division I State Champions

2015 11-4 Playoffs

2014 6-6 Playoffs

2013 15-1 Class 3A Division I State Champions

2012 11-3 Playoffs

2011 9-4 Playoffs

2010 14-2 Class 3A Division II State Champions

2009 16-0 Class 3A Division II State Champions

2008 14-2 Class 3A Division I State Champions (beat Gilmer in quarterfinals)

2007

9-3

Playoffs

 

Gilmer Historical Notes

• This is Gilmer’s 113th season of football. The Buckeyes have never had a winless season.  • Gilmer is 766-411-39 all-time entering the Carthage game, which will be the 1,217th game in  school history.
• Gilmer’s 766 all-time victories rank 12th in Texas high school football history, 1 behind No. 11  Cameron Yoe (767).
• The Buckeyes have won 4 state championships (2004, 2009, 2014 and 2023) and appeared in 9  state championship games.
• Gilmer is 102-35-1 in playoff games all time (74.3%) and 74-21 since 2001. Its 102 playoff wins  rank 14th in Texas high school football history. Gilmer’s 100th playoff win was its 79-42 state  semifinal victory over Glen Rose on Dec. 8, 2023, at Prosper’s Children’s Health Stadium, during  its 2023 state championship run.
• Gilmer reached the playoffs in 25 consecutive seasons entering 2026.
• 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 history, according  to PigskinPrep.com.
• Since 2000, Gilmer is 298-64 overall and 224-43 in regular-season games.
• From 2003 through 2023, Gilmer either won the state championship or lost in the playoffs to the  eventual state champion 14 times, including Carthage in 2008, 2020 and 2022.
• Under Metzel, Gilmer is 70-21. Carthage accounts for 4 of those 21 losses, the most of any  opponent.

Most All-Time Wins — Texas High School Football

Gilmer’s 766 victories rank 12th in Texas history, and Carthage’s 728 rank 21st. Totals are  PigskinPrep.com’s through 2025 plus 2026 wins through Oct. 24.

No. School Wins No. School Wins 1 Dallas Highland Park 918 12 Gilmer 766 2 Mart 854 13 Tyler 750 3 Amarillo 834 T-14 Lufkin 749 T-4 Temple 816 T-14 Abilene 749 T-4 Refugio 816 16 El Campo 747 6 Longview 806 17 Corsicana 746 7 Cuero 802 18 Hondo 739 8 Brownwood 797 19 Harlingen 734 9 Plano 792 20 Sweetwater 729 10 Albany 777 21 Carthage 728

11

Cameron Yoe

767

22

Stamford

727

 

2026 records through Oct. 24: Gilmer’s total is from its all-time scores master; PigskinPrep lists 1 fewer  win through 2025. Carthage’s total uses its 721 wins through 2025 from its season preview; PigskinPrep  lists 720, which would tie Carthage with Stamford for 21st.

Most All-Time Playoff Wins — Texas High School Football

Carthage (106) and Gilmer (102) both rank among the top 14 programs in Texas history in playoff  victories. Totals are through the 2025 season.

No. School Wins No. School Wins 1 Refugio 149 8 Austin Westlake 113 2 Mart 141 9 Cuero 111 3 Southlake Carroll 136 10 Albany 107 4 Katy 134 T-11 Carthage 106 5 Aledo 132 T-11 Daingerfield 106 6 Dallas Highland Park 126 13 Converse Judson 105

7

Celina

125

14

Gilmer

102

 

Source: PigskinPrep.com

Game Notes

• Two of the state’s highest-scoring offenses meet: Gilmer averages 51.4 points and Carthage  48.9. The difference is on defense, where Carthage allows 18.3 points per game and Gilmer  39.1.
• Gilmer played Thursday at Center and has an extra day to prepare. Carthage played Friday  against Pleasant Grove after playing Spring Hill on a Thursday the week before.
• Carthage has 2 open dates in 2026 (Sept. 11 and Oct. 2); Gilmer had 1 (Oct. 2).  • Since 2000, Gilmer is 255-17 when scoring at least 30 points and 43-47 when scoring fewer than  30.
• Since 1980, Gilmer has lost only 20 games when scoring at least 30 points; the 58-56 Pittsburg  game was the latest.
• Carthage has held Gilmer under 30 points in 10 of 14 meetings since 2008, and Gilmer is 1-9 in  those games. When Gilmer has scored 30 or more against Carthage since 2008, it is 3-1.  • Only 2 of Carthage’s 7 opponents have scored 30 points: Pine Tree (36) and Pittsburg (35).  Carthage won those games 67-36 and 62-35.

Current Streaks

• Carthage has won 38 consecutive games. Its last loss was 20-15 at home to Kilgore on Aug. 30,  2024.
• Carthage has scored in 291 consecutive games; its last shutout was 43-0 to Crockett in 2006.  • Gilmer has scored in 110 consecutive games, dating to its 14-0 loss to Texarkana Pleasant Grove  on Oct. 19, 2018.
• Gilmer has scored at least 33 points, rushed for at least 256 yards and gained at least 400 total  yards in all 8 games this season.
• Gilmer won the last meeting, ending Carthage’s 8-game winning streak in the series.

Did You Know?

• Carthage and Gilmer have combined for 21 state championship-game appearances and 15 state  championships in football. Carthage has 12 appearances and 11 titles; Gilmer has 9 appearances  and 4 titles.
• Gilmer is 1 of only 3 teams to beat Carthage since 2020, along with China Spring (2021) and  Kilgore (2024).
• Gilmer’s 47-44 quarterfinal win in 2023 is the 2nd-highest-scoring game in the series (91 points,  behind 92 in Carthage’s 55-37 win in 2016) and Carthage’s last playoff loss. Carthage has won 12  straight playoff games since.
• Carthage’s first state championship season, 2008, included a 31-28 state quarterfinal win over  Gilmer at Nacogdoches’ Homer Bryce Stadium.
• Gilmer and Carthage met twice in 2020: Carthage won 42-14 in September and 70-14 in the  state championship game.
• Carthage has eliminated Gilmer from the playoffs 3 times on its way to a state championship:  2008, 2020 and 2022.
• The first meeting was a 21-0 Carthage win in Gilmer on Sept. 17, 1954. Gilmer’s first win came  42 years later, 10-0 at Carthage in a 1996 district game.
• Carthage’s last visit to Gilmer was a 42-14 win at Jeff Traylor Stadium on Sept. 25, 2020. Gilmer  is 2-5 against Carthage in Gilmer: 2-2 at Buckeye Stadium (wins in 1997 and 2011) and 0-3 at Jeff  Traylor Stadium. Gilmer has not beaten Carthage at home since 2011.
• Gilmer scored twice at Center before its offense ran a play. Jerzyri Johnson returned the opening  kickoff 80 yards for a TD, and after Center tied the game, Avian Phillips returned an onside kick  50 yards for a TD, with 9 seconds elapsing between Center’s score and Phillips’.
• Gilmer’s 47-44 quarterfinal win over Carthage in 2023 was its 99th playoff victory. A week later,  the Buckeyes beat Glen Rose 79-42 for win No. 100.
• Gilmer is the only team to beat a Scott Surratt-coached Carthage team in 3 straight meetings:  39-36 in 2011, 58-21 in 2014 and 18-15 in 2015. Six other teams have beaten Surratt’s Bulldogs  twice in a row, and none has done it since Kilgore in 2015 and 2016.
• Either Carthage or Gilmer has appeared in each of the past 7 Class 4A Division II state  championship games (2019-2025).

Next Game

• Gilmer — at Longview Spring Hill, Friday, Nov. 6, in District 8-4A Division II play.  • Carthage — vs. Center, Friday, Nov. 6, at Bulldog Stadium in District 8-4A Division II play

Sources

MaxPreps Carthage schedule · MaxPreps Carthage stats · Carthage ISD 2026 schedule · Texas HS Football  preview · Stateline win streaks · Panola Watchman 2025 title · Lone Star Gridiron 2024 title · On3:  Vernon Pittman · DCTF: Carthage prospects · PigskinPrep: Most Wins · Gilmer All-Time Scores Master ·  Carthage MaxPreps stats through Game 7, The Zone, TexasFootball.com and Smoaky.com previews